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  • Joe Lainez pulls in a touchdown pass for Rancho Alamitos...

    Joe Lainez pulls in a touchdown pass for Rancho Alamitos in the first half on Friday

  • Rancho Alamitos defenders Christian Chavez (57) and Frankie Gonzalez pull...

    Rancho Alamitos defenders Christian Chavez (57) and Frankie Gonzalez pull down Loara's Josh Moran on Friday night. Rancho Alamitos won, 34-18.

  • Rancho Alamitos quarterback Nicholas Brown celebrates his touchdown completion to...

    Rancho Alamitos quarterback Nicholas Brown celebrates his touchdown completion to Joe Navar on Friday night.

  • Loara linebacker Gustavo Castro wasn't able to bring down Rancho...

    Loara linebacker Gustavo Castro wasn't able to bring down Rancho Alamitos quarterback Nicholas Brown.

  • Rancho Alamitos' Devin Velez (7) celebrates Alberto Meneses' touchdown catch...

    Rancho Alamitos' Devin Velez (7) celebrates Alberto Meneses' touchdown catch in the first quarter.

  • Rancho Alamitos quarterback Nicholas Brown takes off on a scramble.

    Rancho Alamitos quarterback Nicholas Brown takes off on a scramble.

  • Rancho Alamitos' Rene Lizaola got a fingertip on a pass...

    Rancho Alamitos' Rene Lizaola got a fingertip on a pass by Loara's Andrew Mendoza.

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GARDEN GROVE – Nick Brown led a scintillating aerial attack as Rancho Alamitos used a big first quarter as a spark in a 34-18 win over Loara in a nonleague season opener Friday night at Bolsa Grande High.

Brown, who finished with 326 passing yards, threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers before the first quarter was over. Each of those first-quarter scoring passes covered 30 yards or more, showing the Vaqueros’ big-play ability through the air.

Rancho Alamitos wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, needing only three plays before Brown found Joe Lainez on a quick slant route for a 55-yard touchdown.

Lainez caught six balls for 118 yards and a pair of scores.

The Vaqueros’ second possession required only six plays, with Brown finding Alberto Meneses for a 30-yard strike and a 14-0 lead.

The Loara secondary struggled all night, as Brown picked the Loara defense apart with precise passing.

Loara tried to respond on its next drive by going for it on fourth down, but Rancho Alamitos held and took over on downs.

Brown continued the fast-paced scoring when he hit Joe Navar for a 45-yard touchdown pass on its next possession.

Justin Kanyavong gave the Vaqueros a boost off the bench with 113 rushing yards in relief of starter Marcos Flores, who left the game with an apparent ankle injury.

Late in the second quarter, Loara forced a turnover on downs at its own 5. The Saxons took over with 4:01 left in the half, then marched 95 yards, capping the drive with a fourth-down touchdown catch by Edson Velazquez with 20 seconds left before halftime.

Brown found Lainez for another score to start the second half, pushing the lead to 28-6.

Rancho Alamitos’ Matt Finona intercepted Loara quarterback Andrew Mendoza on the Saxons’ first offensive play of the fourth quarter.