ORANGE COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL : Garden Grove League : Greeney Runs Los Amigos to a 24-14 Win

Spectators at Rancho Alamitos High School football games this season have been treated to a one-man show called Sean Cheatham. After four games, Cheatham led Orange County in rushing with 781 yards and in scoring with 100 points and had led the Vaqueros to an unexpected 4-0 record.

He was at it again Thursday against Los Amigos, rushing for 207 yards in 35 carries and scoring a pair of touchdowns. But unlike past games, this night Cheatham was upstaged by someone else.

His name is Jeff Greeney, and he carried Los Amigos to a 24-14 Garden Grove League victory in Bolsa Grande Stadium in front of 750 spectators.

Greeney, a 6-foot 1-inch, 200-pound senior, rushed for 106 yards in 16 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. He also made 18 tackles from his middle linebacker position. He was everywhere.

“Don’t they have anyone else on their team?” asked a Rancho Alamitos fan after Greeney had made yet another tackle.

Thursday, it seemed that Los Amigos didn’t need anyone but Greeney.

The Lobos (1-1, 2-3) scored on their first drive, which started after Rancho Alamitos running back David Singletary fumbled on the Los Amigos 35. Greeney ran for six yards on the first play, then broke off left tackle for a 54-yard run to the Rancho Alamitos five.

Two plays later, Greeney ran four yards for the touchdown. Mike Loftis’ conversion kick made the score 7-0 with 7:38 left in the first quarter.

Rancho Alamitos countered with Cheatham. The Vaqueros (1-1, 4-1), starting on their 25, put together a 15-play touchdown drive with Cheatham scoring on a four-yard run. Cheatham carried 13 times on the drive, but he was stopped on a two-point conversion attempt by--who else?--Greeney.

And back came Los Amigos, putting together a 68-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run by Greeney. Loftis’ kick made the score 14-6, which it remained into halftime.

“You look at this game, and neither team really stopped the other,” said Mark Miller, Rancho Alamitos coach. “Each team was taking turns controlling the line of scrimmage. What killed us was fumbling on that first drive. We’ve been used to being ahead 8-0 after our first drive this season.”

Los Amigos scored on their first possession of the second half, going 60 yards in 9 plays. Greeney scored his third touchdown on a one-yard run. The Lobos were ahead, 21-6, with 7:43 left in the third quarter.

“I’ve been telling people all year what kind of player he (Greeney) is, but nobody seems to want to listen,” said Art Michalik, Los Amigos coach. “He’s our bread and butter, just like Cheatham is for them.”

Cheatham scored on a three-yard run with 5:36 left in the game, and ran in a two-point conversion to cut Los Amigos’ lead to 21-14.

But Vaquero quarterback Rodney McCall, throwing from his end zone, was intercepted with less than two minutes remaining. Los Amigos drove to the nine, then brought Loftis on to kick a 26-yard field goal with 39 seconds left.