It was the season opener for both teams, but one had a tad more experience, and that was the difference.
It was the season opener for both teams, but one had a tad more experience, and that was the difference.
The Loara High football team, despite a rough start, defeated an inexperienced Rancho Alamitos High squad in the season opener with a 21-7 victory at Glover Stadium on Friday, Aug. 30.
The Saxons (1-0) notched all of their scores in the first half. They still took a while to get going, committing multiple turnovers in the first quarter. Also, a penalty took away Edson Velasquez’s 90-yard kickoff touchdown on the opening play of the game.
However, the Saxons dented the board at the end of the first quarter. Quarterback David Gistlinck connected with Velasquez with a 2-yard passing touchdown. The Saxons then got the ball back when Andy Franco recovered a fumble, which led to Velasquez catching another touchdown for 7 yards in the second quarter.
“It’s early in the season,” Loara head coach Dean Lappin said. “Ask me later, and I will tell you how good this team really is.”
The Saxons scored one more time before the end of the opening half. Gistlinck dashed in a 1-yard run to give his team a 21-0 lead.
As for the Vaqueros, they committed three turnovers – two fumbles and an interception – in the first half.
“This is the youngest team I’ve ever had,” Rancho Alamitos head coach Mike Enright said.
Indeed, the Vaqueros featured just eight seniors and only four returning starters. Quarterback Nicholas Brown went 17-for-40, tallying 183 yards and a passing touchdown. He also scrambled 15 times for 95 yards.
Trailing 21-0, the Vaqueros finally got on the board in the fourth quarter with 1:29 left in the game. Brown did the deed, hitting Garrett Finona with a 2-yard pass.
Both teams return to action on Friday, Sept. 6.
Rancho Alamitos, expected to finish third in Garden Grove League as it did last year, will face Savanna at Bolsa Grande High while Loara takes on Estancia at Glover Stadium.
Both contests start at 7 p.m.
