Saturday, September 8, 2007

CABRILLO IMPRESSES, LHS FALLS AGAIN


Coach DON CROSS expressed optimism two days ago about the Cabrillo football opener and it was all confirmed Friday night at Huyck Stadium as the Conqs amassed 429 yards total yardage and whomped Pacifica of Oxnard 44-7.

“I was impressed with our execution for a first game,” Cross told AL HUNT of the Santa Barbara News-Press. “We’ve got a lot of speed. Fast backs and good overall.”

BENNIE GARRETT (pictured) rushed for 133 yards to lead a bevy of Conq running backs who totaled 312 yards on the ground alone. Quarterback SEAN ALLEN handed off adroitly and completed 5-of-6 passes for a whopping 117 yards. Meanwhile on defense the Q’s picked off four Pacifica passes. Last year in its injury-riddled 2-8 season Cabrillo did not record a single pick. Best of all for the opener nobody fell to injury.

First quarter scoring came from GREG WATSON plunging across from the two, and a JEFF ESPARZA field goal from 40 yards. In the second stanza MATT ROTONDI crunched over from the one and JOSH BOWMAN hauled in a 24-yard halfback option pass from Garrett. Sophomore PAT COOK pulled in a two-point conversion from SEAN ALLEN to make up for a blocked PAT after the Rotondi score.

In the second half it was Rotondi again from the one, TREVOR WAGONSELLER from the 10, and Watson on an 86-yard interception return.

Behind Garrett in the rushing statistics Watson totaled 49 yards on six carries, Wagonseller 36 on three, and freshman USO TAUA 34 on four.

A year ago Cabrillo lost to Pacifica 17-0 and lost four players to injury. The Conqs travel to Dos Pueblos next Friday, then open Los Padres League play at Pioneer Valley on the 21st.

NIPOMO MAKES HISTORY, DOWNS BRAVES

At Titan Field in Nipomo the home team dealt the Lompoc Braves their first defeat in the five-year history of the rivalry. The score was 14-7.

The Titans connected in the second quarter on a 50-yard Mason Sperakos scoring pass to sophomore Kevin Britt. After Lompoc’s BRANDON ALONZO ran back the second half kickoff to tie the score, Sperakos led the Titans on the only sustained drive by either squad all evening--- a 56-yard march which he consummated with a two-yard scoring plunge.

Lompoc was without quarterback DARYL AGUILAR, and for most of the game tailback MASSON BLOW who came out with an ankle injury.

Aguilar was unavailable due to discovery Wednesday night that transfer paper work had not cleared CIF. The unexpected discovery gave sophomore RICH HIRZEL only one day to prepare for his varsity debut at quarterback

“It was an oversight on my part,” said a disconsolate coach ROBIN LUKEN who earlier Wednesday had expressed supreme confidence. “We knew we had to do something with (running back) BOBBY (COLLINS), and we forgot Aguilar.” Aguilar returned to Lompoc and worked out with the Braves during the summer while Collins came back after school began two weeks ago.

Both players attended Rancho Cucamonga High in the spring and stood on the sidelines at Nipomo.

Luken left unanswered just how long Aguilar will be unavailable and when Collins might be cleared. “We’re trying,” he said. Blow is expected back next week Lompoc is 0-2.

ELSEWHERE

Pioneer Valley shocked Arroyo Grande 30-0 holding the Eagles to just 36 total yards. Paso Robles quarterback Brandon Ladley passed for 221 yards as the Bearcats dismantled the Santa Ynez Pirates 52-0. Nordhoff shut out St. Joseph in the second half to down the Knights 30-13. Dos Pueblos held San Luis Obispo to just 68 yards rushing to win 19-14. Morro Bay built up a 29-0 lead on four Logan Budd touchdowns before easing off and defeating Carpinteria 29-22. Santa Maria picked up a 13-7 victory over Gonzales, St. Bonaventure downed Atascadero 34-14, Righetti stopped Bakersfield South 35-6, and Templeton downed Central Valley Christian 28-13.

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