ORANGE COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL : Garden Grove League : Bolsa Grande Wins Title With Win Over La Quinta

Bolsa Grande High School got the big plays on offense and defense to come from behind for a 28-17 victory over La Quinta Friday, clinching the Garden Grove League championship for the Matadors.

Trailing 10-6 and 17-14, Bolsa Grande came up with the scoring play or defensive turnover to shock the defending league champions in front of 3,000 fans in the league finale at Garden Grove High School.

For Bolsa Grande, it was the first outright league championship in the school’s history. The 1972 Matadors were tri-champions of the Garden Grove League.

Bolsa Grande gained the victory behind two touchdown passes from quarterback Damon Fisher and three interceptions by the Matador defense.

Behind, 17-14, early in the fourth quarter, Bolsa Grande drove 58 yards for what proved to be the winning touchdown on an eight-play drive capped by Ricky Lepule’s 12-yard touchdown run, making it 21-17. Lepule led all rushers with 97 yards in 17 carries.

On La Quinta’s ensuing drive, Bolsa Grande cornerback Jim Usey came up with the play of the game when he intercepted a Derek Debbs pass, all but clinching the victory for the Matadors.

“It was a ‘disguise’ defense,” Bolsa Grande Coach Greg Shadid said. “He was laying back like a cornerback should, but we told him that when he saw the out (short) pass, to go after it because we had other people deep. That was the key play because they were driving and could have gone in front again.”

Debbs threw the short pass to a wide receiver at midfield but Usey stepped in front of the receiver for the interception, carrying the ball down to La Quinta’s 22-yard line. Bolsa Grande scored six plays later on a two-yard run by Fisher to account for the final score.

Bolsa Grande finished its regular season play with a 5-0 league record and 9-1 overall. La Quinta fell to 4-1 and 6-4. Both schools advance to the first round of next week’s Central Conference playoffs.

Santiago 29, Rancho Alamitos 0--Hao Dinh gained 146 yards in 21 carries and scored 3 touchdowns to lead the Cavaliers to their second victory of the season. Dinh caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mark Maldanado and also scored on runs of 28 yards and 1 yard. Rancho Alamitos finished 0-9-1.