Rancho Alamitos’ Riddle Solves Kennedy for 248 Yards

It didn’t take an Einstein to figure out Rancho Alamitos High School’s game plan Thursday night against Kennedy.

It was simply Dana Riddle right, Dana Riddle left or Dana Riddle up the middle as Rancho Alamitos ran off to a 21-7 victory before 500 at Western.

The only mystery in the Garden Grove League opener for both teams was whether the Vaqueros (1-0, 2-2) would pitch or hand off to Riddle.

Still, the Fighting Irish did not have a clue about how to stop Riddle, who carried 52 times for 248 yards and three touchdowns.

Vaquero Coach Mark Miller says the Rancho Alamitos playbook used to contain more than just a page suggesting different ways to give Riddle the ball.

But with starting quarterback Chris Singletary lost for the season after breaking his left leg in the first game, reserve tailback Dan Olivo filling in for Singletary and fullback Montrail Cooper sidelined indefinitely with an Achilles’ tendon injury he incurred in last week’s loss, Riddle will continue to carry the offense, literally.

“As long as I win, that’s all there is going to be,” Miller said.

Rudy Nava’s interception inside the Kennedy 50-yard line set up Rancho’s first score in the second quarter. The series consisted of 10 handoffs to Riddle, culminating in a one-yard touchdown run that put Rancho Alamitos (2-2 overall, 1-0 in league play) ahead, 7-0.

Kennedy (1-3, 0-1) appeared ready to answer. Ed Williams, who two plays earlier ran for 8 yards, broke free for a 20-yard gain, but the tailback injured his leg on the play and sat out the rest of the game.

Williams’ absence forced the Irish to pass, and they had marginal success. Russ Clark completed nine of 23 passes for 137 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.

Most of his completions came on Kennedy’s 57-yard drive late in the second quarter.

Clark opened with a nine-yard completion to Todd Murakami (three catches for 42 yards) and, after a handoff for a three-yard gain, hit Murakami again for 17 yards and Kurt Lindquist for nine before hooking up with tight end Min Son who lumbered into the end zone after catching an 18-yard pass.