Lobos Waste Lead, Still Beat Pacifica

Los Amigos allowed a 23-point first-half lead to slip away before a 51-yard touchdown run by Jesus Vargas with 2 minutes 47 seconds to play enabled the Lobos to hand Pacifica its first Garden Grove League loss of the season, 37-32 Thursday night at Bolsa Grande High.

The victory keeps Los Amigos’ playoff hopes alive. The Lobos (4-4-1, 3-1-1) can clinch a postseason berth with a win next week over La Quinta and a loss by Rancho Alamitos in either of its final two regular-season games.

A 35-yard field goal by Pacifica kicker Derek Crocker with 5:26 left in the game pushed the Mariners (5-4, 4-1) into the lead, 32-30. Vargas, on fourth and one at the Pacifica 49-yard line, took an option pitch and raced into the end zone for the score.

Pacifica, ranked eighth in the Southern Section Division IX poll, took the ensuing kickoff at its own 38 and marched all the way to the Los Amigos one-yard line.

But Javon Smith, the leading rusher for Pacifica with 71 yards in 21 carries, was stopped at the goal line on the final play of the game by Los Amigos linebacker Junior Filemu.

“Our kids felt they were not getting any respect coming into this game,” Lobo Coach Dave Olson said. “From the start our kids wanted to show they were ready to play and make a run at the playoffs.”