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WESTMINSTER – Ocean View dominated on the ground and came up with two huge defensive stops late in its own territory to hold off Rancho Alamitos, 15-10, in a nonleague game at Westminster High on Thursday.

“They’re taking some years off my life, man,” Ocean View coach Luis Nunez said. “Every game this year has been like this. We schedule a tough preseason for this reason. It’s a huge win for us.”

Ocean View (1-2) ran the ball 46 times for 225 yards with touchdown runs by Xavier Salgado and Noah Deloera but only held a 7-3 lead at halftime and 15-10 lead into the fourth quarter.

With just more than five minutes remaining, Rancho Alamitos (1-1) went for it on fourth down at the Ocean View 8-yard line.

Blake Culbert’s pass was direct to the Rancho Alamitos receiver’s hands in the end zone, but Anthony Herrera knocked the ball away and preserved the lead for Ocean View.

“Our corners had a rough week last week (against Marina),” Nunez said. “We really challenged our corners this week. I thought they did an amazing job.”

Rancho Alamitos got one more drive, but a sack by Adam Meyer forced a fumble that was recovered by Ocean View to effectively end the game with 55 seconds remaining.

Ocean View’s three-pronged rushing attack of Salgado, Deloera and Chase Foreman allowed the Seahawks to control the game without throwing a pass in the second half.

Salgado led with 86 yards rushing and scored on a six-yard scamper in the first quarter.

“He’s the heart of this football team,” Nunez said. “He makes it go.”

Deloera led in carries with 20 for 67 yards and a 15-yard third quarter score.

Foreman had 11 carries for 72 yards.

Rancho Alamitos responded to Deloera’s TD run on the next drive as Culbert hit Cross Faletoi on a 5-yard screen pass for a touchdown.

The score gave the Vaqueros some energy, but the Ocean View defense was smothering.

Ocean View allowed only 71 yards rushing on 22 carries.

Culbert finished 10 of 19 passing for just 73 yards and a touchdown.