High School Football: Lobos hold off Cavaliers
GARDEN GROVE — Los Amigos High bolted ahead, then rallied to close out a 27-20 Garden Grove League victory over host Santiago on Friday at Garden Grove High.
The Lobos (5-3, 2-1 in league) scored on their first two possessions, only to see the Cavaliers (1-7, 0-3) rally for a 13-13 halftime tie, then score on their opening possession of the second half to earn a 20-13 advantage.
Los Amigos senior Steven Hernandez then capped a five-play, 65-yard scoring drive with a 40-yard touchdown run to knot things up midway through the third quarter.
After the Lobos defense forced a three-and-out, and a subsequent 20-yard punt, Los Amigos needed just five plays to produce what proved to be an insurmountable lead. Edgar Galindo capped the drive with a 32-yard touchdown run and Joseph Ramirez added his third conversion kick to finalize the scoring with 2:49 left in the third period.
Los Amigos had two long drives that ended in a missed 25-yard field goal and a stuff on fourth down at the Santiago nine-yard line that gave the Cavaliers one last gasp with 2:51 left.
Santiago, using a passing attack that produced most of its offensive success, moved to the Los Amigos 31 before two spiked passes and one sack forced an incomplete bomb into the end zone on fourth-and-17 with 14 seconds remaining.
Los Amigos took one snap and took a knee to dodge what would have been a costly setback.
Hernandez finished with 182 yards on 28 rushing attempts. He also completed two passes for 25 yards.
Galindo had 145 yards on 22 rushing attempts, including touchdown runs of 32, five and one yards.
Santiago quarterback Angel Tajimaroa completed 14 of 28 passes for 228 yards, including scoring tosses of 37 and 12 yards to Dominick Smith.
Smith had six receptions for 132 yards, but couldn’t run under the fourth-down desperation heave that ended the Cavaliers’ upset hopes.
Los Amigos produced a 140-6 yardage advantage in the opening quarter, but Santiago outgained the Lobos, 148-7 yardage surplus in the second 12 minutes.
But Santiago seemed to run out of gas after taking a lead, as it punted on its next three possessions.
Dylan Ourng carried 20 times for 46 yards against a stout Los Amigos front seen led by tackle Brian Ruiz and linebackers Joseph Vera and Alexander Contreras.
It was the seventh straight victory over Santiago for Coach Carl Agnew’s Lobos.
Garden Grove League
Los Amigos 27, Santiago 20
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Los Amigos 13 – 0 – 14 – 0 – 27
Santiago 0 – 13 – 7 – 0 – 20
FIRST QUARTER
LA – Galindo 5 run (Ramirez kick), 8:03.
LA – Galindo 1 run (kick failed), 1:40.
SECOND QUARTER
Sant – Smith 12 pass from Tajimaroa (Lira kick), 9:05.
Sant – Lira 32 FG, 2:47.
Sant – Lira 30 FG, 0:38.
THIRD QUARTER
Sant – Smith 37 pass from Tajimaroa (Lira kick), 8:55.
LA – Hernandez 40 run (Ramirez kick), 6:34.
LA – Galindo 32 run (Ramirez kick), 2:49.
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING
LA – Hernandez, 28-182, 1 TD; Galindo, 22-145, 3 TDs.
Sant – Ourng, 20-45.
INDIVIDUAL PASSING
LA – Hernandez, 2-5-0, 25.
Sant – Tajimaroa, 14-28-0, 228, 2 TDs.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING
LA – Antolin, 3-30.
Sant – Smith, 6-132, 2 TDs.
