Ranger gridders storm Pirates
By Jesse Phelps

Ranger football is back on track. After their week one demolition at Moorpark, the Rangers needed a boost and they got it with a hard-fought 21-6 victory at Santa Ynez on Friday night.
As usual, the Rangers made use of a powerful ground attack to deliver the win.

Junior tailback Will Strong had his finest game of the young season, gaining 97 yards on 23 carries, most in the crucial second half. Senior Clark Bigler racked up another 48 yards on only seven carries as the Rangers tallied an impressive 184 yards on the ground.

Josh Catlett and Marty Vogel each scored a touchdown running behind coach Cliff Farrar's favorite jumbo goal line package. And junior quarterback Ryan Whitcomb, back from an injury that kept him out of last week's game, completed three of eight passes for 32 yards, a touchdown and one interception.

The game was scoreless through one quarter, but a 35-yard punt return by junior wideout and return man Andy Doyle at the end of the period put Nordhoff on a short field.

After a series of run plays, Catlett punched it in from a yard out and Trevor Wright's extra point made it 7-0.

Not to be outdone, Santa Ynez drove down the field on its next possession, scoring on a screen pass from 6 yards out. The PAT was missed.

Nordhoff wasted a nice kick return from Bigler on its next drive, stalling out after a series of incompletions and penalties, setting the Pirates up for another scoring opportunity.

But, again, the home team was victimized by a missed kick. Nordhoff's Paul Chesser got in position to block the kick, causing the kicker to err as the half came to an end at 7-6 Rangers.
In the third quarter, Nordhoff squandered an opportunity with a fumble inside the Santa Ynez 20-yard line. But the Rangers made good a few series later when they drove for a score behind some nice option runs from Whitcomb and some nifty moves from Strong.

"Strong ran the ball very effectively for us in the second half," Farrar said.

Vogel scored on a 3 yard run off-tackle and Wright's PAT put Nordhoff up by eight.

After another extended drive by the Pirates ended in another missed field goal attempt, the Rangers put the game away when Whitcomb threw a 16-yard touchdown to slot receiver Max Thomas. Wright's third PAT was good and the Rangers took a 21-6 lead that was never challenged.

For the game, Bigler averaged 34 yards per punt, with a long of 54 yards. "Clark's doing a heck of a job getting us field position," said Farrar. "And the backs did a nice job, not only running but also blocking for each other. We were pleased with that. We expect each back to be able to block and run and they showed that. Max (Thomas) made it easy to get to the outside with his blocking on the perimeter. It was a good game, a very good game."

The nonleague win evened the Rangers' record at 1-1 heading into this week's contest Thursday with Marmonte League foe, Calabasas. Farrar said he'd love to see a full stadium for the first home game of the year, against a tough opponent.

"They've got good-sized kids," he said. "We're just hoping it takes them another week before they gel. I hope we have a good turnout Thursday."

The Rangers will begin Tri-Valley League play with a game at home against Carpinteria on
Oct. 3.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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