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Halftime Update: CdM 14, Garden Grove 14

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Just like last year, Corona del Mar High got off to a fast start against Garden Grove.

The Sea Kings opened the CIF Southern Section Southern Division championship with a 14-0 lead at Orange Coast College on Friday night. A blocked punt by linebacker Hugh Crance and an interception by his twin brother, linebacker Hoyt Crance, set CdM up in Argonaut territory early.

The Sea Kings took advantage, as tailback Anthony Battista rushed for a 20-yard touchdown and Cole Martin a 15-yard touchdown. They led, 14-0, 7 1/2 minutes into the game.

But top-seeded CdM, trying to claim its third straight section title, allowed second-seeded Garden Grove back in the game. The Sea Kings were penalized seven times for 80 yards in a first half in which one adult on the CdM sideline was tossed from the stadium for unsportsmanlike conduct.

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The Argonauts, trailing 14-6 at the time of the ejection with 7:48 left in the first half, continued their drive. They eventually capped the 13-play, 80-yard drive with some trickery to tie the game at 14-14 right before halftime.

On an option play, quarterback Angel Martinez flipped the ball to tailback Sionne Masoe. He then threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Alejandro Ceja. The Argonauts went for two points, converting it on a Martinez run.

The teams went into the contest with identical 13-0 records. The momentum appears to be on Garden Grove’s side going into the second half.

The Sea Kings have produced 140 offensive yards, while the Argonauts have 149. Each team has thrown an interception.

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