Troy Pulls Out Last-Minute Tie with Vaqueros

GARDEN GROVE â€”  Reserve quarterback Brent Lacher of Troy rallied the Warriors to a 21-21 tie with Rancho Alamitos Friday night with a touchdown and two-point conversion pass with 36 seconds remaining at Bolsa Grande Stadium.

Lacher, who replaced starter Bryan Burchit in the fourth quarter, marched the Warriors 76 yards, climaxing the drive with a two-yard scoring pass to halfback John Ramos and a two-point pass to wide receiver Derek Gomez in the corner of the end zone to salvage the tie.

Rancho Alamitos appeared to have the game in hand after halfback Jeff Byrd’s third touchdown of the game--a 27-yard run with 2:45 remaining. Carl Foss’s extra point gave the Vaqueros a 21-13 lead.

Byrd sparked the Rancho offense with 182 yards rushing in 23 carries. His 50-yard run on fourth-and-inches from the Vaquero 36, followed by a 14-yard touchdown run, gave Rancho a 14-13 lead with 4:13 left in the game.

Troy led, 13-7, on Mark Lowe’s field goals of 22 and 29 yards, and Burchit’s second-quarter sneak. Burchit’s one-yard scoring play came after Troy got the ball on the Vaquero one when Foss was unable to handle a low snap from center in a punting situation.

Rancho Alamitos also had problems with penalties--nine for 60 yards--that slowed its offense.