Rancho Alamitos Clobbers Bolsa Grande

As tuneups go, Rancho Alamitos Coach Doug Case couldn’t have asked for a better scenario than Thursday night’s 60-19 drubbing of Bolsa Grande at Bolsa Grande High.

He got to watch his entire team play, including his fifth-string tailback. He was able to see where his team needed work--the secondary, and he escaped the game without any serious injuries.

“It was outstanding for us,” said Case, whose Vaqueros play undefeated Pacifica next Friday. “To be tested by a passing team like the one we’re going to face next week, that’s what needed.”

Case probably didn’t need to see his secondary scorched for 220 yards in the first half by Bolsa Grande quarterback Doug Baughman, but at least he saw what could happen if Pacifica quarterback J.D. Stern gets hot. Baughman wound up with 319 passing yards and two touchdowns but he also threw four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by cornerback Nam Nguyen.

“If we’re going to be a quality football team, we’re going to have to play better pass defense,” Case said.

Most of Baughman’s yardage came in the middle of the field on crossing patterns, though he did complete a long pass down the sideline to Ramon Nevarez for 42 yards in the second quarter. The completion set up Bolsa Grande’s first touchdown--a one-yard sneak by Baughman--and trimmed the Rancho Alamitos lead to 21-7.

The Vaqueros (5-0, 2-0) went on to score 27 more points in the quarter to take a 48-13 halftime lead. They scored about every way they could.

David Vickers returned a punt 58 yards, Nguyen took an interception 84 yards, Kosi scored on runs of seven, 62 and 37 yards, Nu Atuatasi returned a squib kick 75 yards and Atuatasi caught a 68-yard pass from Taylor Yandell.

Case kept his starters in for one series in the third quarter, which was long enough to get Kosi (159 yards on 10 rushes) his fourth touchdown. By the fourth quarter, Case was down to senior Mike Beaty, a fifth-string tailback. Beaty scored Rancho Alamitos’ last touchdown on a 49-yard scamper on pitchout.

“I’m happier this week than I was last week,” said Case, referring to a sloppy victory over Santiago. “The kids played good, hard football in the first half. I’m happy our second team guys got the work.”