CARPINTERIA - The Santa Ynez Pirates won the first quarter, but from there it was all downhill as the Nordhoff Rangers rolled to a 38-7 non-league victory in a rare Thursday night varsity matchup.

The game was moved to Thursday night because Nordhoff's football stadium in Ojai is undergoing renovations which have yet to be completed. So the game was played at a neutral site, Carpinteria High School's War Memorial Stadium.

Taking advantage of good field position, the Pirates (0-1-1) marched 41 yards on six plays for the game's first score. Running backs Stewart Moore and Krys Cash carried the load, taking handoffs from sophomore quarterback Billy Peters, ending with Moore's touchdown on a second-and-goal play just inches from the end zone. Josh Hartman kicked the extra point.

After that, the Rangers quickly scuttled the Pirates' ship.

As the second quarter began, Nordhoff (1-1) was halfway through a methodical 14-play, 89-yard drive that would tie the score at 7. Rangers fullback Will Strong powered the ball into the end zone from 1 yard out to make it 7-6. Kicker Wylie Stroberg's point after tied it at 7-all with 9:55 left in the half.

The Pirates got good field position on the ensuing kickoff, but a holding call on their next play put them in a first-and-20 hole from their own 30. Santa Ynez tried to pass its way out of trouble, but the plan backfired when Peters' pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and intercepted by Kevin Wortham who rumbled 33 yards for the score.

The play effectively took the wind out of the Pirates' sails.

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"It got ugly real quick," said Pirates coach Ken Gruendyke. "We're a good football team, but we have to realize you just can't play one quarter."

The Rangers scored on their next two first-half possessions - a touchdown and a field goal - taking a 24-7 lead into the locker room.

Nordhoff kept the pressure on in the second half, picking up touchdowns on its next two possessions, rolling up a 38-7 lead before bringing in the second team shortly after the fourth quarter began.

Santa Ynez will get back on schedule, and will try to get back on the winning track, next Friday night when it hosts Carpinteria.

Junior Varsity

Santa Ynez 13, Nordhoff 7

Also at Carpinteria High, Santa Ynez quarterback Ryan Rosenberry hit wide receiver Mitch Giese with a 40-yard pass, good for the game's first score, and strong safety Michael Craviotto intercepted a Nordhoff pass and ran it back for a touchdown to lead the Pirates to victory.

Pioneer Valley 43, Santa Maria 0

Buddy Garcia scored four touchdowns as the first-year Panthers (3-0) rolled to victory at Santa Maria's Dave Boyd Field.

Garcia racked up a total of 216 yards on only nine carries.

Shane Vogt gained 52 yards, on six carries. Josh Gould made three sacks, and Josh Vogt intercepted a pass.

Meanwhile, Pioneer Valley's freshman squad squared its record at 1-1 with a 28-0 win.

Righetti 21, Lompoc 8

LOMPOC - Brandon Creath sparked a defense that checked the Braves (1-1) as the Warriors (2-1) prevailed at Huyck Stadium.

Jeremy Conway caught Trevor Elswick's 35-yard pass for a touchdown as time ran out in the first quarter. Elswick ran seven yards for a touchdown in the second.

Daniel Diaz scored from seven yards out for Lompoc in the fourth, then ran in the two-point conversion. Shortly thereafter, Devin Lohman took Elswick's short out pass and ran it in for a 35-yard score.

Martin Lugre kicked three extra points for Righetti. Creath, Ian Landref, Greg Chamberlain, Michael Reed and J.D. Sinor all had a quarterback sack.

Sept. 17, 2004