Schneider Gets In, Leads Garden Grove : Prep football: Backup quarterback responds after starter Fuentes is injured to lead Argonauts to a 14-7 victory over Laguna Hills.

Talk about your basic “Who, me?” recruitment to the battlefield.

Quarterback Brian Schneider, who was minding his business on the sidelines early in the first quarter, was forced into the game when starter Simon Fuentes went out with a shoulder injury in Garden Grove’s first series of the night. He responded by guiding the Argonauts to a 14-7 nonleague victory over Laguna Hills in front of 1,000 Friday at Garden Grove High School.

Schneider, a junior who hadn’t taken a snap in a game for Garden Grove (3-0) this season, connected with wide receiver Brandon Hoalton on a 20-yard pass play with 3 minutes 49 seconds left in the third period for what proved to be the winning touchdown.

“He started out as our third-string quarterback,” Garden Grove Coach Jeff Buenafe said. “He did a nice job.”

Fuentes, who came into the game among the leaders in the county with 306 passing yards and five touchdowns, suffered a possible fracture of the left clavicle on Garden Grove’s sixth play from scrimmage when he was hit hard on an attempted pass. Fuentes, who is right handed, did not return to the game.

The Argonauts also got excellent performances from running backs Jim Sebreros (108 yards in 17 carries) and Derek Smith, who led all rushers with 114 yards in 13 carries. Sebreros scored the first touchdown of the night on an eight-yard sweep around right end with 9:29 remaining in the third quarter.

Laguna Hills (2-1) got into the end zone on a seven-yard run by Sergio Jimenez with 4:47 to play. The score was set up by a Ryan Brubaker interception and 69-yard return of a Schneider pass.

The Hawks missed several scoring opportunities, including one in their last series. Linebacker Dan Ciska recovered an Argonaut fumble at the Garden Grove 34-yard line with 44 seconds remaining. Laguna Hills quarterback Justin Vedder then found Jimenez open on a 23-yard pass play that gave the Hawks a first-and-10 at the 11-yard line. But Vedder’s pass on a second-and-10 play was intercepted at the six-yard line by defensive back Hoalton with 18 seconds left.

“Defense wins games for you and our defense rose to the occasion,” Buenafe said.

Laguna Hills didn’t help its cause by losing four of seven fumbles, mostly on bad snaps. The Hawks also were penalized 48 yards.