PHOTOS: Uni captures overtime battle against Garden Grove with clutch field goal

University Trojans celebrate after an overtime win over Garden Grove Friday night. (Photos courtesy Susan J. Emrich).

University High School’s football team escaped with a non-league victory on homecoming defeating Garden Grove 24-21 Friday night.

Garden Grove (1-4) ran the ball for 280 yards on the night, the bulk of it coming from running back Quentin Pacelli to take a 13-0 halftime lead.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Justin Tribble of Uni scrambles for a gain as Garden Grove's Mason Anestis (No. 8) pursues.

Garden Grove Argonauts celebrate their first TD.

Uni's Carl Oldham returns the ball on a kickoff.

Zion Barreto of University eludes a tackle.

Carl Oldham of Uni scores a TD.

University's Justin Tribble (left) and Damari Carter after the game.
Photo courtesy Daryl Bogard

University (2-2) responded with three second half touchdowns, two coming from running back Damari Carter, who had 149 yards on 28 carries. Dylan Elmer threw a 9-yard pass to Carl Oldham for the other score.

The Trojans were trying to close the game out when Evan Torres picked off a third down pass and returned it to the University 29-yard line with 1:04 to go. Pacelli scored his second touchdown and added a two-point conversion to knot the score 21-21 with 34 seconds left.

University proceeded to move the ball to the Garden Grove 30-yard line with 6 seconds to go. Jake Rabold’s 47-yard field goal was long enough, but was just wide left and the game went to overtime.

Justin Tribble came up big for the Trojans in overtime. The all-purpose athlete picked off a fourth down pass and then from the quarterback position drove University to the Argonauts’ 15-yard line setting up Rabold’s game-winning 31-yard field goal.

Garden Grove has a bye next week while University is on the road to meet Glenn Friday night in its final non-league game.

—Courtesy Daryl Bogard, For OC Sports Zone