Santiago’s Mistakes Help Los Amigos to Easy Victory

Ralph Brager, one of Santiago’s assistant coaches, walked onto the Garden Grove High football field and said to himself, “Great, no lights. They’re going to televise this in the dark. This should be fun.”

Unfortunately for Santiago, it wasn’t fun because eventually the lights came on and the Cavaliers were the ones left in the dark as Santiago lost, 27-6, to Los Amigos in a Garden Grove League game Friday night.

Santiago (1-5, 1-2) lost four fumbles and had a punt blocked that Los Amigos returned for a touchdown.

The Cavaliers took the opening kickoff and drove to the Los Amigos 19-yard line, but Santiago quarterback Louie Perez fumbled and Los Amigos’ Junior Leofa recovered on the 24.

Los Amigos (3-1-2, 2-0-1) scored four plays later when quarterback Ape Tuato passed 56 yards to Carlos Sianez.

Tuato passed for 136 yards, completing nine of 14 passes, and also scored on a six-yard touchdown run.

With 8 minutes 2 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Los Amigos’ Nick Peres blocked a Geoff Noisey punt. Sianez picked up the loose ball and ran 15 yards for a touchdown. Chong Vang then kicked his second extra point to give Los Amigos a 14-0 lead.

Then, Tuato scored his touchdown to make it 20-0, and with 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Noah Tagatauli raced 33 yards for a touchdown.

Tagatauli rushed for 118 yards in 16 carries. Keuni Faamausili added 44 yards in seven carries.

With 3:54 left in the game, Santiago finally scored on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Perez to Jason Calderwood.

Perez rushed for 56 yards in 14 carries and Pablo Martinez had 55 yards in 10 carries. Minh Nguyen finished with 44 yards in seven carries. Noisey gained 40 yards in eight carries.