Trammell Picks Up Pace for Rancho Alamitos

GARDEN GROVE —  Ulysses Trammell saved Rancho Alamitos High School’s football team from itself Thursday night.

Rancho Alamitos seemed bent on destruction in the first half of its game against Santiago. But Trammell broke two long touchdown runs in the second half to lead the Vaqueros to an 18-6 Garden Grove League victory before 450 at Bolsa Grande High.

The second-leading rusher in Orange County, Trammell gained 187 yards in 15 carries and scored on touchdown runs of nine, 60 and 75 yards. He had 160 yards in the second half, pushing his season total to 1,141.

It was just what Rancho Alamitos needed. Until then, the Vaqueros had been busy giving the game away.

Rancho Alamitos (6-1, 3-1 in league play) scored on its first drive, but its offense went into a deep freeze after that.

Quarterback Chris Singletary was intercepted twice as Mark Miller, Rancho Alamitos coach, tried to open up the Vaqueros’ offense.

“I was way too conservative in last week’s game against La Quinta (a 10-7 loss),” Miller said. “We shoved it down (La Quinta’s) throats on our first drive (last week). But that’s not us.”

So Rancho Alamitos turned to the pass against Santiago (1-6, 1-3).

After four incompletions and two interceptions in nine attempts in the first half, Miller changed his mind and Rancho Alamitos kept the ball on the ground from then on. Singletary tried three passes, completing one for 31 yards, in the second half.

Still, the third quarter began in dismal fashion for Rancho Alamitos.

Santiago’s Jason Bergin pounced on Trammell’s fumble on the second half kickoff and quarterback Mike Carrasco completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Scott McGarrh on the next play. The Cavaliers’ two-point conversion pass was incomplete and it was 6-6.

Later, Trammell cut through the line, then cut back against the grain and broke into the clear for a 60-yard touchdown with 2:54 left in the third quarter.

Rancho Alamitos stopped Santiago, which had turned to the pass exclusively, on its next two possessions and Trammell put the game out of reach with a 75-yard burst up the middle with 5:05 left in the game.

Carrasco completed 14 of 34 passes for 140 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Alex Ripley added 80 yards in 21 carries.