In what was billed as the Orange County “Game of the Week,” the CIF Southern Division's third-ranked Westminster High hosted the second-ranked Garden Grove High Argonauts who were the section’s runner up in their bid for the championship last season.
In what was billed as the Orange County “Game of the Week,” the CIF Southern Division's third-ranked Westminster High hosted the second-ranked Garden Grove High Argonauts who were the section’s runner up in their bid for the championship last season.
The hype panned out to be accurate in the first quarter as both teams traded punches with Westminster drawing first blood at the foot of a 27-yard field goal by junior Rodrigo Miranda.
Coverage on the ensuing kick-off coverage showed the signs of the first game of the season and the Argonauts capitalized on each of the next two including a return for a touchdown.
Garden Grove High had pulled ahead to a 12-3 lead before Westminster had running back Humberto Maciel add a 65-yard kickoff return to his 95 yards of rushing.
The Lions used quick passes to Dat Tran (5 receptions for 61 yards) and 150 yards rushing by quarterback Daniel Thomsen as they moved in for a 10-yard Thomsen touchdown before a miss-hold on the PAT attempt and now pulled within a 12-9 score.
The Lions front four on defense and front line on offense seemed eager to step up to the task and each side of the ball played well.
Turnovers of two fumbles and three interceptions did the Lions in, as did some big pass plays by the Argonauts.
The hands and feet of quarterback Angel Martinez proved to be enough to give Garden Grove High a misleading 25–15 halftime lead and the miscues of Westminster’s PAT and field goal snaps ended up being the beginning of the end.
The Lions advanced to the Argonauts' 10-yard line at the end of the half with a chance to pull within three points when the drive stalled for 35 minutes as tackle Andy Mejia’s dislocated a knee-cap and put the game into a long time out and ended the full speed momentum that the Lions had on the drive.
The next play was a stop by the Argonauts and the Lions settled for a field goal attempt to get them within one score to end the half.
That, of course, was the plan as a short snap caused chaos and when kicker Rodrigo Miranda attempted to pick it up he took a full speed helmet to the straight-legged thigh and the teams and crowd saw another 45-minute stoppage and second ambulance of the night.
The game and season had been dedicated to Westminster High's first coach, Bill Boswell, who coached the Lions in their first 17 years and taught at the school for 37 years as well as being the school’s athletic director.
Members of his family, and wife Jo, were in attendance and gathered the program dedicated to the man who has always been the heart of the Lions and namesake of the stadium.
With great pride in playing for such a man’s legacy, the Lions came out and marched down the field as David Guzman rushed for a 5-yard touchdown before another miscue and missed extra point brought the Lions closer with the score of 15-19.
The celebration was short-lived as the Argonauts scored again for a 25-15 lead at the half.
The second half became all Argonauts as they pulled ahead to win the game 38-15 leaving them in the driver’s seat on the road back to the title game.
It appeared that the week would be all Argonauts as their freshman won by a 28-8 score before Westminster’s JV returned the favor with a convincing 36-0 win.
The Lions' varsity is forced to lick their wounds and fine-tune some misfires as they play on the road at their own Bill Boswell stadium against Marina High next.
In his 17 years against the Vikings, Boswell’s record was a perfect 17 wins and zero loses.
The rivalry continues with most coaches having coached with and against each other on each side of the battle and the head coach of Marina being married to the assistant principal at Westminster high.
This game will be more than personal. Kickoff is 7 p.m. and this game should be called the “Black and Blue Bowl” as the Lions will dress in black for the “Black Out” game and their opponents will be clad in blue.
Garden Grove High faces Woodbridge at 7 p.m., Sept. 13 on its home field.