GARDEN GROVE — Bolsa Grande quarterback Michael Nguyen and a supporting cast of talented playmakers were too much for Savanna in a Tango League game Thursday night.
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And 187 yards in penalties against Savanna didn’t help, either, as the Matadors were able to extend several drives and defeat the Rebels, 47-22, at Bolsa Grande High School.
Nguyen completed 13 of 21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown and ran for two touchdowns. Anthony Bell rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
“I feel like the biggest key to this game was our line,” Nguyen said. “They were sending like seven defenders, but our line did great and really carried us in this game.”
With four games in the books and four games remaining in the nine-team Tango League, the Matadors (4-2, 3-1) are in second place behind Loara.
The Matadors’ only league loss came against the Saxons in the league opener.
Loara plays Magnolia on Friday night.
“In the first game, we came in with the mentality that we are just going to win,” Bell said. “We didn’t practice hard. We didn’t play hard. But after that, it really gave us motivation to not take any team lightly.”
The league receives four automatic spots in the CIF-SS playoffs, so the Rebels (3-3, 2-2) are certainly still in contention to reach the postseason.
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After Bentley Cruz scored for the Rebels to make the score 6-6, a 15-yard penalty against the Rebels on the ensuing kickoff gave Bolsa Grande good field position. Another 15-yard penalty against Savanna later in the drive gave the Matadors a first down at the Savanna 29.
Two plays later, Nguyen connected with Alex Vargas for an 18-yard touchdown, giving the Matadors a 13-6 lead.
Bell’s 45-yard touchdown run in the second quarter made the score 20-6.
The Matadors had a first-and-10 from the Savanna 40 when another 15-yard penalty and a 7-yard penalty later in the drive helped set up a 1-yard touchdown run from Nguyen to make the score 27-6.
Savanna had a chance to get back into the game on the ensuing drive, but an interception in the end zone by Slater Espinoza preserved the Matadors’ three-score lead.
The Matadors also stopped the Rebels on fourth down twice in the contest.
Three penalties by the Savanna defense totaling 38 yards on a third-quarter drive led to an 8-yard touchdown run from Bell.
Two personal foul penalties by the Rebels on a fourth-quarter Bolsa Grande drive set up a 2-yard touchdown run from Daymien Sanchez that put the contest out of reach.
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