Gimme an O for Otis

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Rancho Verde has a spirited group of cheerleaders, but they’re getting drowned out by Otis Alexander.

Alexander, a defensive end for the Mustangs, is in street clothes because he’s ineligible for his team’s first four games because of grades, but that doesn’t keep him from pumping up his teammates as he patrols the sideline.

His tactics seem to be working as the Mustangs scored the first two touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 24-14 lead.

Otis just got real quiet. Oh, he’s texting someone. Perhaps it’s his tutor.

Andrew Bouvay caught his second touchdown pass of the game on the first drive of the second half, and quarterback Justin Salazar threw his third touchdown pass of the game later in the quarter. Bouvay had another nice catch and run on the opening drive, showing he’s definitely Rancho Verde’s top skill player.

Tyron Smith, by the way, the USC-bound right tackle who is ranked as the No. 3 overall recruit in California, looks like a 6-foot-5, 260-pound running back for the Mustangs. One of my sources said he only has 9% body fat, but I’m not able to verify at this point.

Bloomington answered with a 29-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the third quarter, but failed on the two-point try, cutting the deficit to 24-20 entering the fourth.

- Dan Arritt