GARDEN GROVE – Blake Culbert threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns, Nathan Kanyavong ran for 143 and a score on just eight carries, and Rancho Alamitos’ defense shut down host Bolsa Grande en route to a 43-7 romp in a Garden Grove League opener Thursday night.
Culbert connected on TD passes to Cristian Villareal and Jesse Candelario as the Vaqueros (3-2) rolled to a 36-0 halftime lead, then found Erik Maitland in the end zone in the third quarter.
Rancho Alamitos rolled up 520 yards total offense and 25 first downs while limiting the Matadors (1-4) to 141 yards – just 45 in the second half – and four first downs, none after halftime. They gained 51 of the yards in a six-play sequence at the end of the first and start of the second quarter.
“First league game, so everybody’s 0-0, and we basically told the kids either we’re in first when the night’s over or we’re in last,” Vaqueros coach Mike Enright said. “And they don’t want to be in last.”
Kanyavong, a sophomore, gained most of his yardage on a 73-yard touchdown sprint with about 31/2 minutes to go in the first half. His night ended 36 seconds before the break when he suffered a leg injury after catching a 14-yard pass.
“He took a helmet to the shin. He’s going to get X-rayed,” Enright said. “I don’t think (it’s broken), but you never know.”
Miguel Rosales ran for 82 yards, most of it in the second half, and a touchdown, and Cross Faletoi rushed for 45 and a score.
Daniel Strahan rushed for 93 yards for Bolsa Grande, which scored immediately after Enright sent in a reserve offense. Daniel Visoso fumbled on the first play, and the Matadors’ Alex Huynh snagged the bobbled ball in the air and went 30 yards to the end zone.
