Defense leads the way for RHS

Chalk this win up to the defense.

The Righetti Warriors ran their 2002 season record to 2-0 with a 9-6 win over the Lompoc Braves at Righetti's Warrior Stadium Friday night.

And it was the defense that saved the day.

The Warriors managed just enough offense to force the Braves (1-1) to play come-from-behind football all night. It was the defense that made sure the Braves stayed behind.

Running back Ryan Mole had another outstanding evening, including a spectacular 82-yard touchdown run for the game's first score. Overall Mole ran for 139 yards on 10 carries.

Kicker Laif Vicker missed the extra point on Mole's TD but atoned for that a few minutes later by kicking a 33 yard field goal that turned out to be the game winning score.

Then it was up to the defense. They spent most of the evening on the field, facing 79 plays from a talented Lompoc offensive unit, while the Warriors offense was on the field for only 39 snaps.

"We bent but we didn't break," said Righetti coach Greg Dickinson of his defense that gave up 231 total yards but only one touchdown.

Righetti couldn't generate any solid gains on their first two possessions.

The Warriors stopped the Braves the first time Lompoc had the ball, but a short punt by Viker gave Lompoc excellent field position for their second attack.

The Braves got the ball at the Righetti 37 yard line. Quarterback Andrew Jones handed off to Robert Adams for one yard. Jones hit receiver Brian Huyck for seven. Adams again for 14, and again for four, giving Lompoc a first and goal at the Righetti four yard line.

Two Lompoc offside penalties pushed them back to the 14. Righetti defensive back Thomas Clark nearly intercepted Jones' next pass at the 13 and that seemed to breathe new life into the defense.

"The hard work that we put in during practice this week really paid off,' Clark said after the game. "We were ready for them and it really paid off."

They held on the next two plays. Armando Gutierrez tried a 23-yard field goal and missed wide right.

The Warriors survived and the pattern for the evening was set.

Righetti got the ball at the 20-yard line. Richard Amaro was nailed for a two yard loss as time ran out in the first quarter.

Then it was time for the Ryan Express.

On the opening play of the second quarter, Righetti quarterback Josh Thomas handed the ball to Mole at the 18-yard line. Mole ran over three would-be tacklers, broke up the right sideline and didn't stop until reaching the end zone. His 82-yard touchdown run put Righetti up 6-0.

On their next possession, Thomas led his team on a methodical march down the field, moving them from their own 30 to Lompoc's 18-yard line when the drive stalled. Viker came in and easily nailed a 33-yard field goal to give Righetti a 9-0 lead at the half.

Lompoc refused to quit. They opened the second hald with a 13-play drive that began at their own 20 and ended with a Gutierrez one-yard touchdown. The Warriors didn't make it easy, making an excellent goal-line stand. Gutierrez's TD came on fourth and goal from the one.

After that Righetti's offense contined to sputter while Lompoc's moved the ball seemingly at will, only to be frustrated by a defense that refused to break.

Viker killed one drive, nearly intercepting a Lompoc pass at the goal line.

Defensive lineman Josh Thornton nailed Jones in the backfield stalling another. And so it went with one Warrior after another rising up to thwart the Braves.

Defense back Daniel Diaz was all over the field, breaking up passing plays and stopping the run.

"I'm pretty excited by the win," Diaz said "We took it to them and played some good, good defense."

September 21, 2002