High School Football: Lobos gamble, pay price against Argos

GARDEN GROVE — The Los Amigos High football team approached Thursday’s Garden Grove League opener against Garden Grove with a nothing-to-lose attitude.

It played accordingly, going for it on fourth down and attempting a two-point conversion after its only score in a 27-6 loss to the Argonauts, who extended their league winning streak to 23 games.

But even after the setback, Lobos Coach Carl Agnew said there was little to lament and plenty to look forward to for his team (3-3, 0-1 in league).

“We played against a great team, which has been undefeated league champs four years in a row and will probably make it five,” Agnew said of the Argonauts (4-2, 1-0). “We definitely had to gamble and we took some chances early. With a good team, you have to make them and if you don’t, they are going to make you pay. They made us pay. Hats off to them. They are a good team.”

In a scoreless game, Los Amigos tried to parlay its only first-half possession in Garden Grove territory by going for it on fourth-and-two at the Argos’ 46-yard line early in the second quarter.

Garden Grove held, however, then went 54 yards in just three plays to take the lead for good.

The Argonauts scored on their ensuing possession as well to up the lead to 14-0, where the game stood until Los Amigos, the designated home team at Garden Grove High, seized some momentum.

Senior tailback Edgar Galindo ran five yards for a touchdown to pull the Lobos within one score with 14 seconds left in the third quarter, but an attempt at a two-point conversion pass was intercepted, leaving the visitors ahead, 14-6.

Garden Grove then scored on its final two possessions to pull away and assert its status as league title favorite.

“We probably lost the league title, but I think the way our [CIF Southern Section playoff Division 12] works out, I don’t think we’re going to see another team like Garden Grove in our division,” Agnew said. “We were in the game, pretty much all game. We have a shot to go deep in the playoffs and we expect to go deep. We just have to rally back and rebound and come back and win the next four and see where CIF puts us.

“I don’t think we’ll see another team like Garden Grove, Dana Hills or Cypress, which are the three teams we’ve lost to. We’ve beaten everybody else and I think we’re going to continue doing that.”

Los Amigos continued gambling in the second half, going for it on fourth down and failing on its final two possessions.

The Lobos struggled to move the ball on the ground, especially in the first half, when it produced just 19 of its 115 rushing yards.

The aerial game, a struggle all year for the Lobos, wasn’t much of an option either, as two quarterbacks combined to complete two of seven passes for 18 yards.

Los Amigos did benefit from penalties, as the Argonauts were flagged 13 times for 139 yards.

Garden Grove quarterback Ruben Mendoza rushed for 116 yards and one touchdown on 20 attempts. He also completed seven of 10 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. His scoring passes went for 39 and 34 yards to Adam Johnson and Devan Rouse, respectively.

Garden Grove also scored on a 29-yard run by Dominik Sanchez.

Steven Hernandez led the Lobos with 66 yards on 20 rushing attempts, while Galindo added 49 yards on 13 carries.

Garden Grove League

Garden Grove 27, Los Amigos

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Garden Grove 0 – 14 – 0 – 13 – 27

Los Amigos 0 – 0 – 6 – 0 – 6

SECOND QUARTER

GG – Sanchez 29 run (Anderson kick), 7:17.

GG – Johnson 39 pass from Mendoza (Anderson kick), 2:39.

THIRD QUARTER

LA – Galindo 5 run (Pass failed), 0:14.

FOURTH QUARTER

GG – Mendoza 4 run (Anderson kick), 9:36.

GG – Rouse 34 pass from Mendoza (run failed), 0:57.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

GG – Mendoza, 19-116, 1 TD.

LA – Hernandez, 20-66.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

GG – Mendoza, 7-10-0, 121, 2 TDs.

LA – Hernandez, 1-6-0, 14.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

GG – Rouse, 2-43, 1 TD.

LA – Galindo, 1-14.