Dominic Catayas stole the show.

He also stole the ball, any momentum Nipomo High School hoped to generate and the spotlight from his St. Joseph High School teammates - many of whom could have filled their own highlight reels - as the St. Joseph Knights (2-0, 5-0) defeated the Nipomo Titans (0-2, 1-5) 41-14 in a Los Padres League matchup Friday night at Nipomo High.

In an electrifying performance that broke open a tight game early in the second half, Catayas - a senior wide receiver and defensive back - caught a 30-yard touchdown pass, returned a punt 63 yards for another touchdown, then intercepted Nipomo quarterback Bryce Seguine to end the Titan's last hope of a comeback.

He was far from the only shining star for the Los Padres League powerhouse - currently ranked second in Division X of the CIF Southern Section.

Running back Brad Escobar ran for a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter to open the scoring for St. Joseph.

Running back Philip Adam had three TDs - two one-yarders and a 36-yard score.

Quarterback Casey Cathcart completed four of six passes - the final one the 30-yard TD to Catayas.

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Even though they don't get a lot of publicity "Our offensive line was the difference - Kevin Buchanan, Matt Ruiz, David Vasquez, Zach Clayton and Zachary Sternjacob," said St. Joseph coach Barney Eames.

"They're a good team, very well coached. They've got a good program, they did a great job," said Nipomo coach Jon Hitchen.

This was a tale of two games.

The first half was a close, hard fought battle with the Knights ahead 14-0 heading into halftime.

The second half was all St. Joe's.

The Knights scored three quick touchdowns in the first four-and-a-half minutes.

Then Catayas picked off Seguine and the game was all but over.

Nipomo sports a new offense - the Winged T. At least it was new to coach Eames.

"It was the first time we've seen it," said Eames. "We made some adjustments at halftime. I'm glad they worked."

They have three running backs in the backfield and regularly use another on the wing.

At the snap, everyone is off and running - its hard for the defense to figure out just who has the ball. In all, nine different running backs carried the ball for the Titans.

In the first half, the Knights had trouble containing the pandemonium created by the Winged T - The Knights bent, but never broke and never let the Titans cross the goal line.

"We've got a lineman, Garrett Rodgers, he played a solid game. We ran behind him all night," said Hitchen.

The Titans first drive went nine plays, got down to St. Joe's 35 yard line, ate up over four minutes off the clock - and ended when the Knights stopped the Titans on a fourth down and two play.

After both teams went three-and-out, the Knights struck quickly.

Getting good field position at the Nipomo 34, St. Joseph needed just three plays and 48-seconds before Escobar ran for a 30-yard TD with 3:09 left in the first quarter.

Back came the Winged T.

The Titans - behind Seguine, Justin Robertson, Thomas Delay, Lucas Marsalek, Chris Lemus and Frank Mansara - pounded away.

Starting at their own 20-yard line, the ran and ran and ran - 13 plays, getting down to the St. Joe 29 when the Knights' Ryan Adlesh picked off a Seguine pass, killing the Titans hopes for a second time.

The Knights took over at their own 36. Five plays later - including a 22-yard pass from Cathcart to Catayas and an 18-yard run by Escobar - Adam ran it in from the one.

Back came the Titans. This drive went 15 plays, used up six minutes and ended with a failed field goal attempt on a fourth and 23 from the Knights 24.

"When they got down close to the goal line, our kids did a great job of stepping up - and that was huge," said Eames. "If they'd have got in there, the game would have been 14 to 14 at halftime."

Still, The Titans proved they could move the ball and had hope of a second half comeback.

The Knights killed that dream in short order.

Taking the second half kickoff, St. Joseph moved 46-yards on 8 plays, capped by Adams second one-yard TD run.

On Scott Chenowith's ensuing kickoff, Adlesh hustled down the field.

Chenowith's kick bounced at the Nipomo 46 and Adlesh jumped on it - effectively making it a long on-side kick and giving the Knights the ball back at the Nipomo 30.

Cathcart hit Catayas for the 30-yarder on the next play.

The Titans went three-and-out on their next possession and punted it away.

Catayas hauled the punt in at his own 37, crossed the field and was off to the races for a 63 yard score.

"In the second half I was really pleased with the way we came out," Eames said. "Casey and Dominic, they kind of took over the game."

Catayas's interception ended Nipomo's next drive. Three plays later, Adam scored on a 36-yard TD run.

The Knights Jason Aquistapace recovered a Titans fumble on Nipomo's next drive and it was time for the Knights' second string.

"We've got 35 kids and they are great kids. They work just as hard as any of them," Hitchen said.

"We knew these guys were going to be scrappy and they played us real tough, especially the first half," said Eames.

St. Joseph hosts Montclair Prep in a non-league game next Friday night. Nipomo heads up to Morro Bay to face the Pirates in an LPL tilt.

Righetti 28, Hueneme 13

OXNARD - For the second straight year, a Righetti runner ran roughshod over Hueneme in a victory, but this time it was Mark Malangko instead of Ryan Mole.

Malankgo ran for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the win, scoring from five, 50 and 15 yards out.

The senior had three runs of 24 yards or more (50, 29, 24), with Malangko's first score coming one play after the Warriors picked off a Javier Puebla pass.

Righetti quarterback Jonathan Dally threw for 93 yards, including a wild play at the end of the first half where he scrambled right, eluded several Viking defenders (and the referee), then completed a long pass to Ryan Grossman inside the Hueneme five as time ran out.

Chad Stephens had 57 yards in support of Malangko, scoring his own touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Mole rushed for 234 yards in last year's CIF Division IV playoff opener at Hueneme.

Lompoc 24, Morro Bay 19

MORRO BAY - Boo Jackson, still feeling the effects of an injury suffered last week, still came in to throw for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the Braves' LPL victory over the Pirates.

Jackson, coming off the bench, threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to John Terrones in the second quarter, and a 15-yarder to Joe Scott in the third quarter.

Morro Bay turned the ball over three times in the first half to hamper their efforts. Corey Stollmeyer rushed for 76 yards and scored one fourth-quarter touchdown, part of a last-gasp comeback that fell short.

Scott led all rushers with 87 yards and scored on a one-yard plunge in the second quarter. Brice Fabing added a 21-yard field goal for Lompoc's first points.

Morro Bay quarterback Robert Ellithorpe threw for two touchdowns, a 15-yarder to Pat Haugen in the second quarter and an 11-yarder to Brian Budd in the fourth quarter.

Atascadero 33, Cabrillo 19

LOMPOC - Rickey Taylor rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Greyhounds to an LPL victory over the previously-unbeaten Conquistadores.

Taylor scored on a six-yard run in the first quarter and added another six-yard run in the third quarter.

Lydell Sargeant managed only 67 yards on the ground but did score on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter. He added a 43-yard scoring catch from Sean McGinty in the third quarter, ending up with four catches for 73 yards.

SLO 38, Lancaster 37

SAN LUIS OBISPO - The Tigers (5-0-0) kept their perfect season alive thanks to two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Lancaster (4-1-0) led 37-23 at one point in the final period. But the Tigers scored on Phil Garza's 23-yard run and a 1-yard run by quarterback Quentin Cate.

The Tigers' winning points came on Cate's two-point conversion pass to Cory Roush. Roush caught a 27-yard scoring pass from Cate earlier.

Area rushing leader Garza racked up 222 yards on 26 carries. He scored on runs of 33, 43 and 23 yards.

The Tigers were behind 30-17 at halftime. Lancaster scored three touchdowns in the second quarter, then ran in the two-point conversion each time. Each time, the same guy who scored the touchdown ran in for two points afterward.

Oct. 9, 2004