ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : Western Gets Fourth-Quarter Score to Beat Rancho Alamitos

Western gave early indications of being in control in a nonleague football game against Rancho Alamitos, but needed a late four-quarter touchdown and then a goal-line stand to earn a 25-18 victory Friday at Bolsa Grande High.

Rancho Alamitos reached the Western nine with 1 minute 10 seconds left in the game. Western’s Jimmy Conway, Vince Branstetter and Mike Mueller each knocked down a pass, leaving the Vaqueros with a fourth down.

Quarterback John Frank rolled to his right, and as he was about to be hit, threw but it was intercepted by Josh Burdett at the three with 35 seconds left.

“We played good defense when we had to,” Western Coach Jim Howell said. “But we didn’t play the type of defense we are capable of.”

The plays Howell was alluding to were two that allowed Rancho Alamitos back in the game. Western led, 17-3, at the half but midway in the third quarter things changed. On fourth down, Western completed a pass off a fake field goal, but the play came up less than a yard short of a first down at the three.

One the next play, Rancho Alamitos’ Leo Kosi went a school record 97 yards for touchdown that cut the Western lead to 17-10 with 4 minutes 37 seconds left. Kosi finished with a game-high 148 yards in 15 carries.

Rancho Alamitos (0-3) took the lead with a dramatic touchdown and two-point conversion with 5:27 left. The touchdown came on a nine-yard pass from Frank to Aaron Trigg. The same pair combined for the two-point conversion and the Rancho Alamitos sideline exploded.

But the joy didn’t even last one play. Mueller returned the kick-off 80 yards up the right sideline giving Western a first down and goal at the 10.

The Pioneers scored when quarterback Dean Chambers went around left end and into the end zone to put his team ahead, 23-18 with 4:27 left. Chambers then completed a two-point conversion to Mueller, who was wide open in the right corner of the end zone for a 25-18 lead.

Earlier, Mueller’s 24-yard reception set up David Bell’s 46-yard field goal as time ran out in the first half.