The defense never rests. Not if you are a Righetti Warrior.

Friday night they passed another tough test - with flying colors - as they shot down Santa Barbara's high-flying offense for a 14-7 football victory on a foggy night at Warrior Stadium.

It made for a happy homecoming - on the night Maricela Morales was crowned Righetti's homecoming queen for 2004.

It also made for a fun after-game homecoming party on Righetti's Orcutt Campus.

Righetti (2-2) had come off a tough 22-21 loss to old rival Lompoc last week and was sitting at 1-2 on the young season.

Coming into this non-league matchup, the Santa Barbara Dons (2-1) were undefeated - riding the strength of quarterback Kevin Dunn's arm and a high-powered passing attack that produced 69-points in their first two games while the Don's defense had given up a mere seven.

The Dons were just as tough on defense Friday night - the Warriors were tougher.

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"We just stepped up and played some awesome defense," said Righetti head coach Gary Wilson after the game.

"It was a good game," Santa Barbara coach Craig Moropolous. " It was hard fought, our kids played hard, I'm proud of them but we just didn't get it done."

The Dons went three-and-out on the game's opening possession.

Righetti quarterback Jon Dally was sacked for a 5-yard loss on the Warriors' first play. Dally threw an interception on Righetti's second play.

That could have been the beginning of a long night - but Righetti didn't panic.

They forced the Dons into another three-and-out.

Righetti linebacker Brad Comaduran forced the Santa Barbara punter to rush his kick - Comaduran nearly blocked it - and the Warriors had the ball at the Santa Barbara 48.

Righetti marched those 48 yards on eight plays - all on the ground, seven by star running back Mark Malangko and one by hard-nosed fullback Gerald Thompson - capped off with a 14-yard touchdown run by Malangko.

Francisco Chavez kicked the point after for a 7-0 lead with 5:12 left in the first quarter.

With just under three-minutes left in the quarter, the Dons intercepted Dally for the second time - at their own 8-yard line.

Santa Barbara began a long march downfield - 19 plays, using up over 7-and-a-half minutes of the clock - before the Warriors forced a punt on a fourth-and-30 from their own 39.

Righetti then went three-and-out.

The Santa Barbara's passing attack came to life.

Dunn hit Wide receiver Reid Latham for 10 yards to begin their next drive. He hit Latham again with a 20-yard pass to end it - the Dons marching 37-yards on four plays to tie the score at 7-7 with four-minutes left in the half.

Both defenses tightened up in the third quarter.

With 4:38 left in the period Righetti took over on offense.

With good field position - they began the drive at the Santa Barbara 35 - the Warriors ran the ball ten straight times, ending with Dally's quarterback sneak over the goal line from one yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter. Chavez's kick gave the Warriors a 14-7 lead.

Righetti's defense had one last test.

With 6:14 left in the game, the Dons got the ball on their own 46 yard line.

11 plays later, Santa Barbara had a second-and-three from the Righetti five.

Righetti's Chad Stephens and Comaduran teamed up to sack Dunn.

Righetti's Nathan Beebe, not to be outdone, drilled Dunn for another sack.

Suddenly the Dons were facing a third-and-32 from Righetti's 34.

Picking up 13-yards, Santa Barbara faced a fourth-and-19 from the 21. They tried a trick play with Dunn pitching to R.J. Valdez who then passed back to Dunn.

Santa Barbara lost 20-yards on the play - there were just 44-seconds left on the clock - and Dally just had to take a knee three times for the Warriors' second win.

"Our kids are just stepping up - we had some really great hits and that's what's exciting," said Wilson. "They're coming up and playing ball. We didn't struggle. We did the things we wanted to do."

For the game, the Warriors defense sacked Dunn eight times - Dunn officially had 17 carries good for minus 14 yards - although he did rack up 171 yards on 16-for-26-passing.

"I give a lot of credit to them," said Moropolous. "They did the things they had to do to win the game."

"It was very exciting," said Wilson. "Overall, we're really excited - we got the win."

It was the Warriors' defense that grounded Dunn and left Righetti flying high on homecoming night.

Sept. 25, 2004