GARDEN GROVE – Santiago’s football team remained on track for a long-sought league championship with a 29-10 win over Los Amigos on Thursday at Garden Grove High.
The Cavaliers are 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the Garden Grove League.
And now things get interesting for them.
Santiago quarterback Daniel Gonzales fires a pass against Los Amigos in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Amigos’ Joe Mejia, right, pushes away Santiago defensive back Adrian Najera, left, in the first quarter in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Amigos’ Bao Huynh grabs SantiagoÕs Isaac Hernandez to bring him down in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago wide receiver Israel Hernandez, left, beats Los Amigos’ Erubey Bermudez, right, to make an over the shoulder catch in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago wide receiver Daniel Padilla, right, tries to break free of the grasp of Los Amigos’ Adrian Ramirez, left, in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Amigos’ Bao Huynh, left, in jumps to avoid a tackle by Santiago linebacker Art Martinez (5) to gain yardage in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago’s Isaac Hernandez dives into the end zone to score a touchdown against Los Amigos late in the third quarter in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Amigos running back Bao Huynh, center, runs through a hole in the Santiago defense for a gain in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago’s Isaac Hernandez runs into the end zone to score a touchdown against Los Amigos in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santiago’s Isaac Hernandez, center, runs through a hole in the Los Amigos defense to score a touchdown in the second quarter in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
With pressure from Los Amigos’ Adrian Ramirez, left, Santiago wide receiver Daniel Padilla, right, lets a pass slip through his hands in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Amigos quarterback Maysen Navarro fires a pass against Santiago in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
A member of the Los Amigos marching band plays during the half time performance in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The Los Amigos marching band take the field for their half time performance in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
A Los Amigos cheerleader reacts to a play during the game against Santiago in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The Santiago High School football team takes the field before the start of their game against Los Amigos in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The Los Amigos marching band stand at the ready to begin their half time performance in Garden Grove on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
They play Rancho Alamitos on Friday, Oct. 22 at Garden Grove High. Rancho Alamitos (6-1, 2-0) plays Loara (2-5, 0-2) on Friday night, Oct. 15.
Santiago junior running back Art Martinez scored on runs of 76 and 99 yards. The 99-yard run tied a CIF and national record because, of course, no run can go beyond 99 yards. He finished with 239 yards on 15 carries.
Isaac Hernandez scored on a run of 16 yards and on a 12-yard reception for the Cavaliers.
Bao Huynh rushed for 117 yards and one touchdown on 29 carries for Los Amigos (4-4, 2-1).
Martinez, once he got past linemen and linebackers, displayed breakaway speed on his touchdown runs.
On his 99-yard run, he quickly scooted into the secondary with only a cornerback and safety to beat.
“I put on a little cut,” Martinez said, “went between them, and once I felt their hands off of me I knew I was gone.”
Santiago coach Doug Ozsvath is enthused that the Cavaliers remain in contention for what would be the school’s first football league championship since 1978.
“I’m excited for my boys,” Ozsvath said. “I just love the way we’ve been fighting all season long.”
Santiago had a 23-10 lead when Los Amigos put together an impressive drive that started in the final minute of the third quarter and continued through the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The Lobos had a fourth-and-goal at the Santiago 2-yard line, gave the ball to Huynh on a handoff and Huynh was stopped inches short of the goal line by a group of Cavaliers with senior defensive lineman Satomai Siofele-Ropati leading the surge.
“That fourth-down, goal-line stand is what football is all about,” Ozsvath said.
Two plays later Martinez scored on his 99-yard run. His 76-yard touchdown run had given the Cavaliers a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Los Amigos remains in solid contention for a playoff berth. The Lobos play La Quinta on Friday, Oct. 22 at Bolsa Grande High.
This post first appeared on ocregister.com
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