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

Luken Tabs Broadhead, Morehart, Rios

Lompoc High football coach ROBIN LUKEN singled out defensive end SETH BROADHEAD, linebacker JAKE MOREHART, and defensive tackle GILBERTO RIOS for their play in Friday's disappointing loss to Nipomo.


"They did a great job of running around and making things happen," Luken said. "We made a lot of mistakes but those three guys did a great job."


By midday Wednesday injured tailback MASSON BLOW still had not practiced and was questionable for Friday's game with San Marcos at Huyck Stadium (to be broadcast by Press Box Productions on Comcast Channel 23). "That's our rule," Luken said. "If you don't practice by Wednesday you don't play."


Quarterback will remain in the hands of sophomore RICHARD HIRZEL, the coach continued. "He saw himself on film. He saw the mistakes he made. He'll be better." Transfer papers still had not arrived on Wednesday for quarterback DARYL AGUILAR and tailback BOBBIE COLLINS, Luken added.

BASEBALL

In major league baseball RYAN CHURCH belted his 13th home run Wednesday night agains the Marlins.... In minor league ball CHRIS WHITE went 3-for-5 Tuesday night but it was not enough to boost his Oneonta Tigers into the New York-Pennsylvania League championship series. The Tigers fell to Auburn 5-4. White batted a blazing .357 in the playoffs with a 2-for-5 game in the opener to go with the fantastic finale. It was a sensational windup after an up-and-down rookie season. White went 1-for-19 in his opening professional games with Oneonta and was sent down to the Gulf Coast League Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. There he regained his stroke and posted a .279 batting average, and was promoted back to Oneonta. In his second stint in the New York city he batted .261 though in the record books it will be combined with that let's-just-forget-it start and will appear as .197. But then came the playoffs.....

Duffy's Biggest Thrill; DC Fans Defend Church

DANNY DUFFY’s biggest thrill this summer was pitching head-to-head against major leaguer Kerry Wood of the Cubs.

So said the June Cabrillo graduate, and Kansas City Royals’ third round draft pick, on Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show airing beginning today on Comcast Channel 25. Days and times are available on the left of your screen.

“His stuff is just filthy,” Duffy exclaimed, before adding that Wood’s young opponent did not give up any runs either.

It took about a week for the Lompoc lefthander to come down from the clouds and begin to feel as if he belonged in the professional ranks in the Arizona Rookie League, he said.

“That was the joke back at the hotel. ‘We have to act like professionals now,’ we kept telling ourselves.” Virtually everybody else was a rookie too, so for all it was a new experience.

Duffy pitched 37 innings giving up just 24 hits and six earned runs. His earned run average was a blue-chip 1.45. His strikeouts totalled 63 contrasted to just 17 bases on balls. His strikeout total ranked No. 6 in the Arizona League, even though many pitchers including all five with higher strikeout totals, pitched many more innings.

Duffy said the biggest difference between the Los Padres League and the Arizona League was that he could no longer simply throw his fastball past hitters. No matter that it is now clocking at 97 mph. “If you throw a fastball up they’re going to hit it. If I can hit my spot down and away I’m OK.”

Royals coaches wanted Duffy to work on his pitching mechanics, especially taking a consistently shorter stride and “stay on top of the ball” with his fastball. On his curve he was encouraged to use the same arm angle, over the top. He was limited to three pitches—fastball, curve, and change up—which meant he had to discard his slider and two-seam fastball.

Without the slider, which had been his out pitch in high school, the change up became his strike three choice.

“I try to throw it with fastball arm speed. My pitching coach at Cabrillo, coach Denny, really got me going on that. That’s part of the reason I’m where I’m at today because I developed that pitch so well.”

More consistent mechanics gave him more control, he said. His base on ball totals declined as the summer progressed. He also learned to “pitch to contact” – or not strike everybody out but to retire hitters on ground balls and flyouts. At the same time Duffy’s pitch count lengthened. He was limited to 30 pitches at the beginning, then 50, then 65-75.

Duffy’s biggest lesson of the summer?

“Don’t worry about what you can’t control.”

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FANS COME TO CHURCH'S DEFENSE

Washington Nationals fans are not stupid. And they are increasingly coming to the defense of the now-benched RYAN CHURCH. Read these notes from fans to Bill Ladson of MLB.com--

"Ryan Church hits right-handed pitching better than Austin Kearns, Wily Mo Pena and Nook Logan. I can't understand why any of those guys ever start ahead of Church. -- Geoff B., Las Vegas"

LADSON--"The Nationals are benching Church because he is not hitting home runs and driving in runs. It has nothing to do with his batting average. I think the expectations have been extremely high for Church. The organization believes he can hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs."

"Your comment about Kearns getting a free pass from the "think tank" is right on. There are several other players who have gotten a free pass, too, this year. Their shortcomings are never mentioned and their every little accomplishment is treated as if they are headed into the Hall of Fame. Yet other players are roundly criticized for every perceived shortfall (for example, Church). Such uneven treatment of players is very troubling to me as a fan. -- Teresa E, Washington, D.C."

And a word from Mr. En Fuego -- To illustrate the point let's compare rightfielder Austin Kearns with Church.

Until August 18 when Church was benched, the two had almost the identical number of at-bats. Now Kearns has 82 more. Still......

In home runs it is Kearns 13, Church 12. Even all-star Dmitri Young has only 12.

In doubles it is Church 38, Kearns 31. Church leads the team.

In RBI -- Church 59, Kearns 58

In slugging percentage-- Church .440, Kearns .405

Their batting averages are identical-- .266

So if the Nationals want power from a corner outfielder, why was Kearns not benched for Wily Mo Pena? Unless it's that Jim Bowden falls in love with his old Cincinnati Reds. For Christmas how about the Nats hiring a real General Manager!!!!!!!

CHURCH REFUSES TO GO QUIETLY

As the Washington Nationals were nearly no-hit by John Smoltz of the Braves Friday night RYAN CHURCH (pictured left courtesy Mike Collins of wwwcollinsphotography.com) once again was used only as a pinch hitter. He delivered a double, his 38th of the season, to drive in the Nats’ only run. Wily Mo Pena, the hot stuff power guy who was brought in to take Church’s left field job, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Then Sunday Church was given a rare start, rare at least since August 18 when he was benched. And what did Churchie do? He delivered a game-winning three-run homer, his 12th of the season. Here’s the report from Bill Ladson of MLB.com—

“The Nationals were losing, 3-1, when they rallied to score three runs in the top of the sixth inning against right-hander Lance Cormier. With runners on second and third and one out, Church hit a 3-2 curveball over the center-field wall to give the Nationals a 4-3 lead.

“In this case, it was one too many curveballs. In the previous two at-bats, Church struck out on the pitch. In the sixth inning, the curveball hung for Church to hit it out.

"’The first at-bat, he hung one and I tried to crush it, and I swung through it. The second one, I just chased the ball down in the dirt. I was trying to get it up, but I kept fishing for it,’ Church said. ‘[In the sixth], I figured he was going to throw it in that situation -- 3-2, guys on base -- and try to strike me out. I was able to stay on it. In that situation, you want to elevate the ball. I was fortunate it went out. It took nine [curveballs] to finally get it. I was being stupid the first two at-bats.’"

“Since he was benched, Church is 11-for-40 (.275) with two home runs and 11 RBIs. Asked if he feels satisfaction that he could be productive, Church said, ‘It feels good. It's one of those things where you have to take advantage of the opportunity, because you don't know how many times you are going to get it.’"

And Wily Mo Sunday? He went 1-for-5. He’s batting .223. Church is at .266.

FOOTBALL

Before 110,000 fans including his high school coach DON CROSS, starting Penn State cornerback LYDELL SARGEANT made one solo tackle and three assists Saturday, with one of those assists throwing a Notre Dame ballcarrier for a loss. In so doing the Nittany Lions sacked (collectively speaking) Notre Dame freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who was last seen by Lompoc fans at Huyck Stadium a year ago leading Oaks Christian to a lopsided victory. Penn State won this one 31-10. The crowd was the second largest in Penn State history.


Meanwhile before 17,600 at another Big Ten venue, Ryan Stadium in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern came from a two-touchdown deficit to stop Nevada 36-31. Running back Luke Lippincott rushed for 140 yards and VAI TAUA did not get a single carry even though he led the Wolfpack in rushing last week. He was on the field but no carries.

In Salt Lake City before 43,000 Air Force dealt Utah its first defeat in five tries Saturday 20-12. MATT SIMS saw action for the Utes but had no offensive stats to report either.

In Kirksville, Missouri, Upper Iowa fell 55-31 to Truman State though defensive end MIKE SLAUGHTER registered two solo tackles and two assists One of the solos went for a five-yard loss. Slaughter was making his first start for the Peacocks in the contest. This after starring at Hancock and sitting out a year at Baylor. Also in the UIU starting lineup for the second week was offensive tackle JUSTICE CLEGG, who as a member of the O-line of course got no statistical mention.

In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist advanced its record to 2-0 with a 46-19 victory over East Texas Baptist Saturday night as starting left cornerback DONALD WHITE collected the team high in solo tackles with four.

From Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, at Iowa Wesleyan the word is that RUBEN GARCIA will wear #60 and perform on occasion on the Tiger offensive line. IWU fell Saturday to Ohio Dominican 46-0 but Garcia saw no action. ARYN GARCIA of Lompoc will be redshirting at the school.

In California community college play BOO JACKSON completed 18 of 28 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night but Bakersfield connected on a last second TD (0.00 on the clock) to defeat top-ranked El Camino 33-31. “Sometimes all the hype gets into a player's head,” Jackson told David Saunders of the Torrance Daily Breeze. “This was a real wake-up call.” After two games this season Jackson, an El Camino captain, has completed 31 of 49 passes for 478 yards (63%) and no interceptions. According to Boo’s mom the two schools hottest in the running for his services next season are Oregon and LSU. Jackson wears No. 8…. Hmmmmmm, who else from Lompoc wore No. 8 in college……??

Also on the field Saturday night in Bakersfield was TYLER CHAGOYA, wearing No.33 for Bakersfield.

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In minor league baseball CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-5 Sunday as the Oneonta Tigers nipped the Auburn Doubledays 1-0 in 11 innings in the first of their three-game New York-Pennsylvania League playoff series…. With the Northwest League season ending Sunday, catcher BRIAN AGUAILAR’s closing statistics are available. AGUAILAR posted a solid .311 batting average in 2006 for the Tri-City club, a Colorado Rockies’ affiliate but injured himself early this spring. As a result he came off the disabled list only in July, was sent back to the same club, and never really got a chance. In just 34 at-bats in only 11 games over two months he collected three hits (.088).

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On Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show BRAD MEMBERTO talks about sports writing and broadcasting and DANNY DUFFY talks about pitching in Arizona. See the schedule on the left.

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.

Luken Rates Braves Highly Despite Loss

Lompoc High’s football team did well despite its 49-14 defeat at the hands of Oaks Christian last Friday, coach ROBIN LUKEN declared Wednesday.

“They played hard, they never quit,” said Luken, who was absent due to a visit to the Air Force Academy where his two sons are cadets. “Our overall effort in the second half was very good. I was pleased especially with the six-minute drive in the third quarter.” That 12-play scoring march came against the Lions’ first-team defense. “We still had the old Brave character."

Luken identified conditioning and a surge from the defensive line as areas for improvement however. “The word this week is surge,” he chuckled.

The coach rated sophomore JAKE MOREHART on defense and senior MASSON BLOW highest on defense after viewing film of the game.

Luken said the Brave lineup will remain the same this Friday night at Nipomo and that if CIF paperwork arrives tailback BOBBY COLLINS, Lompoc's leading rusher last season, may even play.

Luken also revealed that his son DERRICK LUKEN will not perform this season for the USAFA junior varsity as had been expected. “He’ll be filming with his brother,” he said with a sense of resignation. “Sooner or later your career ends. That’s life.” Young Luken hopes to get another chance in the spring or next season, his father said.

Game time Friday night in Nipomo is 7:30. The game will be broadcast by Press Box Productions on Comcast Channel 23.

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Lompoc cross-country runner ARIANA FABING of Allan Hancock College is the featured Athlete of the Week in the weekly Santa Maria Sun published today.

Fabing, 19, suffered stress fractures last season so did not compete at Hancock, but this year will be different, coach Louie Quintana said.

“I think she’ll be our top girl,” Quintana told the Sun. “She did really well at Lompoc. I expect a lot of things from her this year. If we keep her healthy.”

Fabing’s season will begin tomorrow at the Ventura Invitational.

“I feel fine and stronger this year,” Fabing told Sun reporter Laura Kasavan. “It’s pretty cool to be one of the top runners.”

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In baseball RYAN CHURCH got his first start in a week and went 1-for-3 Wednesday in a 6-4 win over the Marlins…. CHRIS WHITE had a 3-for-6 night in the New York-Pennsylvania League playoffs Wednesday night as the Oneonta Tigers defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds (Baltimore) 14-8. It was White’s second three-hit game in three nights.

Cross Optimistic for Conq Football This Year

Injuries sent the Cabrillo Conquistadores reeling to 2-8 last season after a CIF semi-final berth in 2005, but things are looking up, coach DON CROSS declared today.

“We’re going to be fine if we stay healthy. We have looked at all sides of those injuries. We looked at training and we looked at equipment. We’ve decided it was just a fluke.”

The positive side of all the hospital calls was that plenty of new talent reaped experience. It should come back to pay off beginning on Friday when the Q’s host Pacifica of Oxnard in their season opener at Huyck Stadium.

The strength of the black-and-gold should rest in the enormous offensive line. Center PAUL McNEIL stands a compact 5-10, 230. Guards DAVID KULP (6-1, 265) and JAKE FARLEY (6-3, 290) are gargantuan. All bring a year’s experience though Farley’s came two years ago. He was a casualty in ’06. Left tackle MIKE NELSON (5-11, 210) is also back after losing the season to injury. Right tackle ALEX HURD (6-0, 250) arrives from the undefeated JV team. If you have a calculator you know their average weight of this group is 250 pounds.

Add to that junior CHRIS ZAHUTA who played guard last year at 6-0, 190, and is a fearsome blocker, will be the tight end.

The guys carrying the ball, GREG WATSON and BENNIE GARRETT, are experienced seniors, and speedy. “They have breakaway speed, both of them. They’re track guys. They’re a threat to go all the way from anywhere,” Cross predicted. At wingback is junior BRANDON WHITTAKER. On that 10-0 JV team a year ago Whittaker picked off an amazing13 interceptions. The wide receiver spot will be contested between DAVID PHILLIPS, JEFF ESPARZA and JOSH BOWMAN.

Enjoying this cornucopia of riches will be junior quarterback SEAN ALLEN. Allen was thrown into the varsity fire last season when QB C.J. Simmons was injured.

“He understands the offense,” Cross said. “He knows how to play quarterback. On third-and-five he knows we want to go six yards, not 25.” Cross even compares Allen to his CIF-winning quarterback at Lompoc High ANDREW JONES. “He plays within himself,” Cross said.

The front of the defense will be staffed by Farley, Kulp and Zahuta with sophomore PAT COOK and junior EMMER RUANO at the ends. The linebackers will be MATT ROTONDI and JEFF GONZALES, the corners Garrett and Watson, and the free safety Whittaker. TREVOR WAGONSELLER will be utility man. The strong safety spot will be contested between VINCE MARZULLO and freshman USO TAUA, brother of University of Nevada running back VAI TAUA. “We’ve got speed on defense,” Cross assured.

Esparza will punt and kick field goals. He can punt for 40 and score from 30, Cross estimated. NOAH MOORE will handle kickoffs.

Cross predicted the Los Padres League will be up for grabs between Pioneer Valley, Cabrillo, St. Joseph and Morro Bay. “In the summer the most athletic team was Morro Bay,” Cross declared. “Logan Budd may be the best player in the league. He never leaves the field. It’s gonna be crazy.”

Game time Friday is 7:30. The Conqs have only two preparatory games before they open LPL play at Pioneer Valley on Sept. 21. That game will be broadcast by Pressbox Productions on Comcast Channel 23.

Baseball wraps up

ANDY SHIPMAN’s baseball season came to an end Monday. After a disappointing assignment by the Oakland A’s to AA Midland of the Texas League, his pitching numbers looked good early. They were so good through April and May that a call up back to AAA where he had spent 2006, and maybe even the major leagues, seemed likely. But in June and thereafter the numbers slipped. The Ship, in his fifth pro year, struggled to a 4-7 record and a 5.81 ERA in 117 innings. During July and August his ERA soared to above seven…. CHRIS WHITE went 3-for-5 with two doubles Monday for the Oneonta Tigers of the New York-Pennsylvania League. The trio of raps raised his batting average for his late August stint at Oneonta to .225. He batted .279 for the Gulf Coast League Rookie Tigers before their season ended. White can be seen on TV the next two nights on the web at www.ironbirdsbaseball.com, click MULTIMEDIA, then IBTV, and then CLICK HERE TO VIEW IBTV BASEBALL. Game starts at 4 p.m. California time, 6 p.m. Central. Be on time, White is the leadoff batter.

Football Foto Feature by Russ Samaniego

Photographer RUSS SAMANIEGO snapped these shots Friday night at Thorson Stadium in Westlake Village as the Lompoc Braves battled the Oaks Christian Lions.

Top to bottom and left to right (click on the picture to enlarge it) --

Quarterback DARYL AGUILAR (5) turns on the jets for a long run.

Linebacker FAVI VARGAS (45) has him high, and SOMEBODY has him low.

Quarterback RICHARD HIRZEL (14) shows his straightarm to OC defenders.

Running back SCOTT AGUAILAR (11) burrows into the OC line behind blocking by ANDREW VAN DYKE (71)

Defender MASSON BLOW (3) dives and barely misses this OC kick.

Linebacker JAKE MOREHART (15) goes high in the air.

Lompocans Wow Big Grid Crowds

Lompocans in college football performed before massive crowds Saturday with LYDELL SARGEANT leading the numbers.

At Penn State the Nittany Lions demolished Florida International 59-0 with Sargeant making his first start for PSU before 107,678.

At cornerback Sargeant made five solo tackles to lead the defensive backs and rank second overall in defensive statistics.

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At Lincoln, Nebraska, VAI TAUA did nearly as well. The onetime Cabrillo star was the leading ground gainer for Nevada despite the Wolfpack being crushed 52-10. Crowd size was 84,000.

Taua did not start but came on to make three carries for 24 yards. One of his rushes went for 12 yards. His average for the day was eight yards/carry, also the best of any Wolfpack ballcarrier with more than one carry. The starting tailback for Nevada carried four times and gained but three yards.

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Utah lost to Oregon State Thursday night. MATT SIMS played but registered no receptions. He was not in the starting lineup at his usual H-back spot nor at tight end.

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In Division II Upper Iowa bumped off Loras 38-11 for only the second time in five years with JUSTICE CLEGG and MIKE SLAUGHTER playing roles.

Clegg, No. 71, started at right tackle on offense while Slaughter, No. 52, came off the bench on defense to rank among the Peacocks’ statistical leaders. Big Mike registered three solo tackles, third on the team, and one assist. Two of his tackles threw ball carriers for losses. Slaughter may be starting before long.

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Ouachita Baptist nipped Texas A&M Commerce on a final seconds field goal 29-27. Starting defensive back DONALD WHITE, No. 2, led the DB’s in tackles with five, 1 solo and four assisted.

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In the junior college ranks BOO JACKSON picked up where he left off last season by leading El Camino of Torrance to a 56-13 victory over Grossmont Saturday night.

Jackson, the starting quarterback, completed 13 of 21 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns. His longest toss went for 28 yards. He was not intercepted but he was sacked once. He ran four times for a net 13 yards including one TD. El Camino is the defending California junior college champion.

Braves Refuse to Back Down to Lions

Friday night at Thorson Stadium in Westlake Village was an experience. In 90 degree heat at game time a helicopter delivering the first ball was, well, a first in this reporter’s experience.

The game score 49-14 came as no great surprise. Oaks Christian recruits the best players from all over the area. Their victory was their 47th consecutive, a new CIF Southern Section record.

The good news for Lompoc fans was the fighting response by the Braves after being down 42-0 at halftime.

The blues came out as if it were a new game. They began at their own 20 and marched down the field methodically on nine plays until quarterback DARYL AGUILAR found receiver STEVEN MOREHART in the right corner at the one yard line. Morehart went up over two defenders and brought down the ball. Two plays later fullback FAVI VARGAS crunched across the goal line for Lompoc’s first score against the Lions in seven quarters of play dating back to last year’s 49-0 defeat.

The marched utilized Vargas, Masson Blow, Brandon Alonzo, and scrambles and passes by Aguilar to move the ball.

“We shoved it down their throats against their FIRST ‘D’!” grinned assistant coach NATE MENDOZA. “That’s what their coach told us afterward. Their top guys were still in there. This is the most positive I have ever felt after a loss. ROGER PACHECO said it himself, ‘This is a good group of kids.’ I’m excited for the rest of the year.”

Other Brave highlights included runs by MASSON BLOW of 31 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and a 50-yard kickoff return against the best of the Lions in the first quarter. Then there was Aguilar going 8-for-12 passing and outrunning the Lion secondary for a 37-yard gain in the second quarter, kicker MATT MARQUEZ barely missing from 52 yards out, GILBY CORNEJO’s interception, and an 11-yard reception in heavy traffic by RUDY YRUEGAS

PRESS BOX PRODUCTIONS offensive player of the game is STEVEN MOREHART. Defensive player of the game is GILBERTO RIOS who roamed sideline to sideline to make tackles.

Next week’s Game of the Week is Lompoc at Nipomo.

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In other games Righetti overcame Pioneer Valley 17-14 in overtime after the Panthers missed a short field goal with seconds left in regulation, Bishop Diego defeated Nipomo 21-13, Aptos edged Arroyo Grande 21-14, Atascadero belted Washington Union 42-22, Templeton destroyed Tranquility 46-0, Morro Bay stopped Immanuel 38-7, and Paso Robles beat Highlands 29-19.

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At the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan Thursday DUANE SOLOMON had to settle for seventh place in his heat and did not advance to the semifinals in the 800. Solomon ran 1:48.95 after leading the pack at the halfway mark. His split at that point was 5l.97. Solomon now returns to USC for the cross country season. He enters his senior year.