Los Amigos, Atuatasi Have Run of the Field

Johnny Atuatasi put his signature on Los Amigos’ 44-14 Garden Grove League victory over Bolsa Grande early in the game Thursday at Garden Grove High.

The sophomore running back scored the game’s opening touchdown on a 66-yard run, eluding a pair of Matadors at the line of scrimmage, then escaping another group of would-be tacklers at the 30 on his way to the end zone.

That score was symbolic of the game--Bolsa Grande (0-8, 0-4 in league) kept missing tackles and Los Amigos (3-4-1, 2-1-1) kept running, picking up 403 yards rushing and scoring all six of its touchdowns on the ground.

It wasn’t a breakout performance for Atuatasi, who ran for 154 yards in a victory over Santiago a week earlier. But his 138 first-half yards were a big reason the Lobos enjoyed a 27-6 lead at the intermission. He finished with 185 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“We didn’t run him a lot early [in the year]. With some of the teams we played early, we just weren’t comfortable giving him a lot of reps,” Los Amigos Coach David Olson said. “He did a great job tonight.”

After its opening 15-play drive ended in a missed field goal, Los Amigos scored on its next six possessions. Quarterback Richard Dinh (106 yards rushing) had a 38-yard scoring run and Sam Islas and Emo Taula each rushed for a touchdown.

Los Amigos is in control of its playoff destiny, but if the Lobos fail to beat league leader Pacifica next week, they will need help to advance to the postseason.

“It’s still early to be looking at those things,” Olson said. “Pacifica is a very good team, a very physical team, and I just hope we can match up with them.”