Rancho rallies by Lobos

GARDEN GROVE — Twice the Los Amigos High football team was beaten deep for touchdowns in its 28-14 Garden Grove League loss to host Rancho Alamitos on Friday at Bolsa Grande High.

Now, it’s the depth of candidates for the 16 spots in the CIF Southern Section Division 12 playoff bracket that Lobos Coach Paul Agnew believes may be the ultimate knockout blow for his team.

With a victory, Los Amigos (6-4, 3-2 in league) would have claimed sole possession of second place, boasted a 7-3 record, and guaranteed itself a berth in the playoffs, for which the pairings will be announced Sunday.

But the loss dropped the Lobos into a three-way tie for second with Rancho Alamitos (6-4, 3-2) and La Quinta.

League coin flips eliminated La Quinta from one of the league’s top three berths, which under the old CIF divisional format would have meant guaranteed playoff berths for all three.

But with teams from the same league competing in different playoff divisions, beginning this season, postseason assignments became more perilous.

And while both Los Amigos and Rancho Alamitos (a Division 11 entry) will get No. 2 designations from the Garden Grove League (a change this year, when teams from different divisions can claim the highest possible league placing), Agnew said his team faces long odds to crack the crowded Division 12 bracket.

“At 6-4, from what I understand of the new criteria, I don’t believe our league is strong enough for us to get in,” Agnew said before kickoff.

After the loss, he was slightly more hopeful. He didn’t really have a choice.

“It is what it is,” Agnew said of his team’s predicament. “We’re not sure if we’re getting in. We get to go in as a No. 2, but we’re not sure. A lot of things have to go our way.”

Things went the Lobos’ way early, as they rolled 67 yards on nine plays with the opening kickoff to take a 7-0 lead.

But Rancho rallied for two second-quarter touchdowns, the first on a 32-yard scoring pass from Blake Culbert to sophomore Cross Faletoi on a possession that started after Miguel Rosales recovered a Los Amigos fumble at the Lobos’ 32-yard line.

A 46-yard catch-and-run from Culbert to Chris Infante fueled a six-play, 84-yard touchdown drive to give the Vaqueros the lead with 5:07 left in the first half.

Rancho then took control of the game by covering 73 yards on just three plays to open the second half. The capper on that possession was a 43-yard touchdown pass from Culbert to Faletoi.

Faletoi scored all four touchdowns for the winners, two rushing and two receiving. His two-yard run with 5:52 left in the game capped a 12-play, 77-yard drive that was aided by some costly Los Amigos penalties.

Los Amigos had nine penalties for 75 yards and lost two fumbles to hurt its cause.

Senior quarterback Steven Hernandez carried 28 times for 131 yards and one touchdown, but Los Amigos struggled to get any offensive production from anyone else.

Faletoi had seven receptions for 112 yards and, during his sporadic plays at quarterback, added 25 yards on five rushing attempts.

Culbert completed 14 of 24 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensive end Joseph Vera returned an interception nine yards to the Rancho 33-yard line to set up the Lobos’ third-quarter touchdown.

Garden Grove League

Rancho Alamitos 28, Los Amigos 14

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Los Amigos 7 – 0 – 7 – 0 – 14

Rancho 0 – 14 – 7 – 7 – 28

FIRST QUARTER

LA – Hernandez 1 run (Ramirez kick), 8:00.

SECOND QUARTER

RA – Faletoi 32 pass from Culbert (Martinez kick), 10:51.

RA – Faletoi 8 run (Martinez kick), 5:07.

THIRD QUARTER

RA – Faletoi 43 pass from Culbert (Martinez kick), 11:17.

LA – Potts 2 run (Ramirez kick), 0:25.

FOURTH QUARTER

RA – Faletoi 2 run (Martinez kick), 5:52.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

LA – Hernandez, 28-131, 1 TD.

RA – Kanyavong, 9-61.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

LA – Hernandez, 2-4-0, 44.

RA – Culbert, 14-24-1, 235, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

LA – Antolin, 2-31.

RA – Faletoi,7-112, 2 TDs.