Rancho Alamitos’ Defense Stifles Garden Grove

Rancho Alamitos High School’s offense has been talked about plenty this season. But the Vaqueros’ swarming defense moved to the forefront Thursday in a 13-0 victory over Garden Grove in a Garden Grove League game at Bolsa Grande High.

Garden Grove was held to two yards rushing and 106 passing, and the Argonauts only got inside the Rancho Alamitos 30 twice in 14 possessions.

With the victory, Rancho Alamitos (8-1, 5-1 in league) clinched a tie for second place and a berth in the Southern Section playoffs.

Garden Grove’s best chance to score came in the final moments of the first quarter. Quarterback Simon Fuentes completed a 47-yard pass to Tim Silva, who was tripped up at the Rancho Alamitos seven with 18 seconds left in the half.

On the next play, Rancho Alamitos’ Monttrail Cooper and Vince Otteman sacked Fuentes for a nine-yard loss. With just 12 seconds left in the half, Garden Grove tried a 31-yard field goal attempt, but missed.

Garden Grove reached the Rancho Alamitos 27 in the final two minutes of the game, but another sack by Cooper helped stop the drive.

Rancho Alamitos took a 7-0 lead with 8 minutes 22 seconds left in the half.

Quarterback Chris Singletary threw a pass in the left flat to tight end Eric Moore, who--with the help of a strong block from wide receiver Marshall Brown--went 51 yards for the score.

Rancho Alamitos’ second score was set up when Garden Grove fumbled the kickoff to start the second half. The ball was recovered at the Argonaut 19 by Rudy Nava.

From there, Ulysses Trammell ran the ball four consecutive times, scoring on a four-yard burst to give Rancho Alamitos a 13-0 lead with 10:00 left in the quarter. The extra-point try was missed.

Trammell, a senior tailback, came into the game leading Orange County in rushing with 1,365 yards. But he had his lowest single-game total, being held to 55 yards in 20 carries. His longest gains of the night were a pair of nine-yarders.

Trammell was replaced late in the game by Mario Gonzalez, who gained 20 yards in seven carries. Gonzalez broke an 80-yard touchdown run with about five minutes left to play, but the play was called back for clipping.