Pacifica Able to Stop Welty, Garden Grove

Pacifica overcame a 241-yard passing performance by Garden Grove back-up quarterback Rick Welty and held on to defeat the Argonauts, 35-21, Thursday night in a Garden Grove League game at Bolsa Grande.

The Mariners (5-2, 2-2) had built a 35-0 lead late in the first half before a rally by Garden Grove (0-7, 0-3 in league) fell short.

Verdell LeVeaux scored on the fourth play from scrimmage for Pacifica with a 35-yard run.

Paul Tessier caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from J.D. Stern on the final play of the first quarter to increase the Mariner lead to 14-0.

Scott Yoast recovered a fumble on the first play of the second quarter and Stern and Tessier connected again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown pass. A six-yard run by LeVeaux gave the Mariners a 28-0 lead.

Jason Simpson, behind four key blocks, returned an interception 90 yards as Pacifica moved ahead 35-0 with 2 minutes 38 seconds left in the first half.

Welty hit Brandon Jones with a 34-yard touchdown pass with 46 seconds left in the second quarter to put Garden Grove on the scoreboard.

Welty, who replaced Faustino Campa in the second quarter, completed two third-quarter touchdown passes, 46 yards to Ulysses Linares and 45 yards to Jason Bruce.

Welty attempted 37 passes in less than three quarters, completing 17 for 241 yards. Stern completed eight of 10 for 123 yards in the first half and didn’t complete any of his five passes in the second.