PREP FOOTBALL : Garden Grove League Roundup : Defense and Shockley’s Late Score Help Pacifica Clinch Share of Title

With the clock clicking down the last few seconds, Pacifica High School’s Chris Shockley ran 1 yard over the left side for a touchdown.

That run, and many others to be sure, gave Pacifica a 22-15 Garden Grove League victory over Kennedy before 3,500 Thursday at Western High.

It also allowed Pacifica (7-1-1, 6-0 in league play) to clinch at least a share of the league title. Kennedy, which only dreamed of playing in games of such significance 2 seasons ago, is 6-2-1, 5-1.

The Fighting Irish suffered through a 0-10 season in 1986 and were trying for their first league championship since 1973. They will likely have to wait until next season.

Shockley’s running and a stingy defense helped Pacifica rally from a 15-8 halftime deficit.

Shockley, a junior, rushed for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 carries. His first score came on a 5-yard burst up the middle with 48 seconds left in the third quarter. Bobby Anderson’s extra point brought Pacifica even at 15-15.

Shockley’s 1-yard touchdown run capped a 66-yard, 11-play drive that took 5:35 to complete. After Anderson added the extra point, Pacifica had a 22-15 lead with 25 seconds left.

Shockley carried on 8 of the 11 plays during the game-winning drive.

Kevin Ashworth carried on the other 3, including a 7-yard gain on a key fourth-and-1 situation at the Kennedy 31 with 3 minutes left.

“There’s nothing like winning a league championship against a good team,” Shockley said.

A victory over La Quinta in the regular season finale would give the Mariners the title outright.

Not to be forgotten in the second-half rally was the play of the Mariner defense. Ashworth and Mark Flatten, a defensive back who intercepted 2 passes, were major contributors.

Scott Parrish, an outside linebacker who harassed Kennedy quarterback Peter Montera repeatedly, was another key figure.

Pacifica limited the Fighting Irish to just one second-half first down, which came just as the fourth quarter began.

It was a stark contrast to the first half, when the Fighting Irish seemed able to do as they pleased offensively.

Ed Williams, a junior running back, gained 65 yards and scored 2 touchdowns in the first half but managed just 79 yards in 21 carries for the game.

Williams’ 2-yard run and 2-point conversion run put Kennedy ahead, 8-0, with 10:01 left in the first quarter.

After Pacifica’s Vince St.Amand scored on a 1-yard run and Shockely caught a 2-point conversion pass from Anderson, it was 8-8.

Kennedy took the lead, 15-8, after Williams scored again, this time from 6 yards out with 2:45 left in the first quarter.

In another Garden Grove League game:

La Quinta 35, Garden Grove 12--Trent Julian and Davey Shimabukuro each scored twice to lead La Quinta at Bolsa Grande High School. Julian, a junior quarterback, scored on 1-yard run and Shimabukuro on a 4-yard run as the Aztecs (6-3, 4-2) took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Shimabukuro had a 40-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Julian scored on a 2-yard run in the third. Matt Logan, who kicked 5 conversions, had a 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.