OXNARD - St. Joseph High School's football team started its season opener impressively and roared home from there.

Quarterback Casey Cathcart's 8-yard run capped a scoring drive on the first series of the game, and the Division X Knights defeated Division IV Pacifica 31-8.

St. Joseph coach Barney Eames anticipated a tough game beforehand, but the Knights were never threatened. They led 21-0 at halftime. Pacifica did not score until the fourth quarter. The Knights had 28 points points by then.

The Knights led 6-0 after one quarter, and they fattened their halftime lead to 21-0 thanks to a 9-yard run by Brad Escobar, a safety, and Escobar's two-yard run which Scott Chenoweth followed with an extra point.

After the Knights scored first Pacifica went three-plays-and-out on its first drive, and that pretty much set the tone of the game.

Escobar racked up 156 yards on 20 carries. Philip Adam had 83 on 15. Cathcart was 8-for-19 for 161 yards. He threw one interception.

Dominic Catayas had five catches for 122 yards. He caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Cathcart in the third quarter.

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Chenoweth finished the Knights' scoring with a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

St. Joseph outgained Pacifica 414-178.

The Knights have a bye next week. Their home opener is against Atascadero Sept. 17.

Lompoc 37, Paso Robles 34

PASO ROBLES - The Braves built an 18-point fourth quarter lead, then withstood a Bearcats comeback to take this season opener.

Joseph Scott, who rushed for 130 yards on 14 carries, scored from 9 yards out, took a 23-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Tim Ochoa and scored on a 6-yard run to help Lompoc amass a 37-18 lead going into the last quarter.

Bearcats quarterback Todd Fleener struck for touchdown passes of 5 yards to Asland Walleman and 45 yards to Nasser Barahona, but Darrell Duran's kick after Barahona's touchdown reception finished the scoring.

Lompoc starting quarterback Boo Jackson, the 2003 Santa Maria Times ' All-Area Team MVP, injured his hand prior to Ochoa's coming in. But he returned to the game and played most of the way on defense.

Jackson tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jon Terrones. Bryce Fabing's subsequent conversion kick hiked the Braves' first-quarter lead to 15-7.

Bishop Diego 21, Nipomo 6

SANTA BARBARA - Kevin Kelly rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Cardinals to a non-league victory over the Titans.

Kelly had a 26-yard run in the first quarter and a 86-yard scamper in the third.

Justin Robertson rushed for 108 yards and scored a late touchdown for the Titans, who surrendered 321 yards on the ground in the game.

Bryce Sequine threw for 50 yards in the defeat.

Stockdale 49, Atascadero 7

BAKERSFIELD - Francisc Ojukwu rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns in the Mustangs' season-opening victory over the Greyhounds.

Ojukwu, who rushed for 2,106 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, scored on runs of 3, 12 and 4 yards in the victory.

None of Atascadero's running backs managed more than 10 yards on the ground.

Sept. 4, 2004