The 40th edition of the Big Game lived up to its billing Friday night at Santa Maria High School's Dave Boyd Field.

It was a tough, hard-fought football game with the Righetti Warriors coming away with a 21-7 victory over their crosstown rivals.

Righetti presented a more balanced offensive attack, good defense and outstanding special teams play.

Santa Maria's defense also played an outstanding game, their special teams earned the game's play-of-the-night, but the Saints' chances were hurt by their one-dimensional, and therefore predictable, run-the-ball-everytime offense.

"We knew coming in that we were going to have some growing pains on offense," said Saints coach Jim Doyle.

"I think our kids played extremely well defensively. This is the toughest we've played them in the last seven or eight years but it still hurts to suffer the loss."

The Warriors left Dave Boyd Field immediately after the game and were not made available for comment.

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The Warriors came out throwing with junior quarterback Josh Thomas passing on four of Righetti's first six plays. Thomas was moving Righetti down the field when his final pass of the series, an attempt to wide receiver Ben Grover, was deflected by the Saints' Pete Gonzalez and intercepted by Jereme Verdin.

The Saints took over and began a long night of trying to run the ball on a tough Righetti defense. Three plays gained just five yards and the Saints kicker, Victor Velasco, was called on for the first time in a busy evening.

Velasco nailed a beauty, driving the Warriors' Richard Amaro back to his own 20 yard line. Amaro broke to his right, cleared the field and had just one man to beat for a touchdown. Kicker Velasco put his shoulder down and dropped Amaro at the Righetti 48-yard line.

This time Righetti held on to the ball and went on a seven play, 52-yard touchdown drive, capping it with a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Derek Sedin with 3:55 left in the first quarter.

Kicker Lafe Viker nailed the first of his three extra points for a 7-0 Warrior lead.

Santa Maria came back running. But Righetti was ready. The Saints had three offensive series the rest of the first half. On two of them, Santa Maria managed to gain significant yardage but couldn't break through the Righetti defense to score. The closest they got was a 38 yard field goal attempt by Velasco, that was long enough but wide to the right with 9.5-seconds remaining in the half.

Meanwhile, Amaro had another good kick return taking a Velasco punt at the Righetti 15-yard line and bringing it back to the 38.

Marcos Pintor ran for 5 yards, Ryan Mole picked up six. The Saints' Matt Leyden then buried quarterback Thomas in the backfield for a seven yard loss.

On second and 17, Thomas handed off to Mole. Mole broke to his left, tore through the defense and was off for a 56-yard touchdown run.

Viker's point after made it 14-0 Righetti with 5:23 left in the first half.

Lightning struck for the Saints on the second half's opening kickoff. Senior quarterback/defensive back/kick returner Brad Bowen grabbed Viker's kick at the Santa Maria 5-yard line. He broke to his left, shed four would-be tacklers and got Santa Maria back into the game with an electrifying 95-yard touch run.

"Our kids did what they were coached to do. That's how a kick return is supposed to work."

Velasco's PAT made it 14-7 just 16-seconds into the second half.

While Bowen's run was the play of the game, it would be the Saints' only offensive highlight.

Righetti's next drive stalled. The Saints also stalled when they got the ball but this time Velasco's punt went off the side of his foot, rolling out of bounds at the Santa maria 39 yard line, giving the Warriors excellent field position.

Aided by two Santa Maria offsides penalties, the Warriors went on an 8-play, 39-yard drive with Thomas Clark sealing the win with a 2-yard run for the game's final score with 3:26 left in the third quarter.

After the game, Santa Maria senior wide receiver/defensive back Brandon Lovato said, "I think we came out and surprised a lot of people tonight. I think we have a better defense this year and we played a pretty good game tonight."

Two Santa Maria players were injured during the first half and kept out of action for the second. Running back Pablo Ramos and wide receiver Earl Cardenas were examined and cleared medically to return to the game but were kept out by Coach Doyle as a precaution.

Both teams will be playing at home next Friday night. Santa Maria hosts Dos Pueblos while Righetti hosts Lompoc.

Arroyo Grande 25, Hueneme 14

ARROYO GRANDE -- Billy Vinnedge kicked field goals of 32 and 26 yards in the first quarter to give the Eagles the early lead, and they went on to take their season debut.

Chad Simonson scored on a 4-yard run to make it 12-0 and Hueneme never could overtake the Eagles, though the Oxnard team did keep the game close.

Dustin Robertson led Arroyo Grande's rushers with 92 yards on 14 carries. He scored on a 24-yard run in the third quarter to hike the Eagles' lead to 18-6 before Vinnedge tacked on the extra point.

Paso Robles 34, Santa Ynez 0

SANTA YNEZ -- Vince Freitas scored on touchdown runs of 15 and 3 yards and caught a 20-yard pass for another score as the Bearcats won this opener in a blowout.

Michael Krouse racked up 135 yards on 17 rushes for Paso Robles. Freitas had 59 on 11.

Paso Robles held Santa Ynez to 91 yards of offense in this game between two former Los Padres League rivals. Paso Robles is in the PAC-5 League this year. Santa Ynez stayed in the LPL.

Septmeber 14, 2002