Rancho Alamitos Off to Fast Start This Year

Hell week was more hellish than usual for Rancho Alamitos this year, but no one was complaining after the Vaqueros’ season-opening 34-7 trouncing of Troy Thursday night at Cal State Fullerton.

Known for being slow starters under fourth-year coach Doug Case, Rancho Alamitos lived up to its history for all of five minutes, falling behind 7-0, before dominating the final 43 minutes.

Rancho Alamitos was sharp in every aspect of the game. The Vaqueros ran for 308 yards behind an inexperienced offensive line and quarterback Taylor Yandell debuted by completing six of nine passes for 62 yards and running six times for 38 yards. Rancho Alamitos’ defense limited Troy to 150 yards of offense, only 50 yards in the second half.

“In the past we have been slow starters,” Case said. “I’m trying to fix that the rest of my career. This was the hardest camp of my [tenure].”

Why so hard on the kids?

“Four and six [their record last year] will light a fire under your [butt],” Case said. “I want to win every game. Before, I was always pointing toward winning league, but now I want to win every game.”

Senior running back Leo Kosi, who rushed for a game-high 145 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries, said the team got Case’s message.

“They ran our butts off in hell week,” Kosi said. “I’m so sore. But I’m so proud of my team the way they played.”

Kosi shared the tailback duties with junior Alex Blanco, who took advantage of some big holes by running for 124 yards and two touchdowns in 22 carries. Leading the way was fullback David Vickers, who also played the entire game at linebacker. Blanco was a big hit from his safety position too, making several hard tackles and leaping to intercept a pass with one hand.

Troy took advantage of a Blanco fumble to score first on a Kyion Grayes three-yard run. Grayes rushed for 45 yards in nine carries in the first half but finished with 71 yards in 16 carries.

Rancho Alamitos led, 13-7, at the half after scoring on 10-play, 77-yard drive and a 16-play, 67-yard drive. The Vaqueros broke open the game in the fourth quarter with three touchdowns, one by Blanco on a 12-yard run, another on a 24-yard pass from Yandell to Nu Atuatasi and finally on a 25-yard scamper around end by Kosi.

“We prepared them,” Case said. “We had the entire playbook in. The kids executed beyond what I expected of them.”

Kosi, who led the Garden Grove League in rushing last season with 1,602 yards, said he never doubted his teammates.

“I had so much confidence my team,” he said. “I knew were were going to win. I had a vision at halftime.”