LOMPOC - Cancel the rooter bus to North Torrance.

The dream of a CIF threepeat and uninterrupted domination of Division X football expired Saturday night at Huyck Stadium as the Crespi Celts surprised the Braves 25-8 in the division semifinal.

Crespi will now meet North Torrance for the title on Friday.

The Lompoc loss snapped a 23-game win streak by LHS which dated to October of last year and ended the 2004 season with the Braves' record 12-1. It also marked the end of a two-year reign at the top of Div. X after titles in 2002 and 2003.

Crespi goes on at 10-3.

"They outplayed us," shrugged Lompoc coach Robin Luken. "They beat us up front."

Luken also singled out all-CIF linebacker Daryl Fields.

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"No. 9 was a factor in everything they did tonight."

The Crespi defense harrassed Lompoc quarterback Boo Jackson into three interceptions and limited tailback Joseph Scott to 40 yards on 12 carries.

The defense, bigger than Lompoc's offense, which was nothing new, was every bit as mobile, and even surprised coach Troy Thomas.

"Playing against a misdirection offense you have to be so disciplined," he said. "We never see a wing-T. In practice our scout team was running touchdowns. I thought 'oh my goodness,' but by Friday they were starting to get a feel for it."

After taking a 15-0 lead at halftime the Celts took complete charge in the third quarter.

They held Lompoc to three downs, including a disastrous 15-yard fumble, to force a punt from the Brave three yard line, then reeled off a 31-yard drive on five plays to up the score to 22-0. Quarterback Matt Wabby scored from the seven.

Then they repeated the drill- Lompoc three and out including this time a tackle of Scott by linebacker Chris Aragon for an eight-yard loss. And then a 46-yard drive on four plays for a Sean Conway 32-yard field goal.

The next Lompoc possession ended in Crespi's third interception, the second by free safety Martin Ciccolini.

Jackson finally dented the scoreboard for the Braves, crossing from the six with 2:53 left, then hitting Tryrell Coleman with a two-point pass.

The first half was almost all Crespi.

After the Braves stopped the Celts' initial offensive, Lompoc drove efficiently, even spectacularly, to the Crespi nine after Jackson found Scott for 29 yards along the left sideline and he and Jakob Sims alternated three carries for 30 yards.

But with a first-and-goal the Celt defense made a stand stopping Jackson twice for no gain and limiting Tommy Hayes to four. Then a 24-yard field goal attempt went wide.

Then using a spread shotgun formation and alternating handoffs with shovel passes to Fields and Randle Harris, quarterback Matt Wabby marched his team 80 yards on 12 plays for a score. Wabby finished it himself from the one.

A two-point run by Fields made it 8-0 at the quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Crespi's 6-foot-3 233-pound defensive tackle Sam Chamberlain batted a Jackson pass into the air where D.J. Holt could intercept and set his team up at the 38. On the next play Holt latched on to a 38-yard scoring pass from Wabby.

The defenses stepped up for the duration of the first half, with both teams having scoring threats stopped by interceptions.

Wabby connected on four of nine for 48 yards but gave up only one interception, that deflected into the air by Clayton Greco and snagged by Brandon Price.

Harris led Crespi rushing with 19 carries for 85 yards.

Jackson led Lompoc with 11 carries for 56 yards but he connected for only four passes on 14 attempts as he threw under severe pressure and his receivers were well covered.

Division IV

St. Bonaventure 28, SLO 21

VENTURA - The Seraphs knocked out the Tigers to advance to a hometown division final.

St. Bonaventure will play in-town rival Ventura next Friday, with the game to be played at Ventura's Larrabee Stadium, with the Cougars serving as the home team.

John McReynolds is a sports writer for the Lompoc Record. He can be reached at (805) 736-2313, ext. 106.

Dec. 5, 2004