Riddle Is Ringing Up the Yards

About a month ago, Debra Riddle decided to change the family’s telephone number because too many people knew the old number. But the new number probably won’t keep the phone from ringing.

The last four digits correspond to the letters D-A-N-A, as in her son, Dana Riddle. “Being a proud mother I thought it was cute,” Debra Riddle said of the change. “Everyone teases him now and calls him 976-DANA.”

And no one has called Riddle’s number more this month than Rancho Alamitos Coach Mark Miller.

Dana, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, broke Rancho Alamitos’ single-game rushing record Friday night with 317 yards in 37 carries in the Vaqueros’ 9-6 victory over Costa Mesa. His performance, which included a school-record 93-yard touchdown run, was the fifth-best in Orange County prep history.

“It’s pretty much Riddle right and Riddle left,” Miller said. “We don’t get too tricky.”

Riddle has gained 441 yards in 63 carries for Rancho Alamitos (1-1).

And he could have had more, Miller said. Friday night, penalties nullified five Riddle rushes that totaled 92 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown run that was called back in the second half.

Miller said he hadn’t considered Riddle a breakaway threat until the 93-yard run.

“He was just determined that nobody was going to catch him,” Miller said. “It looked like they were gaining on him.”

Riddle, 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, also excels on defense. He was a second-team all-Garden Grove League selection last year at linebacker after leading the team with more than 100 tackles. Friday night, he recorded a safety and stopped a two-point attempt.

As tailback, Riddle is the focus of Rancho Alamitos’ offense. The usual game plan is for the tailback to get about 30 carries a game, most of which are pitches. Everybody blocks after the pitch, including the quarterback.

Miller said every season he sets a goal for his tailbacks to combine for 2,000 yards.

Two years ago, the players succeeded as Sean Cheatham gained 1,926, setting a school record.

This year, Riddle might have to do it himself. His backup, senior Dan Olivos, is now playing quarterback, replacing Chris Singletary, who broke his leg in a season-opening loss to Troy.

Riddle says he’s ready to challenge Cheatham’s school record. During spring drills last year, he and the offensive linemen decided to go for the record.

“That’s all that anybody who plays football for us talks about,” Riddle said.

TOP PERFORMERS

Erik Mitchell ran for 245 yards and three touchdowns to lead Los Alamitos to a 45-28 victory over Servite Friday.

Brian McCaffery of Marina had the fastest time of any Orange County cross-country runner Saturday at the Woodbridge Invitational at UC Irvine. McCaffery ran the three-mile course in 15 minutes 26 seconds and finished fourth in the large-schools division.

Dana Riddle

Rancho Alamitos High

Position: Tailback/linebacker

Height, Weight, Class: 5-9, 185, Senior

Last Week: Riddle gained 317 yards in 37 carries--fifth-best total in county history--in 9-6 victory over Costa Mesa.

Season: Riddle has 441 yards in 63 carries.