Bolsa Grande Bombed by Rancho Alamitos

Not only did Bolsa Grande have to face the fifth-ranked team in the county without one of its best players, but it also watched Rancho Alamitos get some lucky bounces.

Not that Rancho Alamitos really needed the good breaks as it rushed for more than 400 yards and cruised to a 56-14 victory in a Garden Grove League football game Friday at Bolsa Grande High.

Alex Blanco and David Vickers combined for 376 yards rushing and five touchdowns in only 20 carries between them for Rancho Alamitos, the top-ranked team in the Southern Section Division VIII poll.

Blanco rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns in 11 carries and David Vickers rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns, including an 87-yard scoring run, in nine carries.

Rancho Alamitos’ first-string defense sparkled like the offense, holding Bolsa Grande, which averaged 33 points coming into the game, scoreless before leaving the game leading, 49-0, early in the third quarter.

About the only blemish for the Vaqueros (6-0, 3-0 in league), were 12 penalties for 126 yards.

The Matadors (3-3, 1-2), played without their top receiver, Sam Baeder (15 touchdowns), and their offense suffered. Rancho Alamitos’ defense forced five turnovers, recorded four sacks and scored twice.

Robert Kosi, who had two interceptions, and Shawn Young, each turned deflected passes into interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Kosi had a 65-yard interception return for a score and Young, who also caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from George Gonzalez, returned an interception 88 yards for a score on the final play of the second quarter to make it, 42-0.

Bolsa Grande junior quarterback Doug Baughman guided the Matadors to two second-half touchdowns against Rancho Alamitos’ second unit.

Baughman finished 14 of 30 for 151 yards, well below his season average of 267 yards coming into game.

John Nguyen caught five passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns, including a 43-yard scoring catch, and Grady Owen rushed for 89 yards in 21 carries for Bolsa Grande.