Sore Tuato Still Wreaks Havoc

GARDEN GROVE — Los Amigos was able to holster its offense early Friday night, removing its starters in a 41-6 victory over La Quinta at Garden Grove High.

But one Lobo left a little earlier, which gave Coach Roger Takahashi his only concern of the game. Ape Tuato, the Lobos’ standout quarterback and defensive back, left in the second quarter after re-injuring his rib cage.

Tuato, a big reason the Lobos (4-0, 1-0) are favored to win the Garden Grove League, suffered the injury the first week of the season while lifting weights. He was hurt again Friday night after being hit at the end of a 23-yard run.

This was not the way the Lobos, ranked fifth in Orange County, wanted to begin league play.

“I don’t think it’s serious, but we’ll have to see,” Takahashi said. “We didn’t need this.”

Takahashi said that Tuato will likely play against Aliso Niguel next week. Tuato said he could have continued Friday.

“It was something we didn’t want to risk,” Tuato said.

When Tuato was on the field, he and the Lobos were as good as billed. He threw two touchdown passes in a 22-point first quarter.

Tuato suckered La Quinta safety Rod Saucedo with a play-action fake, then hit a wide open Ken Carr for a 45-yard touchdown pass.

Jacob Sanchez recovered a fumble on La Quinta’s first play following the touchdown. Tuato then connected with Greg Fausto on a 28-yard pass on the next play. The Lobos led, 22-0, and began substituting liberally.

La Quinta (1-3, 0-1) turned the ball over four times, help the Lobos didn’t need.

Fausto had 454 yards rushing coming into the game. He finished with 75 yards in 11 carries, including a four-yard touchdown run on the Lobos’ first series.

It was the fourth time in four games the Lobos had scored on their first possession.

“We really seem to come out sharp in games,” Takahashi said. “We seem to be prepared right out of the gate.”

Fausto later scored on a 20-yard run, then took the second half off. He has 12 touchdowns on the season.

La Quinta lost quarterback C.J. Livernois early in the first half. His knee buckled on a rollout for the second consecutive week. Coach Fred Valko said that Livernois may be out for the season.