GARDEN GROVE — The Estancia football team defeated Rancho Alamitos 14-7 on Thursday night at Bolsa Grande High, and Eagles coach Mike Bargas might have summed things up best after the game: “An ugly win is better than a pretty loss.”
The Eagles relied on their ground game and stout defense to hold off the Vaqueros and collect their first victory in the new Sigma League.
“It’s nice to be 1-0 but I thought we played sloppy.” said Bargas, whose team improved to 5-1 overall. “There were a lot of mistakes, but luckily they didn’t capitalize on some of our mistakes.”
Estancia running back Jeff Brown led the way with a workhorse-like effort, getting 169 yards on 26 carries. But it was fullback Julian Muro and backup quarterback Sean Sweeney who found the end zone for the Eagles.
Sweeney’s 1-yard run came on fourth-and-goal, from a jumbo formation, late in the third quarter.
Rancho Alamitos (4-2, 0-1) made a crucial mistake on the previous drive as a high snap sailed over the head of Andrew Gonzalez on a punt attempt and the Eagles took over on the Rancho Alamitos 8-yard line.
“It was a momentum changer and we were able to capitalize on that,” Bargas said.
The Vaqueros were also flagged for defensive holding on third-and-goal from the 6, which helped Estancia get close enough to punch it in on the next two plays.
“We didn’t play good enough to win,” Rancho Alamitos coach Mike Enright said. “We dropped balls, had holding calls in the end zone, had the bad snap on a punt and that’s the difference in the game. In an even game like this, if you don’t make those plays, you’re going to lose.”
The Vaqueros went on a 13-play opening drive that stalled at the Estancia 11 as Cruz Gonzalez was tackled for a loss on fourth-and-1.
Brown broke a 50-yard run on his first carry and that set up the Eagles’ first score, a 2-yard run up the middle by Muro with 2:41 left in the first quarter.
The Vaqueros responded with a 35-yard TD pass in the second quarter from Vincent Gentile to Johnny Zodiacal on a slant pattern.
On the next possession, Rancho Alamitos defensive tackle Carson Labossiere came up with an interception from a short pass that was deflected twice. But despite the favorable field position, the Vaqueros were unable to put points on the board.
“We had our chances in the first half,” Enright said, “we should have had 21 points, maybe 28 points. But you get seven and you’re going to lose, that’s just the way it works.”
Rancho Alamitos used its two-minute offense to get into the red zone. Gentile was picked off by Brandon Bettinghausen with seven seconds remaining in the first half when Gentile took a shot at the end zone.
The Eagles have won three straight games and face Calvary Chapel next week.
“The road to the league championship goes through Calvary Chapel next week, they get all my respect,” Bargas said.
Rancho Alamitos will look to end a two-game skid next week as it takes on a familiar foe in Los Amigos.
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