ORANGE was led by Hype Grand (1) and Ardwon Morris (5) in its 45-15 win over Pacifica (OC Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

When Hype Grand – what a name! – returned to Orange High School after transferring to a school in Arizona, it was considered a big boost to the Panther football team.

It was good to get their mobile quarterback back, but in Friday’s season opener against Pacifica, it became clear that he wasn’t the only “grand” player for Orange.

Ardwon Morris ran for six touchdowns and one two-point conversion as the Panthers defeated the Mariners 45-15 in a non-league game at Monsoor Stadium on the Garden Grove High School campus. The 5-10 senior running back was virtually unstoppable, scoring on runs of 6, 13, 15, 35, 30 and 20 yards.

The Panthers dominated from the start, building up a 30-point lead before the Mariners could score, and led 38-8 by halftime.

Pacifica quarterback Noah Salas showed promise, just missing by a small margin a couple of long passes that could have changed the momentum of the game.

Both teams showed  the rust – or jitters – of the first game of the season, getting penalized for so many infractions you might think the men in the officiating crew doubled in their spare time as members of a grand jury.

The Panthers will try to make it two in a row on Thursday, visiting Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium for another non-league contest.

Pacifica will be in action Thursday visiting Garden Grove High,  a former Garden Grove League rival.