BOLSA QUARTERBACK Ethan Nguyen (7) passed for 198 yards and four TDs. He rushed for 41 more yards in Thursday’s CIF-SS playoff win over Duarte (Orange County Tribune photos by Jim Tortolano).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

The Bolsa Grande High School football team has surprised a lot of people this year, contending in the Garden Grove League and qualifying for the CIF-SS playoffs for the first time in 34 years.

Just as surprised as anyone was Head Coach Michael Acosta.

After Thursday’s 42-6 win over Duarte in a Division 14 first round game, he said, “I feel good, but it’s also a bit surreal.

“I didn’t expect this so soon. I figured later in the development of the program, maybe two or three years.”

THE MATADOR defense stopped Duarte cold for much of the game.

But history arrived early for the Matadors, now 6-5 on the season and headed into next week’s quarter-final round against the winner of the Whittier Christian vs. Temecula Prep contest.

There was little doubt about the outcome of this game, as Bolsa jumped out to a big lead.

They rolled up two quick scores for a 14-0 edge. The margin went up to 21-0 after David Nguyen rambled 47 yards on a run-pass play, then Phu Nguyen took it in for the TD, then added another score early in the second quarter for a 28-0 tally.

Bolsa earned a couple of more scores to stretch the lead out to 42-0 in the second half. The Falcons (5-6) avoided a shutout  with a late fourth quarter drive capped by a 1-yard plunge by Isaias Martinez.

For Bolsa, Ethan Nguyen passed for 198 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 41 yards on the ground. David Nguyen rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown. Phu Nguyen caught four passes for 108 yards and two scores.

The defense also deserves much of the credit for the big early advantage, frequently stopping the Falcon runners for little or no gain.

Reminded of last year’s CIF-SS football title by another GGL team – Loara – Acosta said, “I only hope we can get that far.” After Thursday’s big win, who’s to say there’s not more school history to make?

ALSO THURSDAY night, Garden Grove edged Moreno Valley 14-12 in a CIF-SS Division 9 game. The Argonauts (10-1) will play Norte Vista (8-3) next week, which defeated Adelanto 30-6.

Brandon Roth passed for 122 yards for Grove and ran for 52 more. Malachi Bey rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 59 yards.

In boys’ water polo action, Huntington Beach fell 14-12 to Newport Harbor in an Open Division match. In Division 5, Westminster defeated West High of Torrance 13-12.

In girls’ tennis, La Quinta lost 15-3 in Division 3 action. In Division 5, Western and Schurr ended 9-9, but the Pioneers were knocked out in sets won, 71-65.