Close. So Close.

But not close enough.

That was the story of the Santa Maria Saints as they tried to win their first football game of the season Friday night at Dave Boyd Field.

In the end, close was not good enough as the Saints (0-3) fell to the San Luis Obispo Tigers (2-1) 30-16 in Santa Maria's final non-league game of the year.

The game, as the cliché' goes, was a lot closer than the final score would indicate.

"When you're this close it stings," said Saints coach Jim Doyle. "You've got to remember that. It's what pushes you to get better."

The Saints actually led 16-14 late in the third quarter when a fumble by Gilbert Arguijo changed the momentum in favor of the visiting Tigers.

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The Saints drew first blood, scoring on the game's opening drive.

Starting on their own 24-yard line, Santa Maria marched 76 yards on five plays capped by senior quarterback Billy Kennedy's 55-yard run.

Star kicker Victor Velasco's point after try was blocked but the Saints led 6-0 with 9:44 left in the first.

As the first quarter was winding down, SLO marched 80-yards to get on the board.

Tigers senior quarterback Dane Hodgson opened the drive with a perfect 24-yard pass to senior tight end Brett Lowe. Hodgson then wound through Santa Maria defenders for 28-yards and the Tigers had it first-and-ten at the Santa Maria 26.

Four plays later senior running back Evan O'Reilly powered it in from the 9-yard line.

Junior Lucas Grant's point after was good and the Tigers had a 7-6 lead with 5-seconds to go in the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter SLO went on a methodical 9-play 83-yard drive. QB Hodgson scored on a 19-yard run. Grant's PAT made it 14-6 with 6:02 left in the half.

The Saints effectively shut down the Tiger's offense the rest of the way.

The Tigers' senior running back Colter Stock fumbled on the SLO's third play of the second half. Saints senior defensive lineman Brandon Delaney fell on it at the SLO 35.

Santa Maria then gave the ball to senior running back Juan Alcantar. He pounded the ball up the middle five straight times.

Alcantar for 3. Alcantar for 10. Alcantar for 3. Alcantar for 7. Alcantar for 3. Alcantar for 10. Touchdown.

A five play, 35 yard drive. Alcantar then ran in the two-point conversion and the game was tied at 14 with 8:16 left in the third quarter.

"We started running the ball," Doyle said. "We stared running the ball and, on defense, the kids stared tackling. I'm real proud of the way all our kids played tonight."

With just over 5-minutes left in the quarter, and the Saints offense going nowhere, Velasco was called on to punt.

The Tigers punt returner, senior Wes Piatt, signaled for a fair catch at the ten yard line. He let the ball bounce then went back to the goal line, picked it up and began running. But he had called for a fair catch, so when he touched it the ball was downed right at the goal line.

On the first play, Santa Maria's junior defensive lineman Jason Quintero powered into the SLO backfield and nailed O'Reilly in the end zone for a safety.

With 4:50 left in the third quarter the Saints led 16-14.

The Saints would also get the ball back as part of the play.

O'Reilly punted and Arguijo fielded it ... and dropped it ... at the Saints 47.

San Luis Obispo recovered.

The mistake gave the Tigers new life.

On their first play, Hodgson hit junior wide receiver Brian Clarke with a 39-yard strike. Four plays later Hodgson snuck it in from the one. Hodgson passed to Lowe for a two point conversion and the Tigers were up, and breathing a sigh of relief, 22-16 with 2:32 left in the third quarter.

"That first fumble swung the momentum," said Doyle. "But the kids came back. We took the ball right down the throat of their defense."

Back came the Saints. There was no quit in this time this night.

After Delaney sacked Hodgson and stripped him of the ball at the SLO 20 yard line with 9:00 left in the game, Santa Maria was in great position to get back in the game. Four plays later it was first-and-goal at the seven when Alcantar was stripped of the ball. Lowe picked it up and raced 93 yards for the score. Hodgson hit Clarke with another two-point conversion and SLO had the game in hand at 30-16.

Santa Maria opens LPL play at Cabrillo next Friday night.

St. Joseph 28, Atascadero 20

ATASCADERO - The Knights (2-1) rallied for their second win over a PAC-5 team in three tries.

Atascadero (2-1) led 14-7 in the second quarter on two Kyle James to Sean Kennedy touchdown passes. The first covered 27 yards. The second covered 35.

But St. Joseph quarterback Casey Cathcart threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Merlo and then the Knights tied the score at 14 on Tim Schweigert's extra point kick.

St. Joseph grabbed the lead on Cathcart's 15-yard pass to Jacob Boster. Brad Escobar gave the Knights insurance with a 2-yard touchdown run.

He scored St. Joseph's first touchdown on a 9-yard run.

Cathcart threw for 169 yards, and the Knights rushed for 135 more. St. Joseph won despite giving up 208 yards passing and 166 rushing.

Santa Ynez 12, Carpinteria 3

CARPINTERIA - Tanner Belen and Adam Miller scored on 2 and 6-yard runs respectively and the Pirates kept the Warriors out of the end zone to grab their first win.

Both teams are 1-2.

Belen lugged the ball 26 times for 110 yards total. Carpinteria amassed 205 rushing yards but managed only a Rigo Ramirez field goal for points.

Dos Pueblos 40, Cabrillo 25

VANDENBERG VILLAGE - The Conquistadores (1-2) scored first, on Lydell Sargeant's 37-yard run. But Cabrillo couldn't hold the lead as Dos Pueblos (2-1) wound up with 239 yards rushing and 230 more passing.

The Chargers got a safety and then went ahead for good later in the first quarter on quarterback Kellen Moriarty's 1-yard run.

Sargeant wound up with 104 yards on 11 carries, and three touchdowns. He scored on a 67-yar pass from Matt Hansen and a 57-yard run.

Paso Robles 31, SBHS 21

SANTA BARBARA - The Bearcats' Vince Freitas had himself quite an evening to stay the least.

Freitas rushed for 270 yards on 30 carries, scored on runs of 40, 46 and 45 yards and kicked a 40-yard field goal as Paso Robles improved to 2-1. Santa Barbara has the same weekend.

Paso Robles amassed 362 yards rushing. The Bearcats led 17-0 before the Dons scored on John Hodge's 5-yard run.

College volleyball

Bakersfield 3, AHC 0

BAKDERSFIELD - There were not many highlights for the 1-1 Bulldogs as they lost in a 30-23, 30-22, 30-18 sweep.

Melissa Vranish led Hancock with 12 digs and four kills. Geraldine Misa'alefua had three kills and four blocks, and Jesslyn Tilley made three kills and three blocks.

Sept. 27, 2003