Defense Gives Garden Grove Its First League Title in Eight Years

Defense wins championships, even in the Garden Grove League, where many of the teams could use a remedial course in the subject.

Garden Grove’s defense was the best in an offense-heavy league all season, and it was a decisive factor Friday night in a 38-20 victory over Pacifica that clinched the Argonauts’ first league title in eight years.

“We’re the No. 1 defense in the league and we stepped it up tonight,” Garden Grove Coach Kris Van Hook said. “We did great to hold that team to 20 points.”

The Garden Grove offense was no slouch either, rolling up 422 yards--307 rushing--in front of about 2,000 at Garden Grove High. Bryan Loken ran for 121 yards and a touchdown in 16 carries. Miguel Medina had 81 yards rushing and scored on a 24-yard run and 34-yard reception. Keo Sutherland passed for 115 yards and a touchdown.

But make no mistake, defense was the key reason Garden Grove is 6-0 in league and in the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

The Argonauts (7-3 overall) gave up 66 points in six league games, and Friday they contained an offense that was averaging 45.4 points per game in league play. The Mariners (6-4, 4-2) managed 228 yards, and only 67 rushing. Jared Kemp, their top rusher, had 29 yards in five carries.

“They put a lot of pressure on us,” said Pacifica Coach Bill Craven, whose team will go to the playoffs as the league’s third-place finisher. “They were more physical than I expected.”

The game’s biggest play was provided by the Argonaut defense, which stopped Kemp on fourth-and-inches at the Pacifica 39 with a minute left in the third quarter. The Argonauts quickly drove to a touchdown, Matt Crippen’s three-yard run, for a 26-13 lead, and Pacifica never got back in it.

“That was the turning point, absolutely,” Van Hook said.

Pacifica led, 13-12, midway through the third quarter after Joey Fuske’s five-yard touchdown pass to Alfonson Aluelua. But Garden Grove outscored the Mariners 26-7 the rest of the way.