Sports
Congratulations to the La Mirada Matadores From the La Mirada Blog
Argonauts Lose Their First Game
Costa Mesa~Another exciting game-except this time it was for all the marbles.
La Mirada High School won it's second CIF football championship in school history tonight, 49-27 over Garden Grove.
The Matadores got out to an early 7-0 lead after they blocked a punt on Garden Groves first possession; and shortly thereafter, punched it in.
However, things quickly changed, as the Argonauts rattled off 21 straight points to take a 21-7 lead.
The season-long, brutal, hard-hitting defensive ways of the Matadores continued as RJ Lujan knocked Grove superstar quarterback Sean Young out of the game and into the hospital.
La Mirada scored before the half making the score 21-14.
With Young out of the game, the La Mirada defense smelled blood and pounced like a wild animal on its victim. The Garden Grove team was not the same without its senior quarterback as it was La Mirada's turn to rattle off 42 straight points of its own-to take a commanding 49-22 lead.
Garden Grove, trying to cap an emotional, perfect season , added a touchdown on a very nice catch in the fourth quarter, but the game was already over.
Final score: La Mirada 49 Garden Grove 27
Suburban League/Southern Division Semifinal Recap; Final Preview
Suburban League Semifinal Recap:
Semifinal Recap: WOW!!!!! I was at a loss for words at the way that this weekend's games went; especially when it seemed that the Matadores had lost their game. Then, the Lancers couldn't seem to keep from shooting themselves in the foot. Well, sad to say, no district final, but this week, let's get everyone out to see our hometown Matadores go after a CIF Championship!
Semifinal Results:
La Mirada 27 Laguna Hills 24 (OT): This game was tremendous. It had plenty of moments when you felt one team or the other was going to WIN. Then, the game was over and a 
team's season had ended. Those who where sitting in Goodman Stadium Friday night, all hoped for a miracle, In overtime, Laguna Hills drove to the five yard line in three plays, down by three. Then, as if lightning had struck, all of the prayers of the Matadores players, coaches, cheerleaders, fans, and everyone wearing blue and gold were answered, as TB Matt Martindale fumbled the ball and alertly, senior DE RJ Lujan fell on the ball. The sound that erupted from the crowd was deafening as players and coaches stormed the field. How the Matadores ended up in overtime is an amazing story in its own.
La Mirada Wins on Game Ending Fumble, 27-24; Advances to CIF Final For the First Time Since 2001
La Mirada~La Mirada beat Laguna Hills tonight 27-24 in a semifinal contest, sending the Matadores to the final for the first time since 1992.
When Ralph Gramajo intercepted a Laguna Hills pass midway through the third quarter, it seemed La Mirada was on its way to a victory, leading 24-10.
However, Laguna came back, scoring two touchdowns within a span of around three minutes, including a recovered on-side kick, tying the score at 27 and sending into overtime.
The La Mirada defense, seemed dazed, tired, confused, like a prize fighter up against the ropes in the last rounds.
1st Annual La Mirada Blog All-Suburban League Football Team
So this is my version of the Suburban League All-Team. I have only a first team and I think it is a well represented one. I believe what a player does on the field merits their being on this team, not what their team did. The best players are represented on this team. They all play a multitude of positions, but they made this team at the spot I thought they would be their best at.
Matadore Hoopsters Start a New Quest
La Mirada~The La Mirada Boys Basketball squad opens the regular season tonight in a non-league contest vs. Tustin High at Matadore Gym.
The Mats are coming off a very succesful campaign in which they won the Suburban League title and advanced to the CIF Southern Division quarterfinals.
This will be the first game the Matadores are playing in their totally refurbished gymnasium. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
Suburban League Quarterfinal Recap: Semifinal Preview
Suburban League Quarterfinal Recap:
Man, who would have thought at this point in the playoffs, that the La Mirada Matadore and the Norwalk Lancer defenses would be so dominant. We all knew they could score points, and they have been doing just that. The manner in which they are scoring is remarkable. The Matadores have been getting a balanced attack from their offense, and their special teams have been great. The Lancers have seen one of their 1,000 yard rushers get dinged up in the playoffs but they have seen another one of their backs come up big.
Quarterfinal Results:
La Mirada 40 Garden Grove Santiago 0: On the first play of offense for the Matadores they saw RB JT Torres go 60 yards to the end zone. He has come up big for them in the playoffs becoming the steady force for them in the running game. He had three TD's in the game and proved to be a force that was unable to be stopped. QB Daniel Poncedeleon threw a 22 yard jump-ball to WR Julian Matta and he and out muscled the Cavaliers defender and came down with the TD. The defense for the Matadores was not to be outdone as Junior Aaryn Bouzos picked off Cavalier QB Chris Ortega and went 30 yards to the house untouched. In the post-season through two games, the Matadores defense which is led my RJ Lujan, Aaryn Bouzos, Shane Blood, and JT Torres has only given up only three points. They have been battle tested this season.
Suburban League Playoffs Round 1 Review; Quarterfinal Preview
Round 1 Review
This week proved that some teams just don't belong in the post season, and others proved that they are here to stay. I look for the semifinals to be as follows: La Mirada vs. Laguna Hills, and on the other side of the bracket, Garden Grove vs. Norwalk. These teams have been near the top of the brackets all season for a reason, and each team can state its case to be the Division champion.
Round 1 Results
Norwalk 63 Rancho Alamitos 8: Talk about an absolute thrashing. This one, from the opening whistle, was not even close. The Lancers offense just ran over any of the visiting Vaqueros in their way. The Vaqueros defense looked helpless as Norwalk's backfield was just too much for them to stop. The wild- card all season and in my opinion the best of the bunch is Junior Elijhaa Penny who uses every bit of his 6'2'' 245 lbs frame when he is running over defenders. He led all Lancer running backs with over 160 yards and two TDs. The kid is deceptively fast and is going to be one of the keys to helping Norwalk continue their run to the RING. The Lancers rushing attack is steady by three other players-Junior Billy 
Moore and Seniors Daveon Edwards and Adrian Goznales who is the smallest of all the running backs, but he runs just as hard as the others.
La Mirada 44 Santa Ana 3: The Matadores started slow, but they closed with blazing fashion, as they manhandled the Saints all night. The Saints looked to be in control after they went ahead 3-0 early in the second, but the Mats answered back with a 97-yard kickoff return by Aaryn Bouzos. After that it was all Matadores. The theme this season for the Mats has been balance, and they certainly have been adding to it lately; where they are led on the ground by a running back-by-committee with JT Torres, Max Gama, and Matt Haltom. All are getting carries, and each of the backs brings something different to the table. They are definitely not an easy team to prepare for. Their passing game is lethally accurate and it is executed very well by QB Daniel Poncedeleon. They are led by receivers Ralph Gramajo, Julian Matta, and TE Keith Coty.
La Mirada on the Road Friday; May Host Semi’s
La Mirada High School Football will play on the road this Friday against Santiago High; the game will be played at Garden Grove High beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Also, La Mirada won the latest coin-flip, meaning they will host the next game (semi-final), if they are fortunate enough to win.
Coach Ollie Lynch will guest on the "Tony Aiello Show" on November 23rd, beginning at 6:00 p.m PT. to talk about the win against Santa Ana and the pending game versus Santiago.
Check out this link to a story about last Friday's victory over Santa Ana from Thaindian News; and this link to the OC Register with bloggers talking Southern Division football.
Suburban League Week 10 Review; CIF Playoff Preview
Week 10 Review
A huge surprise this week, with the Buccaneers beating the Eagles on a last second field goal. This writer thought the Eagles shot themselves in the foot in this one; two turnovers in the final nine minutes. Ouch! Even more of a pain was watching the inept offense of the Artesia Pioneers trying to stop the Matadores. The Monsoons look young, but they are playing hard and they showed so grit against the Lancers.
Week 10 Results
Cerritos had a Bye.
La Mirada 54 Artesia 7: The Matadores offense was potent and they struck early and often. QB Daniel Poncedeleon was terrific hitting on four of his passes for TD's. Julian Matta was on the receiving end of all of those passes. Poncedeleon ended his night with over 225 yards passing. The game was homecoming for the Matadores. The game was over at the half, with the Matadores racing out in front 34-0.
Wildcats Exhibition Schedule Ends; Mark Your Calendars Now
La Mirada's Derrick Williams Rings in the New Year in His Return to So. Cal
Tuscon, AZ~La Mirada High School Superstar Derrick Williams will be returning to Southern California when his Arizona Wildcats play USC and UCLA this New Year's weekend.
Williams, who led La Mirada to a CIF Southern Section quarterfinal berth last season, will play the team he intended to play for, USC, at the Galen Center on New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.
Williams left USC this past spring, after the Tim Floyd meltdown.
Then, on January 2nd, Williams and the Wildcats will play UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in a nationally televised morning contest beginning at 10 a.m., broadcast on CBS.
Last night, Arizona wrapped up its exhibition schedule with a 96-55 romp over Div. II Western New Mexico. Williams scored 12 points, going 6 of 7 from the field in 14 minutes.
On November 4th, against Augustana College, Williams scored 14 points in 13 minutes including; 5 of 6 from the field and 4 of 7 from the stripe. He also had four rebounds.
This season the Wildcats are playing with seven true freshmen on the team and a rookie head coach, Sean Miller. Their season opener is November 15th vs. Northern Arizona at 3 p.m.
Check out the Universities website for the basketball program available at http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/ariz-m-baskbl-body.html. This site is really nice. Everything you need to know about the Wildcats basketball program. They have box scores, photo galleries, webcasts, and an abundance of information at your fingertips to follow Derrick all season long.
In the sites recent write-up about the game with Western New Mexico, check out the YouTube insert in the article. You can see Derrick back-peddling after a layup in the very short video spot.
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