GARDEN GROVE — The Ocean View football team entered its final nonleague contest of the season still searching for a win.
It accomplished that goal with a 30-6 victory over Bolsa Grande on Thursday night.
Gaige Prichard rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns as the Seahawks capitalized on miscues by the Matadors to help them collect their first win.
Ocean View coach Daniel Hernandez felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
“I felt like we just didn’t get over the hump in the last few games, just not being able to find ways to win but tonight they found a way to win,” Hernandez said. “We got some big plays on defense, big plays on special teams and it finally started to click a little bit.”
Devyn Jenkins blocked a punt and recovered it in the endzone in the second quarter as the special teams unit left their imprint on the game.
The Seahawks (1-4) also recorded a safety and an interception, with Gregory Gates coming up with the pick in the second quarter on a pass by Tank Britton.
Britton left the game late in the second quarter and did not return in the second half, so Jacob Ortiz and sophomore Michael Nguyen took over at quarterback for the remainder of the game.
Bolsa Grande coach Michael Acosta was hoping his team would reach .500 with a win Thursday, but a number of mistakes proved too costly to overcome.
“We had that fumble down at the 1, we had a botched snap, the blocked punt and we didn’t help our defense by giving them a short field, so it was rough.” Acosta said.
The Matadors looked like they were going to strike first after a strip sack and recovery by the defense. Mikey Haley got to the 1-yard line but fumbled on second-and-goal. Romeo Lozano scooped up the loose ball and returned it near midfield, which completely shifted the early momentum.
Prichard scored on a 41-yard run a few plays later to make it 7-0.
Bolsa Grande (1-3) went three and out on its next drive and a high snap on a punt led to excellent field position and another rushing TD from Prichard.
The Matadors looked primed to get on the board again at the end of the first quarter after a nice catch and run by Anthony Bell but a penalty negated the long gain.
Hernandez praised the leadership and unselfishness of Prichard, whom he refers to as a “swiss-army knife”.
“Our starting tailback Will Pardue has been banged up all season, battling an ankle injury, and two weeks ago against Gahr, Gaige (Prichard) said put it on my back coach, I got you.” Hernandez said.
Ocean View heads into its bye week with some momentum before beginning Sigma League play against Los Amigos..
