By Mike Loney
“They showed up, they wrapped up, and they did what they needed to win,” was the description coach ROBIN LUKEN gave of his defensive squad after the 35-13 victory Friday night- but he could have said the same about the entire team.
The Braves (3-4,1-2) played their best game of the season, defeating the Eagles (2-5,0-2) for only the fourth time since 1995 and for the first time at Arroyo Grande this century. It was also their first victory in the PAC-7 since joining last year.
The Braves played their best and most complete game of the season- racking up 372 yards on offense, allowing only 187 yards on defense, and playing solid special teams. It would have been difficult to anticipate this result earlier in the week when, in addition to having several players already out injured, the team suffered some self-inflicted wounds. At least four players (including two-way starters) literally failed to make the grade and were dismissed due to failure to maintain academic eligibility.
The team, however, pulled together and played the kind of football many fans have been hoping to see all year- tough, hard-nosed, swarming defense and an offense that can produce big plays.
The Players ---
#5 The Lines: The undersized O-line, all juniors, [SETH BROADHEAD, ALAN JULIAN, BUCKY MARTINEZ, EVAN BEDFORD, ADAM LEACH] played as a real unit and did a very good job of sealing off running lanes for Lompoc’s back-to-basics approach. They were not really asked to pass block as the Braves tried to throw only about three times. The D-line [FAVI VARGAS, VICTOR REYNA, SAUL DOMINGUEZ, Leach, Broadhead, JUAN ARCINIEGA, GILBERTO RIOS, JAMES MITCHELL] was quite good tonight. Although also outsized (what else is new) they were able to keep AG from moving the ball consistently. Two third quarter runs (50 & 27 yards), when the defense was tiring, accounted for a large chunk of AG’s yardage and all their points. Lompoc had three sacks for 17 yards [Vargas 2, Dominguez 1] - which is pretty good considering AG only tried to throw 10 times (2-5-1 for 18 yards, 2 scrambles for 7 yards).
#4 MASSON BLOW: He was the workhorse (14-72yds, TD) on offense, and blanketed receivers on defense, while also participating on various special teams (a punt return for 11 yards). Because he became the primary target of the defense, other players were able to get loose while he was getting pounded as the decoy.
#3 DARYL AGUILAR: He had a solid game, made lots of good decisions, managed the offense well, had 82 yards on ten carries and three rushing TDs - what else do you want ? Well, how about one of the greatest plays of the game. Lompoc stalled somewhat in the fourth quarter and was facing a 3rd & 5 from the AG 44 yard line. Aguilar dropped back, looking for a screen left, but immediately had a faceful of Eagles and no receiver. He avoided one rusher, slid to the right and left, broke about three tackles, apparently used his get out of jail free card, scrambled to the left, picked up some downfield blocks, and collected 28 yards and a 1st down. Eagle fans were disgusted. On the down side he had an interception (on 1-2-1 for 48 yards passing) and a fumble. Also one punt - 35 yards.
#2 BRANDON ALONZO: He seemingly never came off the field. Offense - nine carries for 95 yards and a TD (including a 59 yard run to set up another TD). Defense- Great coverage all night, several tackles that saved big yardage or scores, and a 45 yard interception return. Special Teams- Had four returns for 63 yards (one was partially wiped out by a penalty).
#1 FAVI VARGAS (pictured above) What do you call a guy who just keeps making plays ? Easy- Player of the Game ! He had 40 yards on nine carries, a 48-yard reception (a little 8-yard out route that he took off with), two sacks, a bunch of tackles, and was generally a major annoyance to whatever AG tried to do. His primary service was simply to make plays when they were needed. For instance, in the first nine plays of the game - 1 sack on 3rd & 7 on defense (plus assists on the other two plays), two carries (14 yards) for first downs on offense.
The Game Recap
1st Quarter: AG 1- 3 & out [-4 yds](Vargas 7 yd SAC on 3rd & 7) punt Lom 1- 9 plays, 54 yards Alonzo 2-25, Blow 4- 10, Aguilar 5yd TD (7:09) 7-0 AG 2- 6 plays,14 yards punt Lom 2- 3 & out [5 yds] punt AG 3- 3plays, 10 yards, 1 1st down 2nd Quarter: AG 3- [cont]7 plays, 17 yds, 1 1st downs At L26 throw into EZ Alonzo Int & Ret to L45 Lom 3- 4 plays, 55 yds Aguilar 1-21, Blow 2-31 inc. 19 yd TD (6:34) 14-0 AG 4- 3 & out [6 yds] punt Lom 4- 2 plays (-1 yd) Aguilar overthrows Yruegas-INTercepted by Henderson (AG46 to L25) AG 5- 6 plays,17 yards, 1st down Miss 24 yd FG From right hash- wide left Lom 5- 2 plays,7 yards run out clock 3rdQuarter: Lom 6-7 plays,84 yards Alonzo 59 yds on cris-cross to AG 1yln, Aguilar 1yd TD (8:49) 21-0 AG 6-11 plays, 38 yds,2 1st downs Ran reverse on 4th & 3 at L33-lost 1 yd Lom 7-3 plays, 16 yds,1st down Aguilar 2-13 (19, -6 fumble) FUMBLE AG 7-1 play, 50 yd TD run by Cabalar on fake reverse ,kick wide right (2:20) 21-6 Lom 8- Onside kick rec by Etteddgue for AG at L40 AG 8-4 plays,40 yds 8 yd pass rpn on 3 & 5 ;27yd run TD by Lopez (also had big game on D) AG line up for 2pt attempt, but 5 yd false start penalty ;McLaughlin kicks EP (0:47) 21-134th Quarter Lom 9-(1 pl in 3rd)Total 8 plays,65 yrds,2 1st downs 48 yd pass Aguilar to Vargas on 2nd & 13 at L42 set up 8 yd TD by Aguilar (9:12) 28-13 AG 9-3 & out [-1yd] Vargas SAC on 1st down punt Lom 10-9 plays,62 yards, 2 1st downs J.Morehart 8yds on 3rd & 7, Aguilar 28 on 3rd & 5; 10yd TD by Alonzo (2:16) 35-13 AG 10-1 play, pass thrown into crowd of 4 Lpc defenders - INT by ? (S.Morehart) Lom 11-4 plays,19 yds,1st down Subs in- Hirzel QB, S.Aguailar,Royster,Magana,Hirzel carryEND OF GAME Note: Jorge Hernandez kicked all 5 Lompoc EPs, also 6 kickoffs-284 yds.
Luken Quotes
“We ran more of an inside power game tonight. Then when our inside game started working, we were able to go outside with our option,” Luken told the Santa Maria Times.
“The whole offensive line stepped up tonight. We had a number of new starters on the line but they all did a good job. “Seth Broadhead, Adam Leach, Bucky Martinez, Evan Bedford, Alan Julian and Steve Morehart – they were the key to this win.
“Our defense also came through for us tonight. Especially our safeties, Gil Cornejo and Masson Blow made a lot of big plays.”
“We ran more of an inside power game tonight. Then when our inside game started working, we were able to go outside with our option,” Luken told the Santa Maria Times.
“The whole offensive line stepped up tonight. We had a number of new starters on the line but they all did a good job. “Seth Broadhead, Adam Leach, Bucky Martinez, Evan Bedford, Alan Julian and Steve Morehart – they were the key to this win.
“Our defense also came through for us tonight. Especially our safeties, Gil Cornejo and Masson Blow made a lot of big plays.”
Luken had no comment about the loss of erstwhile two-way starters Bobby Collins and Valentine Vega.
Cabrillo Rolls over Santa Maria
At Huyck Stadium the Cabrillo Conquistadores mounted two drives each quarter to demolish the Saints 55-13.
GREG WATSON took complete command with 188 yards rushing, all but eight in the first half.
With his customary running mate BENNIE GARRETT sidelined with knee soreness Watson carried the ball 21 times in the first half for 180 yards and two touchdowns as Cabrillo took a 28-0 halftime lead.
“We held Bennie out—is knee is just a little sore,” said Conq coach DON CROSS. “No damage or anything, but everything’s fine. He’ll be back.”
Watson was more than enough. He scored the Q’s first TD from six yards out at the end of a 50-yard drive (in which he carried six times) and the fourth TD from eight yards, the finale of four consecutive carries. Watson’s longest run of the day was a 38-yarder on Cabrillo’s second drive.
“He’s a three-year starter for us so he knows what to do with the ball,” Cross added. “He had a great game and the line blocked very well. Greg knows what to do with the ball.”
Cabrillo’s second touchdown came from junior fullback MATT ROTONDI who went in from the six. Then in the second quarter he got loose for 31 yards to set up a 34-yard scoring pass from SEAN ALLEN to BRANDON WHITTAKER.
In the second half junior DAVID FRAATS took center stage with 83 yards on seven carries with three TDs. His scoring carries came from 48 yards and from 17 from scrimmage and a kickoff return of 65 yards.
“He’s an underclassman with a lot of speed,” Cross went on. “It was a good chance to let him get out there, see what it’s like and carry the ball a little bit.”
The other second half TD came from quarterback ADREAN AMES on a one-yard plunge which came after a 32-yard romp by Whittaker.
A big Homecoming crowd witnessed the victory. RENA TODD was named Homecoming Queen.
CONQ STATS
Rushing-- Watson 24 for 188, Fraats 7 for 83, Rotondi 5 for 52, Trevor Wagonseller 3 for 30, Whittaker 2 for 38, Justin Ellenbrook 2 for 2, Ames 2 for -11.
Passing— Allen 2-3-0 for 52 yards
Receiving – Whittaker 1 for 34, Josh Bowman 1 for 28.
Kicking – Pat Cook booted seven PATs in seven tries. An errant snap short-circuited an eighth attempt.
At Huyck Stadium the Cabrillo Conquistadores mounted two drives each quarter to demolish the Saints 55-13.
GREG WATSON took complete command with 188 yards rushing, all but eight in the first half.
With his customary running mate BENNIE GARRETT sidelined with knee soreness Watson carried the ball 21 times in the first half for 180 yards and two touchdowns as Cabrillo took a 28-0 halftime lead.
“We held Bennie out—is knee is just a little sore,” said Conq coach DON CROSS. “No damage or anything, but everything’s fine. He’ll be back.”
Watson was more than enough. He scored the Q’s first TD from six yards out at the end of a 50-yard drive (in which he carried six times) and the fourth TD from eight yards, the finale of four consecutive carries. Watson’s longest run of the day was a 38-yarder on Cabrillo’s second drive.
“He’s a three-year starter for us so he knows what to do with the ball,” Cross added. “He had a great game and the line blocked very well. Greg knows what to do with the ball.”
Cabrillo’s second touchdown came from junior fullback MATT ROTONDI who went in from the six. Then in the second quarter he got loose for 31 yards to set up a 34-yard scoring pass from SEAN ALLEN to BRANDON WHITTAKER.
In the second half junior DAVID FRAATS took center stage with 83 yards on seven carries with three TDs. His scoring carries came from 48 yards and from 17 from scrimmage and a kickoff return of 65 yards.
“He’s an underclassman with a lot of speed,” Cross went on. “It was a good chance to let him get out there, see what it’s like and carry the ball a little bit.”
The other second half TD came from quarterback ADREAN AMES on a one-yard plunge which came after a 32-yard romp by Whittaker.
A big Homecoming crowd witnessed the victory. RENA TODD was named Homecoming Queen.
CONQ STATS
Rushing-- Watson 24 for 188, Fraats 7 for 83, Rotondi 5 for 52, Trevor Wagonseller 3 for 30, Whittaker 2 for 38, Justin Ellenbrook 2 for 2, Ames 2 for -11.
Passing— Allen 2-3-0 for 52 yards
Receiving – Whittaker 1 for 34, Josh Bowman 1 for 28.
Kicking – Pat Cook booted seven PATs in seven tries. An errant snap short-circuited an eighth attempt.
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