MidValleySports.Com

Ryan Araujo leads El Rancho past Whittier.

(Whittier) – El Rancho shut out Whittier until early in the fourth quarter and went on to beat the Cardinals 17-3 Thursday night in the Del Rio League opener.

The Dons led only 3-0 at halftime before scoring twice in the second half to put Whittier away. Robert Robledo put the game on ice with a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown  with 8:24 left in the contest.

Whittier’s Anthony Figueroa about to get “hit” by the Ranch.

***El Rancho stopped Whittier running back Eddie Orta on a fourth and goal from the two yard line with 14 seconds left in the first half.

***Whittier quarterback Jared Reza completed just four of 10 passes for 67 yards.

***El Rancho scored its first touchdown with 7:44 left in the third quarter on a 28 yard run by quarterback Ryan Araujo.

***Araujo had nine carries for 52 yards and a score and completed six of 12 for 99 yards.

***Orta was the bulk of the offense for Whittier with 22 carries for 97 yards.

***Whittier had just 178 total yards on the night.

***Whittier was in position to score on its first possession but Alex Soto missed a 29 yard field goal.

***Jose Portillo booted a 31 yard field goal in the second quarter for El Rancho for the first points of the game.

***Aaron Escareno was the leading ground gainer for the Dons with 85 yards on 16 carries.

***El Rancho sacked Reza four times including twice on the Cards last possession.

***El Rancho improves to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the Del Rio. Whittier drops to 3-3 and 0-1.