Cross Praises O-line, Holmes, Whittaker

Cabrillo football coach DON CROSS could not stop praising his team Thursday as he looked back at the Conquistadores' blowout victory over Pacifica.

"You've got to start with the offensive line picking up the blitzes," Cross began. "That really gave us trouble last year. When you run for over 300 yards you're doing something right. Cross went on to name all five interior linemen-- center PAUL McNEIL, guards DAVID KULP and JAKE FARLEY, and tackles ALEX HURD and MIKE NELSON.

"And we had five turnovers," Cross continued turning to defense. Two turnovers in particular, by BRANDON WHITTAKER (20) and ZACH HOLMES (50) pictured here, kept Cross talking when he should have been preparing for class. "The interception Brandon Whittaker got was textbook Cover Two," Cross raved. "He almost ran it all the way back!"

The interception of a deflected pass by noseguard Holmes made Cross bubble over as well. "He ran from noseguard out to the flat. He would not have been in the picture had he not hustled out there. This was out on the sideline, he just hustled. It was great to see it. From a coach's standpoint that play was awesome."

Cross also mentioned BENNIE GARRETT's 140 yards rushing and TD pass, quarterback SEAN ALLEN's comfort level and 5-of-6 passing, and GREG WATSON for his 86-yard interception return.

The Conquistadores visit Dos Pueblos tomorrow night.

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LYDELL---

Cross travelled from Lompoc to Pennsylvania last Friday night to watch former Conq LYDELL SARGEANT at the Penn State-Notre Dame game along with 110,000 others in Happy Valley. "That atmosphere was something else," he said. "Cars and motor homes are parking two and three miles away and people are walking to the stadium. We had just two hours of sleep but we were energized. You can feel the energy outside the stadium. Inside I've never seen anything like that in my life. Sonya was sitting next to me and we couldn't even hear each other. It was crazy. Especially when Notre Dame was on offense. You saw several delay-of-game calls. That was because of the crowd. Lydell played great. They didn't catch a ball on him. He definitely looked comfortable. He tried to bait Jimmy Clausen into throwing out into the curl area but Jimmy didn't throw. He's totally enjoying his experience." Cross gave credit to Clausen, the former Oaks Christian quarterback. "I thought he played pretty darn well. He was sacked seven times but he got hit 30 times."

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BOWLING---

Local bowling star DOUG FENNELL opened the 2007-08 winter bowling season at Rancho Bowl in Santa Maria Monday rolling a super sensational 813 three-game series and a 1063 for his four-game match. He opened his match with games of 278 and 279, slumped to a “mere” 256 and closed with a sterling 248. The series was amongst the highest ever in his illustrious bowling career. His personal best high three game series is 835, and for four games 1090.
One of the best of the best on the Central Coast Doug has averaged between 210 and 230 for the past ten years. Doug was pleased with his 813 series for it took place at other than his "home" house, Ocean Lanes. Bowlers sometimes get a reputation as being only able to bowl in one bowling center. This has never been true with Doug and this opening 813 proves it. --By KARL CORSER