Rancho Alamitos Keeps Rolling Toward League Title

Rancho Alamitos defeated Santiago, 49-6, Friday night to clinch at least a tie for the Garden Grove League championship at Bolsa Grande High. The second-ranked Vaqueros can claim their first league title since 1982 next week by defeating Los Amigos.

Quarterback Marshall Brown led Rancho Alamitos (8-1, 6-0), rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns, passing for two more and returning an interception 61 yards for another.

Vaquero running back Jeff Byrd, the county’s leading scorer, rushed for 220 yards in 18 carries but was limited to only one touchdown, an 11-yard run with 4:30 left.

“This feels good,” Rancho Alamitos Coach Mark Miller said. “We’re tired of finishing second. Winning this championship lets us reach a goal this program has had for six years.”

Santiago (1-8, 1-5) gave the Vaqueros’ defense a first-quarter scare, twice driving deep into Rancho Alamitos territory. But the Cavaliers turned the ball over both times, and the Vaqueros responded with a pair of scores.

After Leon Vickers intercepted a pass by Santiago quarterback Louie Perez, Brown ran for an 80-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Brown recovered a fumble on Santiago’s next possession and connected with Manny Metcalf on an acrobatic 29-yard touchdown pass to give Rancho Alamitos a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Vickers intercepted a Perez pass again in the third quarter and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to make the score 35-6.