BUENA PARK — The Omicron League game between the Pacifica and Buena Park football teams Thursday at Buena Park High School featured a first half that was dominated by long scoring drives by both teams.
Then Pacifica’s defense, led by interception returns for touchdowns by Charlie Llano and Fernando Arzola, took over in the second half, helping the Mariners come away with a 45-38 victory.
“Players make plays in big games,” Pacifica coach Kyle Murphy said of the interceptions. “Both these guys, they’ve worked really hard in practice. They’re locked into what we do. And so, when they get their opportunities and they’re playing on defense, they make the most of it.”
With two league games remaining, the Mariners (3-5, 3-0) are in first place.
If Portola defeats University on Friday, the Bulldogs will move into a first-place tie with the Mariners.
After the Coyotes (4-4, 2-1) and Mariners combined for 56 points in the first half Thursday, the only points in the third quarter came on Ethan Mclaughlin’s 23-yard field goal to put Pacifica ahead 31-28.
That’s how it stayed until the fourth quarter, when Arzola made his interception and raced down the left sideline for a 36-yard touchdown.
“It was third and long, so I was thinking it was obviously a pass,” Arzola said. “I dropped back to my zone. I see the quarterback staring down the receiver. I see him throw it. It went right in my hands.”
The Coyotes got the ball back and faced a second-and-10 from the Mariners 40 when Llano made his interception and ran down the right sideline 55 yards for a touchdown, giving Pacifica a 45-28 lead.
“The quarterback didn’t see me,” Llano said. “The quarterback’s eyes were looking at me. The ball was already in the air.”
Buena Park trailed by a touchdown with under two minutes remaining when Jayden Leneker recovered a fumble for the Mariners, who were able to run out the clock.
In the first quarter, the Coyotes (4-4, 2-1) converted a fumble by the Mariners on their 4 into 1-yard touchdown run from Lynnden Hodge to make the score 7-7.
But all of the other first-half touchdowns were scored at the end of long drives, as Mariners quarterback James Anema and Coyotes quarterback Kevin Garcia each did an excellent job of leading their team down the field.
The Mariners took a 14-7 lead on Anema’s 8-yard touchdown pass to David Carlson.
The Coyotes started the ensuing drive at their 11 and capped the 89-yard scoring drive with Kevin Garcia’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Hodge to tie the score.
Buena Park converted twice on fourth down during the drive.
After Anema and David Carlsson connected for an 18-yard touchdown, the Coyotes took over on their 24 with three minutes, 32 seconds left until halftime.
Then with no time left on the clock, Garcia threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Damien Rodriguez, who made the catch despite being surrounded by defenders.
Garcia completed 16 of 27 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns and Anema was 13 of 15 for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
