GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE : La Quinta Beats Santiago for First Victory of Season

The drought is over for one team; the other tries to endure for another week.

La Quinta finally won a football game this season, beating Santiago, 21-0, in the Garden Grove League opener for both teams Thursday night at Garden Grove High.

The Aztecs (1-3, 1-0) did it the hard way, but that’s way better than Santiago (0-4, 0-1) could manage in a game marked by a handful of electrifying plays and a whole lot of nothing in between.

Sophomore quarterback Jason Gondringer and senior halfback Prinya Satitpunwaycha provided the bulk of the offense for La Quinta, which lost its three nonleague games by a total of 24 points.

Gondringer completed 11 of 21 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown, and Satitpunwaycha led the team in rushing with 100 yards--and one touchdown--and in receiving with 57 yards.

La Quinta scored its first touchdown with 5 minutes, 13 seconds to play in the second quarter on a two-yard run by Gondringer, who made his first start of the season for the Aztecs.

The Aztecs scored again with 6:38 to go in the third quarter on an 89-yard, end-around run by Satitpunwaycha and with 53 seconds to play in the quarter on a 47-yard pass from Gondringer to Pat Wilson.

They had another opportunity midway through the fourth quarter when a high snap on a Santiago punt attempt gave La Quinta a first and goal at the Cavalier four-yard line, but couldn’t capitalize. The Santiago defense stopped the Aztecs on three consecutive running plays and linebacker Steve Tafua intercepted a Gondringer pass on fourth down at the three-yard line.

Santiago, which had relied more on its passing than running this year, tried to move the ball on the ground and was modestly successful. Junior halfback Geoff Noisey gained 111 yards on 15 carries, including a 49-yard run on his first attempt. But quarterback Louie Perez was ineffective, completing four of 20 passes for 55 yards.