By Travis Perkins
The Garden Grove High football team has dominated its opponents in non-league matchups and league contests, bringing its regular season record to a perfect 10-0.
It will now embark on its postseason campaign to capture the Southern Section title for the second time in three seasons.
It will open its campaign as the favorite against Orange (Golden West League) on Nov. 15 at home.
By Travis Perkins
The Garden Grove High football team has dominated its opponents in non-league matchups and league contests, bringing its regular season record to a perfect 10-0.
It will now embark on its postseason campaign to capture the Southern Section title for the second time in three seasons.
It will open its campaign as the favorite against Orange (Golden West League) on Nov. 15 at home.
Local fans are predicting a blowout in the Argonauts’ favor and an easy run to the title. After all, the Argonauts already crushed Westminster High, another Golden West League team, and many firmly believe this year’s squad might be the best in school history.
This claim might be true, too. Just look at its dominating offensive performance last week against Rancho Alamitos (at Bolsa Grande High), which it topped with a 70-24 victory in Garden Grove League action to finish the regular season.
The Argonauts own the air against opposing defenses. Last week, Angel Martinez, who completed 14 of 15 attempts for 250 yards, tossed five touchdowns. This year he’s thrown for over 1,500 yards with 23 touchdowns and only has three interceptions, which proves he barely misses.
Much of his accomplishments should be shared with the Argonauts’ offensive line, which held for backup quarterback Josh Green to throw a 25-yard touchdown in his only attempt.
Yet the Argonauts' offense is not one-dimensional. In fact, it posted 243 yards with just 22 carries against Rancho. Sione Mascoe did most of the lifting, using eight touches for 90 yards, but the Argonauts spread out their running attack. In all, eight rushers, excluding Martinez, carried the rock and Bryan Quexel scored the only touchdown from the ground.
Yet the Argonauts' defense has been described as their greatest strength, considering they delivered five straight shutouts – a streak that ended against Rancho. That run included 24 scoreless quarters and ended when Rancho’s Emmanuel Cuevas launched a 48-yard field goal, which caused the biggest applause of the night.
The Argonauts’ defense also has the ability to generate points. Indeed, Reily Hoalton intercepted a pass against Rancho and returned it 37 yards into the end zone.
Also, Quexel recovered and returned a fumble for a 38-yard touchdown.
However, some local fans aren’t convinced this year’s team is better than some of the more recent ones.
Some critics believe Garden Grove High needs to start playing a tougher schedule, or perhaps get bumped to a higher division, but in its defense, that sort of thing was not in the team’s control.
Also, others point out this year’s group hasn’t won a CIF title – not yet – and it still needs to defeat four teams, including Orange in the opener, just to reach the final round.
The 2011-2012 squad owns a Garden Grove League and CIF title, so for now it owns top bragging rights. However, that might all change soon, especially if the current team wins CIF and perhaps a state bowl game.
The 2011-2012 team played the exact same non-league and league schedule as this year’s squad, but it only managed to finish with a 9-1 mark, losing to Pacifica in non-league play.
This year’s squad, only has to do one thing to silence the critics: win CIF. If it does, it can easily make the argument – at least from a statistic standpoint – that it’s the best in school history.
Until then, and for now, the hype is deserved.
