LOMPOC - Back-to-back at the chicken shack.

Lompoc High's football team rode the momentum of a 22-0 first quarter to a 44-6 victory over Morningside Inglewood in the CIF Division X final Friday night at Huyck Stadium.

It was the second straight Division X title for the Braves, who finished the season with a 12-2 record, the same as Morningside.

That first quarter not only set the tone, it practically sealed the deal.

The Braves took the opening kickoff and drove 77 yards in 12 plays, fullback Jeremey Signorelli crossing from the one.

After putting the Monarchs three-and-out, the Braves drove it again. This time quarterback Boo Jackson scampered across from the eight.

On the ensuing kickoff, Lompoc's Tryrell Coleman stripped Morningside returner Bryon Jones and took it to the house. Armando Gutierrez' kick made it 22-0 with 1:30 left in the first.

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"We practice that every Wednesday," said Coleman. "I didn't have to think about it. The ball carrier came up. I was the first there. Then he was swarmed by a bunch of guys. He spun around. There was the ball. I just took it and ran."

On the next kickoff Lompoc's Brandon Price recovered another Morningside fumble. And on the first play of the second quarter Jackson connected with Gutierrez on a 20-yard TD pass.

PAT good. 29-0 and counting. Here they were, 11:53 left in the second period and The Fat Lady was warming up her full medley of Brave arias.

"That's a different level of football," said second-year Morningside coach Mike McCarthy, who took his team from a series of three-win seasons through one of the school's best-ever campaign.

"We've come a long way in the last two years, but Lompoc plays at a different level," said McCarthy. "The execution, the tempo. My hats off to them. They played a helluva game."

Lompoc tacked on a 10-yard TD run from Joseph Scott later in the second quarter and added a 6-yard, 6-point jaunt from David Gaspar in the third quarter.

Morningside scored as time ran out in the fourth on a 2-yard plunge from fullback Haliki Fifita.

"Those two turnovers on the kickoff were the big plays," said Lompoc coach Robin Luken. "We had it going, but those plays really did it."

"Perfect," said Jackson. "But we did not expect it to go like this."

"Just an awesome first quarter," said Lompoc assistant coach Jerry Thompson. "We executed on offense and special teams and the defense stopped them."

It was the third CIF football title for the Braves, the others coming in 2002 with a 16-13 win at Serra Gardena and in 1990 as Lompoc beat Arroyo Grande 12-7.

Boys basketball

SM 85, VCA 64

The Saints (3-4) tossed in nine 3-pointers en route to winning this Santa Maria Valley Tournament game in the Lions' gym.

Ricky Quintana and Fred Smith scored 23 points each for the victors. Quintana and teammate Tim Kelley (13 points) made three 3-pointers each. James Murphy led the Lions (2-2) with 16 points. Jacob Smith scored 10.

The Saints take on Mission Prep at 1:30 p.m. and St. Joseph at 4:30 p.m. in their own Wilson Gym in two more tournament games.

VCA faces St. Bonaventure at noon and Coast Union at 3 p.m. in tournament games at VCA.

SJ 93, CU 42

The Knights (4-0) won in a romp over the Broncs in a Santa Maria Valley Tournament game at St. Joseph's Hofschulte Gym.

Stewart Kussler scored 26 points and Andrew Schmalbach put in 25 points for the Knights, who play Nipomo at 1:30 p.m. today at Valley Christian Academy. Brandon Merlo put in 15 points.

VCC 70, SY 29

FILLMORE - Valley Christian of Cerritos routed the Pirates (1-3) at the Fillmore Tournament.

Daniel Hestehaughe scored eight points for Santa Ynez, which plays for third place at 4:30 p.m. today.

RHS 84, Linhurst 35

MARYSVILLE - Righetti (5-1) had an easy time qualifying for the Marysville Tournament championship game.

Brian Elchlepp led Righetti with 16 points. Kevin Shibata put in 15. Twelve Warriors scored.

Elchlepp had four 3-pointers, and Shibata and Andrew Clarke made three each.

Righetti plays the Marysville-Wheatland winner at 6:30 p.m. this evening for the championship.

Girls basketball

SM 64, Templeton 25

PASO ROBLES - Brittoni DeWitt put in 18 points as the Saints (4-3) breezed in a Paso Robles Tournament game.

Dee Dee Oani scored 13 points for Santa Maria, which faces Atascadero at 2 p.m. today in another tourney game.

SB 52, Santa Ynez 42

GOLETA - At the Gold Coast Tournament at San Marcos, the Dons handed the Pirates (3-1) their first loss of the season.

Lindsay Demery and Briana Gnekow scored 14 and 12 points respectively for Santa Ynez, which faces Saugus for third place at 3 p.m. today.

Lompoc 50, Bishop Diego 24

GOLETA - In another Gold Tournament game, the Braves improved to 2-5 by grounding the Cardinals.

Brittany Garcia led Lompoc with 18 points.

Righetti 53, San Marcos 42

GOLETA - The Warriors, behind 13 points from Veronica Williams and 10 from Jessica Ritz defeated the Royals at the Gold Coast Tournament and improved to 4-1.

Williams snared 10 rebounds and Amanda Alexander doled out six assists.

Righetti takes on the St. Bonaventure-Rio Mesa winner today for fifth place.

Chaminade 65, SJ 49

OJAI - The Knights dropped to 3-4 with a loss at Nordhoff Tournament.

Lisa Wise pumped in 21 points for St. Joseph, which plays Cate at 1 p.m. in another tourney game.

December 13, 2003