Bad News Energizes Garden Grove in Its Victory Over Pacifica

Playing with the burden of an uncertain future, the Garden Grove High football team took hold of the present to make what could possibly be its last hurrah of the season.

The Argonauts, who earlier in the day forfeited four Garden Grove League games for using an ineligible player, turned the emotions triggered by the news into a positive force and defeated visiting Pacifica, 27-14, Friday night.

However, Garden Grove (4-6, 2-5 in league) could still make the Southern Section Division VII playoffs if the principals of the schools in the league vote to give the Argonauts one of the three automatic berths.

The league constitution, Garden Grove Coach Jeff Buenafe said, has the right to send to the playoffs the teams that supposedly would best represent it in the playoffs, regardless of their records during the season. That decision is expected to be announced this morning.

As of now, league champion Rancho Alamitos, runner-up Kennedy and Los Amigos have qualified automatically. The loss dropped Pacifica (6-4, 4-3) to fourth place and in line for a potential at-large invitation, unless things change drastically today.

“It doesn’t matter what’s thrown our way,” Buenafe said. “This is just one terrific team. They’ve got hearts the size of helmets.”

The Argonauts started rolling on their second possession of the night when quarterback Brian Schneider connected with wide receiver Roy Mendoza on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 4 minutes 47 seconds to play in the first quarter. Pacifica end Jason Cousins, who also had two sacks and a fumble recovery, blocked the extra-point attempt by Schneider.

The Mariners took a 7-6 lead moments later on a 70-yard run by tailback Josh Lewis, but Schneider gave Garden Grove a 20-7 lead at the half with a touchdown on a one-yard keeper and with a four-yard pass to Steve Hoalton.

Schneider, who completed five of eight passes for 131 yards, set up his own touchdown run with a 78-yard pass play to Hoalton on the previous play. Hoalton was tackled from behind at the Pacifica one by Mariner cornerback Damien Cook.

Tailback Jim Sebreros, who rushed for a game-high 177 yards in 26 carries, gave the Argonauts their final points on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Pacifica’s last score came when quarterback Brian Wolfson, who was 14 of 24 for 159 yards passing, hooked up with Lewis on a 56-yard pass with 10:37 left in the game.

The Argonaut defense gave Wolfson problems early in the game, sacking him three times and holding him to 26 yards passing in the first half. Sosia Tamoefolau, Gary Hemme and Dan Rodarte had the Garden Grove sacks.