GARDEN GROVE – Rancho Alamitos offense scores points fast, and Santiago found out how hard it is to stop the Vaqueros.
Blake Culbert threw for 351 yards and four touchdown passes as Rancho beat Santiago, 49-14, in a Garden Grove league game Friday night at Garden Grove High.
“We throw the ball. That’s what we do,” Rancho Alamitos coach Mike Enright said. “When he (Culbert) sits in the pocket and has patience, he’s really good.”
Rancho Alamitos (6-2, 2-1) tallied 407 offensive yards on the night. This is the team’s fifth game with more than 30 points.
Its defense held Santiago to 132 offensive yards.
Although Rancho Alamitos moved the ball as it pleased, in the first quarter Santiago (0-8, 0-3) kept the game close because of an Adrian Barragan 85-yard interception return for a touchdown, which enabled the Cavaliers to cut their deficit to 14-7 with just more than 11 minutes left in the second quarter.
Later in the quarter Cavalier wide receiver Sergio Vasquez made a tough one handed catch for a 45-yard gain, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run from quarterback Angel Tajimaroa, tying the score at 14-14.
But Rancho Alamitos scored points fast to deflate any hopes Santiago had of an upset victory.
Culbert threw for 260 yards and three TDs in the first half.
Wide receiver Victor Lopez caught a 48-yard toss to set up a 2-yard Andy Alcala reception to increase Rancho Alamitos’ lead 28-14 right before the end of the half.
