By Alex Gonzalez
San Dimas — The San Dimas Saints opened the 2021 shortened campaign season by exploding for 415 yards, including six rushing touchdowns, in a 49-7 win over Garden Grove Friday night at San Dimas high school.
“It feels great, it’s been a year, and we’re super fired up,” said Saints HC Mark Holman. “All the kids are fired up, and we’re just excited to be out here. It was an emotional week, and we told our kids to play within themselves and to not do too much.”
San Dimas came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as their offense reached the end zone five out of six drives in the first half.
Saints running back Ben Goodrich started the scoring onslaught when he punched in his first rushing touchdown of the ’21 season from five yards out, taking a 7-0 lead after both teams had possession. Then quarterback Ryan Bulick extended his team’s lead after connecting with Decker Degraaf on the play-action fake with 2:27 left in the opening quarter.
Garden Grove attempted to answer back following the touchdowns, but they couldn’t get anything going as quarterback Vany Rodriguez struggled to find time to complete a pass. The running game was nonexistent due to the Saints defense filling the gaps and gang tackling tailback Malachi Bey in the backfield.
San Dimas continued to wear down the Argonauts through the running game as Tye Coleman and Jacob Buccola crossed the goal line three more times, making the score 35-0 before the intermission whistle.
After the break and another Saint rushing score, Czaln Lobaugh ended San Dimas’ bid at a shutout when he kept the option and scampered pasted defenders from 40 yards out, giving his team seven after the PAT.
However, the Saints rushing attack was too much for Garden Grove when they added two more rushing scores with a running clock in the fourth quarter.
With the win, San Dimas will host Claremont next Friday. As for the Argonauts, they will look to bounce back when they travel to Westminster next Friday as well.
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