Garden Grove Defense Slams Door on Pacifica

See Jim Sebreros run. See an inspired Garden Grove High School defensive unit stop the Pacifica offensive plan cold. See the Argonauts pull off perhaps the biggest upset of the Garden Grove League season.

The 800 or so in attendance at Garden Grove High Friday night saw that and much more as the Argonauts, with sophomore tailback Sebreros providing the groundwork, defeated Pacifica, 27-14.

Sebreros rushed for 119 yards in 28 carries and scored two touchdowns as Garden Grove (4-4, 3-2 in the league) remained in the hunt for a playoff spot. Pacifica dropped to 5-3 and 3-2.

“This was probably the biggest one (victory) for our program,” said Garden Grove Coach Jeff Buenafe. “Our goal all season has been to go to the playoffs.”

If the Argonauts continue to play like they did Friday night, they might just get there.

Garden Grove was not only able to push the Pacifica defensive line all over throughout the game, but its defensive unit played its part by sacking Mariner quarterback Chris Castellano seven times, including twice by Scott Fridley.

Garden Grove was equally stingy against the Pacifica running game, keeping the Mariners to minus-14 yards rushing.

In fact, by the time the fog began to roll in early in the second half, Pacifica had all but rolled over.

Garden Grove took a 7-0 lead on a one-yard run by quarterback Simon Fuentes with 7 minutes 27 seconds remaining in the opening period.

But Pacifica answered on its ensuing possession when Castellano connected on a 20-yard pass play with tight end Ryan Bremer on a fourth-and-15 situation to even the score, 7-7.

The Mariners then jumped ahead, 14-7, on a 28-yard pass play from Castellano to wide receiver Scott Lesser, who out-jumped Garden Grove’s 5-foot-8 defensive back Raul Gonzales in the end zone for the touchdown with 10:09 left in the second quarter.

That was their last hoorah for the night.

Sebreros scored five minutes later for Garden Grove on a three-yard run set up by a Brian Brodhagen interception of a Castellano pass, and again with 11 seconds left before the half on a one-yard plunge.