For the first half of Friday's night football game between Righetti and Lompoc High Schools, it looked like a dream matchup.

But that dream quickly turned to a nightmare - not on Elm Street but on Pine Street in Lompoc - as the Lompoc Braves used a huge second half to bury the Righetti Warriors, 35-3, in a non-league matchup at Huyck Stadium.

"It was a really tough game," said Righetti coach Gary Wilson. "We're competitors. This is a great group of guys. In the long run we'll be OK."

Both teams came into to the game sporting 1-1 records on the young season.

Righetti lost 42-24 to Villa Park in a Week Zero matchup before rebounding with a 47-7 victory over Santa Maria.

Lompoc, the defending Los Padres League champs, defeated Paso Robles, 35-7, in Week Zero before falling to Los Altos, 27-7 last week.

The teams battled to a near draw for the first two quarters with each team's defenses dominating the action.

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Here's how it went.

The Warriors managed to gain just four yards on their first possession before punting the ball away.

The Braves couldn't match that - gaining zero yards before having to punt the ball away.

On their second possession, Righetti managed to run off seven plays - beginning with excellent field position at the Lompoc 39 yard line, but could only gain 15 yards during the drive.

That drive was stopped when the Warriors' star running back, Chad Stephens, was stuffed on a fourth down and four play at Lompoc's 24.

"I think they hit us a lot harder than we thought they would," said Stephens. "They've got a tough defense."

The Braves mirrored that drive with their own seven play drive but could only gain 20 yards before having to punt the ball away.

The first quarter was scoreless but Righetti was moving the ball on the Braves' defense.

With 2:49 remaining in the first quarter, the Warriors took over that their own 23 yard line.

From there, they marched 77 yards downfield to the Lompoc goal line.

Stephens carried the ball on eight of those plays.

Quarterback Trevor Elswick hit wide receiver Adam Wilson with a perfect strike, good for a 32 yard gain, to set up a first-and-goal from the Lompoc seven.

The Braves had their backs to the goal line - and those backs stiffened.

Righetti got the ball down to the one-yard line but on fourth and goal Elswick was stopped as he tried a quarterback sneak.

10 plays, 77 yards - right down to the goal line - and zero points.

"I thought we were going to score on that play," said Stephens. "I though we'd be at least 7-7 at the break."

Now it was turn for Lompoc's 10 play drive.

There's was good for 64 yards, getting down to the Righetti 35 yard line before facing their own fourth down play.

With fourth-and-five from the 35, Lompoc quarterback Tim Ochoa handed off to the Braves star running back, Joseph Scott, but stop was stopped after a three yard game.

With five minutes to go in the first half, the teams had battled to a virtually even statistical draw.

When the Warriors' next drive stalled, Righetti was forced to punt from their own 30 yard line.

A bad snap to Stephens (who also doubles as the team's punter - and triples as a defensive back) led to a near block, and a poor punt - gaining just five yards and giving the Braves the ball on Righetti's 35 yard line.

The Braves tried to run with Scott twice and got nowhere.

Coach Lukens then called a pass to Scott, who broke out to his left, raced down the sideline and hauled in a perfect 36-yard pass from Ochoa - good for the game's first score.

Brice Fabing's point after gave Lompoc a 7-0 lead with 1:48 to go in the half.

It looked like that score would hold up going into the locker room when Righetti's Wilson intercepted Ochoa at the Lompoc 35.

The Warriors managed to get the ball down to the five yard line before having to settle for a Martin Luque field goal with :14 seconds left.

At the half, it was Lompoc 7, Righetti 3.

Righetti's troubles began with the second half kickoff - the Braves' Sean Webb returned the kickoff 44 yards to the Righetti 28.

The plays later - highlighted by a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Terrones - it was Lompoc 14, Righetti 3.

"I saw John (Terrones) in the back of the end zone," Ochoa said. The pass was short but Terrones, a returning all-leaguer, circled back and outmuscled defenders Chad Stephens and Cody Denham for the TD.

Lompoc next possession went just two plays - beginning near midfield and ending with a 48-yard TD pass to Scott - and suddenly, with just 4-minutes gone in the second half, The Braves were ahead 21-3.

The Warriors were still in the game as the fourth quarter began but another quick strike, and 82-yard pass from Ochoa to Terrones, put the Braves up 28-3 and the game out of reach with 8:09 remaining.

"They were playing with eight men in the box so you've got to throw the ball," said Lompoc offensive coordinator Roger Pacheco.

"We took what they gave us. We don't like to throw but you've got to do what you've got to do. And Timmy's getting better every week."

They made some adjustments at the half and were able to capitalize on those," said Wilson. "The Braves did a great job - my hats off to them."

With the clock winding down, and Braves substitutes on the field, Ochoa hit Lukas Carpio with a 31 yard pass play, then came back and hit him with a five yarder good for a touchdown and the game's final score.

The Braves defense held the Warriors to 34 yards of offense in the second half before Righetti picked up 50 yards on their final drive of the game - the clock running out on the Warriors with a first and goal at the four.

The swarming Lompoc defense limited Warrior workhorse Stephens to under 100 yards for the first time this season. Stephens, who had amassed 550 yards over his previous two games totalled 94 yards on 29 carries.

"You plug up the lanes," explained Lompoc linebacker Mike Linstead. "You don't let him cut back."

Stephens' longest gain was for nine yards and that came in the fourth quarter.

"We're going top keep our heads up," said Stephens. "We've got three more games to get ready for League. We'll be ready."

Both teams hit the road next Friday night with Righetti heading south to Santa Barbara High and Lompoc heading north to Arroyo Grande.

Sports Editor Elliott Stern can be reached at 739-2235 or by e-mail at elliottstern@santamaria times.com. Sports writer John McReynolds contributed to this story.

Sept. 17, 2005