Couple of Newcomers Carry Rancho Alamitos Past Troy

A running back who spent last season on the junior varsity team and a quarterback who was sidelined all year with a broken leg were instrumental in Rancho Alamitos High School’s 17-7 victory over Troy Friday night at Fullerton District Stadium.

Ulysses Trammell, a 140-pound scatback with shifty moves, gained 186 yards in 31 carries and scored a touchdown in his varsity debut. Quarterback Chris Singletary, who broke his leg in the 1989 season opener and sat out the rest of the season, was effective at quarterback and led Rancho Alamitos’ defense at linebacker.

Rancho Alamitos limited Troy to minus nine yards rushing with Singletary and sophomore Leon Vickers dominating play in the middle. Troy quarterback Greg Windle also had a forgettable night, completing but 14 of 42 passes for 133 yards and throwing two interceptions.

Troy was playing without starting tailback Chad Brasington, who sat out the game with a bruised knee. In his absence, the Warriors were forced to pass and Windle failed to get into any kind of a rhythm against Rancho Alamitos’ physical defense.

Windle’s favorite receiver, Steve Friedrich, also had an off night. Friedrich scored Troy’s only touchdown in the fourth quarter with a 15-yard reception, but the all-league receiver also dropped three passes.

“We showed we’re a good team in spite of me,” said Mark Miller, Rancho Alamitos coach. “I probably coached the worst game of my career. We wanted to air it up (pass) tonight, but the one-back running game gave them fits.”

A big passing game at Rancho Alamitos the past four years has usually meant throwing 10 times a ballgame. All-league running backs Sean Cheatham and Dana Riddle have averaged 40 carries a game, and Trammell appears to be the next workhorse in Miller’s scheme.

“Trammell showed up late for football last year and he was only 140 pounds, so I put him on the junior varsity team,” Miller said. “He turned a group that was 0-10 as freshmen into winners, so I brought him up to varsity late in the season and he nearly returned his first kickoff for a touchdown.”

Trammell and Vickers have dictated a change in Rancho Alamitos’ offense. Miller has discarded his full-house backfield and is utilizing a combination veer and one-back offense with good results.

“Chris Singletary will be throwing more, I promise you that,” Miller said. “This was his first varsity game tonight at quarterback. He was tense and tight, but he threw only one interception and didn’t fumble.”

Troy’s only touchdown came when Trammell fumbled at midfield and Marty Gomez returned the fumble 39 yards to Rancho Alamitos’ 15. Windle connected with Friedrich for a touchdown on the next play.