Matadors celebrate stadium with a win

By OC Tribune Staff on August 23, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

BOLSA GRANDE football busted loose in the second half Friday and defeated Bosco Tech 29-12 in the first game in the new Bolsa Stadium (Orange County Tribune photos by Jim Tortolano).

By Chris Abdelmalek

One team, one dream, one field. The Bolsa Grande Matadors kicked off their 2019 season with a home opener against the Bosco Tech Tigers on Friday night at the new Bolsa Grande Stadium. With a new stadium, new turf, and a new season upon them, the Matadors kicked off the schedule with a 29-12 victory over the Tigers.

A senior-laded Bolsa team this year was led by junior quarterback Cristian Arreola. Arreola had a good game. going 10-21 for 124 yards and one touchdown and one interception. He also added 23 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown tonight doing it all for the Matadors.

Bolsa coach Alfredo Silva spoke about Arreola and his stellar play. “His leadership and execution are key, he doesn’t get rattled and can take a punch and the team feeds off that.”

CRISTIAN ARREOLA passed for 124 yards in Bolsa’s 29-12 win over Bosco Tech on Friday

The energy all around the stadium was buzzing with the new field and it being the home opener.

In the second half, the Matadors kept the Tigers in check. They allowed quarterback Vance Acuna only 64 yards on 5-for-21 passing and intercepted Acuna twice. They also forced two fumbles as well.

“The defensive coordinator had a great game plan. We had to be ready for anything and the kids played as fast as they could,” said Silva.

The Matadors played as a unit offensively and defensively and it shows on the field and on the back of their jerseys. “We Can, I Will” is their motto for the season.

“All of us are a team so we always say we can I will, because we are all a team, we work for each other, we play for each other and we work hard for each other,” said Arreola.

The Matadors built a 10-0 lead at halftime and kept rolling in the second half. Espinoza scored from six yards out halfway through the third quarter to make the score 17-6.

Then Arreola ran it in from one yard out, capping a nine-play five minute drive late in the fourth quarter with three minutes left to extend the lead to 23-12.

Arreola tossed a 25-yard floater over the middle to wide receiver Kevin Adame to close the books at 29-12.

The Matadors will be on the road for their next matchup against Cerritos High School on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.

Here are results of high school football games Friday night for schools serving the communities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Westminster.

Scores will be posted as they are received throughout the night.