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Rancho Alamitos quarterback Nick Brown celebrated his 17th birthday by throwing for six TDs in a 48-26 victory against Santiago on Thursday.
Rancho Alamitos quarterback Nick Brown celebrated his 17th birthday by throwing for six TDs in a 48-26 victory against Santiago on Thursday.
Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

GARDEN GROVE Nick Brown passed for 358 yards and tied his season-high with six touchdown passes, but Rancho Alamitos also took care of its star quarterback after it dispatched Santiago, 48-26, in a key Garden Grove League game Thursday night at Garden Grove.

The Vaqueros (5-2, 1-1) sang happy birthday to Brown and his twin brother, Nathaniel, both of whom celebrated their 17th birthdays.

Yes, college recruiters should note that Brown, who now has 29 touchdowns and only three interceptions, had been a 16-year-old senior until Thursday.

“Our team is very close,” Brown said of his postgame treatment. “We don’t say we’re one just because.”

Rancho Alamitos bounced back from a 35-7 loss last week against defending league champion Garden Grove behind Brown, four steady receivers and a defense that clamped down on Santiago’s ground attack after the first series.

Brown completed 24 of 40 passes, connecting six times apiece to receivers Joe Navar, Alberto Meneses, Devin Velez and Joe Lainez.

The foursome limited their drops and racked up yards after their receptions. Lainez finished with 148 yards, including touchdowns of 3, 59 and 26 yards.

The Vaqueros’ starters also didn’t commit a turnover. Mario Monroy of Santiago (5-2, 0-2) returned a fumble 45 yards for a TD to cap the scoring with 1:36 left in the fourth quarter.

“Tonight we went back to just playing basics and letting Nick throw it and let our guys catch it, and that’s what we do best,” Rancho Alamitos coach Mike Enright said. “Last week, we turned the ball over on our second and third drives, which killed us.”

Santiago running back Junior Ortega rushed for all 57 yards of the Cavaliers’ opening drive, ending the march with a 2-yard TD run. Ortega finished with 85 yards and Santiago couldn’t keep up with Brown and his receivers.

“We played six running teams in a row and this is a major change of pace for our kids,” Santiago coach Brandon Croft said.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com