Sports
El Toro Keeps Hammer Down Against Garden Grove, 42-7
Chargers keep defensive pressure on Garden Grove, the defending CIF Southern Section Southern Division champions, and get their fifth victory in a row before beginning Sea View League play.
El Toro High's defense smothered Garden Grove for most of the night as the Chargers rolled to a 42-7 victory over the Argonauts in a nonleague game on Friday at Garden Grove High.
Junior quarterback Conner Manning threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score to lead the Chargers' offense. Junior running back Jacob Furnari was the recipient of one of Manning’s touchdown passes and he also ran for a score as the Chargers took a 28-0 lead by halftime.
But the story for El Toro (5-1) centered on its defense and the fifth consecutive game in which it's allowed seven points or less. Garden Grove avoided being the third consecutive team to be blanked by the Chargers when CJ Del Real broke a 70-yard touchdown run in the final minute of play.
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The Chargers have posted three shutouts in their past five game, since a 23-21 loss to Huntington Beach to start the season.
"Overall, our defense is nails … [defensive coordinator] Mike Mayoral with another great game plan and our kids executed well," Charger coach Rob Frith said.
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Garden Grove (1-4) threatened to score late in the second quarter, with the Chargers leading 28-0, when the Argonauts moved the ball to the El Toro 17-yard line. But the Chargers were able to force a fumble to end the drive.
Garden Grove was able to force a punt and get the ball back in Charger territory, but Anthony Jackson came up with an interception to preserve the 28-0 lead.
The Chargers' defense opened the game with a three-play stand on the Argonauts’ game-opening possession. Sophomore Sam Travis came around the outside to block the punt, and the Chargers had their first possession at the Garden Grove 17. Five plays later, Furnari gave the Chargers a 7-0 lead with a three-yard touchdown run.
On Garden Grove’s ensuing possession, the Chargers again held the Argonauts to three plays and a punt to get the ball near midfield. This time, Manning connected on three big passes to key a drive that ended with him finding junior receiver Cody White with a 14-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 Charger lead.
Manning would add touchdown passes to Dominic Collins and Furnari to give the Chargers their 28-0 lead. It was almost more, but Garden Grove senior defensive back Mark Umanzor made a big play for an interception in the end zone.
El Toro now heads into Sea View League play with a game against San Juan Hills on Friday at Tesoro High. The Chargers were second behind Laguna Hills last year in the league standings and are looking to take the top spot this season.
Offensively, the Chargers have averaged 41 points in their past five games. Furnari said the key to staying consistent as league opens will be mental.
"We just focus on composure, keeping composure, staying smart and playing within ourselves," he said. "We always play with heart."
San Juan Hills is winless so far, but the Chargers can’t get caught looking past any team in the league chase. “Because we only have five teams in our league, every game is a league-championship game,” Frith said.
