Rancho Alamitos Shuts Down Santiago

Rancho Alamitos Coach Doug Case was more effusive than usual after his team’s 46-0 Garden Grove League victory over Santiago Friday.

“This was a great win,” Case said. “Our execution was outstanding, we kept penalties and turnovers to a minimum, our defense posted its third straight shutout--we’re firing on all cylinders.”

The Vaqueros (5-0, 2-0), the top-ranked team in Division VIII and ranked sixth in Orange County, dominated from the start. They scored on six of their first eight possessions and finished with 480 total yards, 412 on the ground. Alex Blanco ran for 167 yards and scored four times and senior David Vickers rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns.

That was plenty to knock off Santiago (1-4, 0-2). The Cavaliers, playing without third-year starting quarterback Ben Tran (fractured fibula) for the third week in a row, didn’t complete a pass for positive yardage and netted minus-7 yards. Tran might return for Friday’s game against Garden Grove.

Rancho Alamitos scored early after a poor punt gave the Vaqueros the ball at the Santiago 31. Blanco rolled down the line and around left end for the 10-yard touchdown.

Blanco had a number of notable moments. In addition to a 66-yard touchdown run, he had an interception that led to a Vaquero touchdown and a 46-yard punt return to set up another score.

Case’s only area of concern was the Vaquero passing game--it was only three of seven--but he quickly dismissed that worry. “Who needs to throw the ball when you can run as well as we can?”