GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE : Last Play of Game by Pacifica Defense Stops Garden Grove

Damien Cook and Jeff DePippo led Pacifica’s offense against Garden Grove. But it was the defense that made the difference in the Mariners’ 15-7 Garden Grove League victory Friday night at Bolsa Grande High School.

Senior Aaron Benjamin stopped Garden Grove quarterback David Pixler for no gain at the Mariners’ three-yard line as time expired to preserve the victory. The Argonauts’ final drive started at mid-field and moved inside the Pacifica five-yard line. With no time-outs remaining and the clock showing less than 10 seconds left, Pixler took the snap and tried to run around the left end, but was met by Benjamin and a group of Mariner defenders as the gun sounded.

Pacifica (2-2, 1-0) spotted Garden Grove (0-4, 0-1) a 7-0 lead on Ruben Reyna’s 10-yard run, capping a six-play, 56-yard drive.

The Mariners answered quickly. On the first play after the kickoff, Cook took the handoff from DePippo and burst up the middle for an 80-yard touchdown run. On the conversion, DePippo handled a bad snap and ran the ball in to make it 8-7 at halftime.

DePippo added a two-yard run with 9:35 left in the game that was set up by Russell Morfin’s fumble recovery. Three Pacifica linemen hit Pixler at his 16-yard line, forcing a fumble and Morfin fell on the ball. Four plays later, DePippo scored.

Pacifica defenders sacked Pixler seven times and forced two turnovers.

Garden Grove appeared to take the lead with 14 seconds left in the first half as Pixler connected with Chase Hamm for an apparent 47-yard score. However, officials called Hamm for offensive pass interference, negating the score.