Vaqueros Cruise by Aztecs on Night of Recuperation

GARDEN GROVE — The Rancho Alamitos football team got into the spirit of the evening before beating La Quinta, 28-14, Friday at Bolsa Grande High.

Three of the Vaqueros’ top four players came dressed as spectators.

Without Alex Blanco, Nu Atuatasi and Eric Camarillo, and with David Vickers playing sparingly, the unbeaten Vaqueros went to the air to beat winless La Quinta. Shawn Young caught touchdown passes of 25, 58, and 17 yards from George Gonzalez and added a two-point conversion for good measure.

La Quinta (0-8, 0-4) took a 7-6 first-quarter lead on a 19-yard scoring pass from Thi Huyhn to tight end Ben Fredrickson.

The Aztecs managed only one first down over the next two quarters, though, and Rancho Alamitos (8-0, 5-0) built a 28-7 lead before Fredrickson made his second touchdown catch in the final minute of the game.

Rancho Alamitos Coach Doug Case took no chances with some nagging injuries, resting Vickers (1,145 rushing yards), Camarillo (team-high 45 tackles) and Atuatasi. All three are expected back for Friday’s league-title showdown with Los Amigos (6-0-1, 4-0). Blanco, who rushed for 1,085 yards in the first seven games of the season, likely saw his prep career end after suffering his second major knee injury in as many years last week against Pacifica.

Robert Kosi led the Vaqueros with 84 yards rushing. It was the first time this season Rancho Alamitos hasn’t had a back rush for at least 100 yards.