OXNARD - The Warriors are the odd men out.

Righetti High School's football team fought long, hard and valiantly but ended up on the short end of a 36-13 score to the Rio Mesa Spartans in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV Playoffs Friday night at John Riordan Field in Oxnard.

The loss ended head coach Gary Wilson's first season at the helm at 5-6-0, a season that saw the Warriors lose every odd-numbered game they played, while winning every even-numbered one.

Unfortunately for the Warriors that pattern continued in game No. 11.

"We just made too many mistakes," said Wilson. "Roughing the punter, fumbling the ball - a lot of little mental errors, that's what hurt us."

The Warriors took control early, opening the game with a 13-play, 80-yard drive that used up nearly half the first quarter. Three plays in the middle of that drive made it look like Righetti was prepared for a big night.

On a third-and-11 at his own 30 quarterback Jon Dally went back to pass. The Spartans defense closed in and flushed Dally from the pocket, but he cut to his left, took off upfield and picked up 18 yards to keep the drive alive.

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Dally then hit wide receiver Ryan Grossman with a 13-yard pass and then scampered for nine more yards on the next play. Later in the drive Dally again hit Grossman, this time with a 32-yard strike, and the Warriors were on the Spartans 1.

Three plays later from there, running back Chad Stephens crossed the goal line for the game's first score. Francisco Chavez's point after put RHS up 7-0 midway through the first quarter.

That was the last the Warriors saw of the lead.

Rio Mesa - at 10-0 the undefeated champion of the Pacific View League - had plenty of offensive talent of its own.

The Spartans running game relies heavily on running back Robert McCowan. During the regular season, McCowan had piled up 1,376 yards on the ground. "The Warriors were ready for him. They pretty much shut Robert down," said Rio Mesa head coach Bob Gregorchuk. "They put seven men in the box. We hadn't seen that on any of Righetti's tape. They did a good job of taking away our running game."

So good in fact, that McCowan would only manage six yards on seven carries on the night.

Rio Mesa was going nowhere the first time it had the ball. Facing a fourth-and-eight at his own 36-yard-line, Spartans kicker Jared Strubeck was rushed and got off an awful punt but Righetti defensive lineman Nathan Beebe hit Strubeck after the kick.

The referee called it roughing the kicker, and the Spartans had new life. After Righetti forced Rio Mesa into another punting situation Strubeck took the snap, faked the kick and lofted a 19-yard pass to tight end Jacob Manual. On the next play, quarterback Chris Gagua hit wide receiver Kevin Thomas with a 29-yard touchdown pass.

As the second quarter began, Gagua - the backup QB playing in place of starter Scott Valley who was out with a broken wrist - hit McCowan with a 43-yard pass into the end zone, giving Rio Mesa a 14-7 lead.

Since the Spartans were having no luck when they handed the ball to McCowan, Gregorchuk decided to try his luck with fullback Daniel Villasenor. The move paid immediate dividends.

On the first play of the second half, Villasenor rumbled 82 yards for a touchdown. "It was good that we were able to score quickly in the second half," said Gregorchuk. "After that, we just wore them down."

Righetti continued making a game of it, when Dally hit Grossman with a 30-yard touchdown pass to cut the score to 22-13 with 4:08 left in the third quarter.

Gagua then hit Malachi Lewis with a 25-yard touchdown pass as the third quarter ended, and Righetti's season was 12 minutes from being over.

Lompoc 51, Azusa 6

LOMPOC - The two-time Division X defending champion Lompoc Braves had no trouble with overmatched Azusa as they scored on six of their first eight possessions en route to a 51-6 first round victory.

Tailback Joseph Scott scored from 43 and 28 and Boo Jackson hit Frankie Osegueda for a 68-yard TD pass to take a 21-0 lead with only seven seconds gone in the second quarter. By halftime the margin was 36-6.

"There ain't nobody in our league like them," said Azusa coach Craig Schuster. "They're more physical and well-coached. Now our kids know what it takes."

La Canada 25, Cabrillo 7

LA CANADA - The Conquistadores bowed out of the Division X playoff thanks to problems with turnovers and penalties, surrendering four interceptions to the Spartans.

Penn State-bound Lydell Sargeant rushed for 190 yards and a touchdown - a 72-yarder for the game's first score - but the Conqs (7-4) were done in by four Sean McGinty interceptions, one of which was return by La Canada's Tom Michael for an 80-yard touchdown.

David Hopkins had 106 yards and two touchdowns in the win for the Spartans (6-5), while Michael was 4-for-10 for 78 yards in the win.

SLO 28, Camarillo 21

SAN LUIS OBISPO - Phil Garza rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Tigers into the Division IV quarterfinals with a win over the Scorpions.

Garza scored on runs of six and two yards, while Quentin Cate threw for 144 yards and one touchdown in the victory.

Joey Siddons threw for 175 yards and a touchdown for the Scorpions, and added a rushing touchdown in the loss.

Morro Bay 22, Gladstone 0

COVINA - Corey Stollmeyer rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Pirates to a Division X victory over the Gladiators.

Stollmeyer scored on runs of 14, 7, and 45 yards in the victory.

Nov. 20, 2004