The Righetti High School Warriors kicked off the inaugural PAC-5 football season with a convincing 30-22 victory over the Atascadero Greyhounds at Righetti's Warrior Stadium Friday night.

In a game that was not as close as the final score, Righetti dominated right from the start.

In three plays, covering just :48 seconds, RHS raced downfield for a touchdown.

In three more plays Righetti's Ryan Gonzalez had an interception. The Warriors had good field position and promptly pushed down the field to set up a Lafe Viker 43-yard field goal. Boom. It was 10-0 with only 3:52 gone in the game.

It was going to be a long night for the Greyhounds.

"The kids are playing well," said Warriors' coach Greg Dickinson. "They've just got to keep doing it."

Righetti's all-around back, Daniel Diaz, brought the opening kick back to the 20 yard line.

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Quarterback Josh Thomas hit running back Richard Amaro with a 7 yard pass. Then the Warriors' Ryan Mole broke to his right, off tackle, and sprinted 57 yards to the hounds 17. Noah Winkles broke through the middle of the line on the next play for a 17-yard touchdown. Lafe Viker's extra point made it 7-0 with just :48 seconds gone in the game.

Atascadero quarterback Harrison Higbee was picked off by Righetti's Ryan Gonzalez on the third play of the Hounds' first possession. Six plays later, Viker nailed a 43-yard field goal and it looked like the rout was on.

To their credit, this group of hounds wouldn't quit, even though Righetti had an answer for every hound charge.

Atascadero scored on a two-yard Higbee quarterback sneak with 5:32 left in the second quarter to make it 10-7.

Starting with Clark's 20 yard kickoff return, Righetti pounded the ball the other way. Result: An eleven-play, 73-yard touchdown drive (Thomas ran it on from the five) Warriors 17, Greyhounds 7 at the half.

The hounds went to their strength to open the second half.

Star running back Ryan Bugg broke to his right to open the drive with a 47 yard gain to Righetti's 48-yard line.

Brandon McMillan ran for 11, and caught a pass from quarterback Harrison Higbee that was good for another 25 yards and Atascadero was knocking on the door.

Three plays later Higbee hit McMillan for 9 yards and a touchdown. With Brennan Myracle's point after, the Greyhounds had narrowed the score to 17-13.

Offensively, we moved the ball and did what we needed to," Dickinson said. "Defensively, we needed to pick it up."

After Viker's 26 yard field goal made it 20-13 Righetti, mistakes killed any chances of an Atascadero's comeback. They also led to two quick fourth quarter scores by the Warriors.

Atascadero fumbled on the first play after Viker's field goal. Righetti recovered at Atascadero's 24 yard line.

Four plays later, Viker nailed a 38-yard field goal. Righetti led 23-14.

Atascadero's Mecklen Davis returned the ensuing kickoff to his own 45-yard line and fumbled, once again giving Righetti the ball.

This time Misters Mole, Thomas, Diaz and company marched 39 yards in 5 plays, ending with Diaz's yard touchdown run. Viker's kick made it 30-16.

Atascadero (3-3, 0-1) tacked on a final score when Ryan Bugg ran one in from the seven with eight seconds left in the game.

"Atascadero is a good team," Dickinson said. "It's a win. It wasn't pretty but it's a win."

The win puts the Warriors (6-0, 1-0) atop the brand new PAC-5 league standings. They travel to Arroyo Grande to face the highly respected Eagles (5-1, 0-1) next Friday night at 7:30.

Morro Bay 28, Santa Maria 13

MORRO BAY -- Pirates junior tailback Joe Garcia ran wild, racking up 279 yards and four touchdowns on 41 carries as Morro Bay (2-0, 4-2) rallied for a big Los Padres League win.

Santa Maria, which dropped to 1-1, 2-4, led 13-12 at halftime on Adam Gomes' 55-yard run.

The Saints simply could not slow Garcia down, and he helped Morro Bay to a 19-6 advantage in first downs. Quarterback Danny Goodman helped the Pirates by passing for 94 yards.

Gomes ran for 89 yards, and Pablo Ramos had 86 yards on 15 carries for a Santa Maria team that was shut out in the second half.

SLO 34, Santa Ynez 6

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- The Tigers (3-2) had little trouble going over .500 for the season in this non-league game at Frank Hold Field. Santa Ynez fell to 0-6.

Paul Jordan scored the first four Tiger touchdowns. He amassed 166 yards on 15 carries for the night.

Santa Ynez's score came on A.J. Tevis' 8-yard run the lone time he carried the ball. Tevis' touchdown made the score 20-6 at halftime.

The Tigers had 268 rushing yards. Santa Ynez had 47.

Paso Robles 12, AG 10

PASO ROBLES -- Vince Freitas' three second-half scores knocked the Eagles from the ranks of the unbeaten in this PAC-5 League opener. Paso Robles went to 1-0, 4-2.

Arroyo Grande (0-1, 5-1) led 10-0 at halftime. But Freitas kicked field goals of 26 and 32 yards in the third quarter, then scored the touchdown that did in the top-ranked team in Division IV. Freitas ran into the end zone from six yards out with 7:34 left to play.

Arroyo Grande scored its points in the second quarter on Billy Vinnedge's 35-yard field goal and Michael Stoltey's 1-yard run.

Quarterback Adrian Pennywell helped the Bearcats stay within striking range before Freitas' big touchdown by passing for 210 yards.

October 19, 2002