Big Plays Give Argonauts Special Win Over Lobos

Garden Grove put itself in prime position for a playoff berth with a 27-11 victory over visiting Los Amigos Thursday at Garden Grove High.

The Argonauts (3-2, 2-0) are one of two teams in the Garden Grove League with a winning record, but with their first two wins against lightly regarded El Modena and La Quinta, they still had something to prove Thursday.

Special teams were key for Garden Grove in the first half, as big plays set up the Argonauts’ first two touchdowns. Dylan Watkins blocked a Los Amigos punt and recovered at the Lobo three-yard line, setting up a 15-yard scoring toss from Matt Crippen to Chris Jameson. In the second quarter, Miguel Medina returned a punt 43 yards to midfield, and Keo Sutherland capped that drive with a two-yard sneak that made the score 14-3.

Crippen connected with Liu Ioane on a 40-yard scoring pass four minutes into the second half to increase the margin to 21-3; the Argonauts have completed only two passes in league and both have gone for touchdowns. Later in the quarter, Crippen intercepted a Richard Dinh pass and returned it 42 yards to the Lobo 19. Bryan Loken, who rushed for 70 yards, scored three plays later on a 10-yard run.

Los Amigos (1-4, 1-1) scored its touchdown with 14 seconds remaining, as Dinh connected with Juan Rangel on a six-yard scoring strike.