GARDEN GROVE (in red) defeated Westminster 28-21 in a pre-league game Friday on the Argo field (OC Tribune photo).

Week One of local high school football got under way in earnest Friday, as nearly all teams in the Garden Grove-Huntington Beach-Westminster area are now in action. A half-dozen pre-league contests were played and four were won by local teams.

In the key matchup, Garden Grove, ranked number three in our High Five of area squads, defeated Westminster 28-21 to improve to 2-0.

Second-ranked Huntington Beach (1-1) bowed to county powerhouse San Clemente by 38-13. Another Sunset League team, Marina (2-0) continued to show promise with a win, and Rancho Alamitos had its 2016 debut with a victory.

GARDEN GROVE 28, WESTMINSTER 21

The Argonauts built up a 28-7 lead and survived a strong late rally by the Lions Friday night to improve their record to 2-0.  Ruben Mendoza passed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the win on the Argo field, which Joseph Camarillo ran for 65 yards and a pair of scores. Westminster was led by Josh Avila with 128 yards rushing. Noah Melbon passed for 98 yards, threw for one touchdown and ran for another as the Lions opened with the close loss.

SAN CLEMENTE 38, HUNTINGTON BEACH 13

Taking on one of Orange County’s top teams proved to be a bit too much for the Oilers (1-1) as they lost to the Tritons Friday at home. HBHS was led by Nick Welch, who passed for 187 yards and a score, and ran for a touchdown as well.

MARINA 41, OCEAN VIEW 35

This intra-city contest turned into a shootout as the Vikings outscored the Seahawks at Westminster High. Marina built a 41-14 lead early, but Ocean View rallied with three fourth quarter scores to make it close. Xavier Salgado passed for 124 yards and ran for 108 more (and two scores) for OVHS. Marina got 181 yards passing from Ian Green, who threw for three TDs and ran for another.

SANTIAGO 21, COSTA MESA 9

The Cavaliers opened their 2016 season with a win, scoring once in each of the last three quarters. Dominick Smith stood out for Santiago, returning a kickoff 75 yards for a score, and Rudy Rocha intercepted and pass and brought it back for a score for SHS.

RANCHO ALAMITOS 25, SAVANNA 23

Jesse Candelerio scored three touchdowns – two of them on passes from Blake Cuthbert – as the Vaqueros opened their season with a win. Colbert was 16-for-24 for 260 yards passing.

CERRITOS 16, BOLSA GRANDE 13

The Matadors led 13 at the half but couldn’t hold on to the win at home. Bolsa is now 0-2.