Garden Grove League : Rancho Alamitos Gets Fourth Straight Win

Rancho Alamitos High School running back Sean Cheatham was the focal point of Santiago’s defensive efforts in a Garden Grove League opener Friday night at Garden Grove.

The Cavaliers’ pinched in along the line of scrimmage as if every play were third and short yardage. The Santiago players on the sidelines yelled, “Cheatham” to alert the defense every time Cheatham carried the ball.

The thinking was: Stop Cheatham and you’ll stop Rancho Alamitos. Cheatham is quickly emerging as one of the best running backs in Orange County.

The plan didn’t work as the Vaqueros beat the Cavaliers, 34-18, to improve their record to 4-0. It’s Rancho’s best start in five years. The Vaqueros were 8-29-2 the last four seasons.

Cheatham is one of the main reasons for the Vaqueros’ success. A 5-foot 11-inch senior, Cheatham rushed for 212 yards and 2 touchdowns in 33 carries. Cheatham has scored 14 touchdowns in four games. He also rushed for a two-point conversion Friday night, pushing his state-leading scoring total to 100 points.

Cheatham is one of nine players who start on offense and defense for Rancho.

In addition to his play at running back, Cheatham intercepted a pass and had at least one pass deflection as a defensive back. He also just missed a sack of quarterback Dana Ripley.

Mark Miller, the Vaqueros’ first-year coach, said he did not plan on giving Cheatham that much work.

“Twenty-nine was the most (carries) he had before this game,” Miller said. “When I’m ahead, I’m going to be conservative. I’m going to run.”

Rancho got off to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter. Cheatham had the first of his two touchdowns on a 12-yard run with 8:43 left. Cheatham appeared stopped by defensive back Jason Marquez at about the nine-yard line, but kept his legs driving and broke free and into the end zone.

It proved to be a typical Rancho scoring drive. Cheatham did the bulk of the work, carrying seven times in the eight-play drive.

And when Santiago crept close several times in the second half, Cheatham led the Vaqueros on long, time-consuming drives.

“Our game is to run and control the clock,” Miller said. “I think our best defense is running and keeping the ball away from the other team”

Santiago surprised the Vaquero defense with a 69-yard touchdown play from Ripley to Steve Cessna to pull to within 26-12 late in the third quarter.

Ripley passed for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns, both to Cessna.

Kennedy 20, La Quinta 16--Kennedy snapped the Southern Section’s longest losing streak at 17 games with this victory in Bolsa Grande Stadium.

The last time the Fighting Irish (1-3) won a game was in October, 1985, when they scored a 31-20 victory over Katella. Friday’s loss dropped the Aztecs to 0-4 on the season.

Kicker Richard Milne provided the difference with a pair of 33-yard field goals in the second and third quarters. Milne had a chance to snap the losing string last week against Anaheim, but his field goal attempt was prevented by a poor snap.

La Quinta outgained Kennedy in total yardage, 258 to 167, behind the rushing of junior Eddie Cisneros, who had 98 yards and a touchdown in 25 carries, and the passing of quarterback Jeff Anderson, who was 13 of 22 for 154 yards.

The Fighting Irish took the lead on the game’s opening series, culminating a 48-yard drive with a 9-yard pass from Keith Montera to wide receiver Tom Deep with 7:15 remaining in the first quarter.

La Quinta tied the score at 7-7 on Cisneros’ eight-yard run in the first quarter. The touchdown was set up by Vince Fusillo’s 76-yard kickoff return.

An interception by lineman Ray Portillo set up a one-yard touchdown run by Ed Williams to give Kennedy a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter.