Reasons to hope Friday night.
“A great team effort,” that’s what Lompoc High coach ROBIN LUKEN calls last week’s 35-13 victory over Arroyo Grande. “We executed exactly what we wanted to.”
It is the first time the Brave leader has been able to make that statement this 3-4 season.
STEVEN MOREHART (pictured here) led the defense in tackles but everybody on the field had a hand in the effort. “DARYL AGUILAR scored three TD’s and made big plays,” Luken pointed out Wednesday.
“We had over 300 yards rushing. The last time we did that was in the second round of CIF three years ago.” That was BOO JACKSON’s senior year. This year's seniors were on the freshman team.
And contributing to that rushing at AG were nine ball-carriers—BRANDON ALONZO’s 95 yards led with Aguilar contributing 82, MASSON BLOW 72, FAVI VARGAS 40 (and a 48-yard pass reception and run), JAKE MOREHART 10 yards, and one carry each by DAVID MAGANA (for 15 yards), MILTON ROYSTER, SCOTTY AGUAILAR and RICH HIRZEL.
No individual had more than 100 yards rushing. There was no standing around waiting for the speedy guy to do it or a big tackle to block. Tailback Bobby Collins and tackle Val Vega are no longer eligible. Everybody remaining had to step up, and they did.
“You like it because it shows you’re well-balanced,” Luken said. “Anybody can break it at any time.”
Therein rests the hope for this week against San Luis Obispo. There won’t be any looking for a star to save the day.
And with so many ball carriers, the Tigers can’t key on one number. The Braves will run everybody.
“A great team effort,” that’s what Lompoc High coach ROBIN LUKEN calls last week’s 35-13 victory over Arroyo Grande. “We executed exactly what we wanted to.”
It is the first time the Brave leader has been able to make that statement this 3-4 season.
STEVEN MOREHART (pictured here) led the defense in tackles but everybody on the field had a hand in the effort. “DARYL AGUILAR scored three TD’s and made big plays,” Luken pointed out Wednesday.
“We had over 300 yards rushing. The last time we did that was in the second round of CIF three years ago.” That was BOO JACKSON’s senior year. This year's seniors were on the freshman team.
And contributing to that rushing at AG were nine ball-carriers—BRANDON ALONZO’s 95 yards led with Aguilar contributing 82, MASSON BLOW 72, FAVI VARGAS 40 (and a 48-yard pass reception and run), JAKE MOREHART 10 yards, and one carry each by DAVID MAGANA (for 15 yards), MILTON ROYSTER, SCOTTY AGUAILAR and RICH HIRZEL.
No individual had more than 100 yards rushing. There was no standing around waiting for the speedy guy to do it or a big tackle to block. Tailback Bobby Collins and tackle Val Vega are no longer eligible. Everybody remaining had to step up, and they did.
“You like it because it shows you’re well-balanced,” Luken said. “Anybody can break it at any time.”
Therein rests the hope for this week against San Luis Obispo. There won’t be any looking for a star to save the day.
And with so many ball carriers, the Tigers can’t key on one number. The Braves will run everybody.
The offensive line was undersized last week, without ANDREW VAN DYKE and TOM McCAFFREY due to injury but the all-junior front of SETH BROADHEAD, ALAN JULIAN, BUCKY MARTINEZ, EVAN BEDFORD and ADAM LEACH with Steve Morehart at tight end learned they can get the job done.
The same group will take the field this week.
“I feel we can win,” Luken said. “The guys are capable. SLO lost to Dos Pueblos. We beat Dos Pueblos. They beat Righetti. We lost to Righetti.”
Luken expects San Luis Obispo to try to throw. “When people throw, we have the people back there who can defend.” He pointed to Alonzo and RUDY YRUEGAS at cornerbacks, and Blow and GILBY CORNEJO at safety.
On defense SLO will try to pressure at the line of scrimmage, Luken went on. “So you’ll lose some, but if you execute you can gain big because there’s nobody back there.”
SLO lost to Dos Pueblos 19-14 while Lompoc defeated the Chargers 28-14. SLO comes in 1-1 in league off a 15-3 loss to Atascadero last week.
Quarterback Dave Schultz has over 900 yards passing but his completion percentage is low at 47% (80 of 168). He has also had six passes intercepted. Schultz does not run much. His 26 carries have gone for a minus 64 yards.
Brian Lewellen and Jay MacElhearney are the principal ball carriers. Lewellen has 492 yards and a 4.47 y/c average while MacElhearney averages 4.02 with nothing longer than 14 yards.
Last year Lompoc was winless in league but came roaring back to force the Tigers into overtime. Last week's triumph gave the Braves their first victory in PAC-7 play. Another like it will jump them into third place at 2-2 and into playoff contention.
The same group will take the field this week.
“I feel we can win,” Luken said. “The guys are capable. SLO lost to Dos Pueblos. We beat Dos Pueblos. They beat Righetti. We lost to Righetti.”
Luken expects San Luis Obispo to try to throw. “When people throw, we have the people back there who can defend.” He pointed to Alonzo and RUDY YRUEGAS at cornerbacks, and Blow and GILBY CORNEJO at safety.
On defense SLO will try to pressure at the line of scrimmage, Luken went on. “So you’ll lose some, but if you execute you can gain big because there’s nobody back there.”
SLO lost to Dos Pueblos 19-14 while Lompoc defeated the Chargers 28-14. SLO comes in 1-1 in league off a 15-3 loss to Atascadero last week.
Quarterback Dave Schultz has over 900 yards passing but his completion percentage is low at 47% (80 of 168). He has also had six passes intercepted. Schultz does not run much. His 26 carries have gone for a minus 64 yards.
Brian Lewellen and Jay MacElhearney are the principal ball carriers. Lewellen has 492 yards and a 4.47 y/c average while MacElhearney averages 4.02 with nothing longer than 14 yards.
Last year Lompoc was winless in league but came roaring back to force the Tigers into overtime. Last week's triumph gave the Braves their first victory in PAC-7 play. Another like it will jump them into third place at 2-2 and into playoff contention.
The Lompoc-San Luis Obispo game will be broadcast by Press Box Productions on Comcast Channel 23.
Cabrillo at Morro Bay
Cabrillo on the other hand will be facing undefeated Morro Bay in the Land of the Rock.
"This game is all Logan Budd," Cabrillo coach DON CROSS said Thursday. "He kicks off, he punts, he's quarterback and principal ball-carrier, he's a safety on defense and he kicks extra points. He's a tailback in the shotgun and they hike him the ball. I've seen a couple games he's carried 25 or 30 times.
"We're going to pack the box and dare them to throw."
Cross said MATT ROTONDI, injured in last week's victory over Santa Maria has not practiced but is expected to play Friday. Tailback BENNIE GARRETT is more questionable. "I don't want him to play if he's not 100%," Cross said.
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