The Nipomo Titans traveled to Al Maguire Field hunting for a win, and came close to getting it versus Saint Joseph Friday.

Instead, the home team's run dominance earned the green Knights their first Los Padres League win, 28-20.

Nipomo (0-5, 0-2), eager to shake off the 0-52 whooping Lompoc had dealt them the previous week, came out strong, scoring first on a fourth down and three situation.

Sophomore quarterback Mason Sperakos threw his first touchdown strike of the season, connecting with Brent Seguine for a 17 yard score. The extra point went wide.

The opening drive took 4:28 off the clock.

The Knights (3-3, 1-1) came right back, starting with a 56 yard return by Philip Adam to start on Nipomo's 42-yard-line.

Tom Sua checked in for St. Joe, and scored the first of his two rushing TD's on the night with a 14 yard hand off play.

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”The last two weeks we weren't in a situation to compete. Tonight we were in a situation to win,“ said Titan head coach Jon Hitchen.

The win-hungry Nipomo squad had its best on special teams, starting on their next possession. With the offense stalled at the 50, Nipomo kicker Mike Trujillo punted a high spiraler that came straight down near the St. Joe 15-yard line. Confusion ensued on the field, as Titan players claimed the ball grazed a Knight before they recovered. The Referees agreed and Nipomo began the drive anew at the St. Joe 11 yard line.

Steve Otto would make a catch and dive to take Nipomo to the one, where Sperakos would score his first rushing touchdown of the season as well, on a quarterback sneak to make it 7-13.

Four penalties on the next two St. Joe drives would slow them down, as well as trading fumbles with the Titans.

”Those are correctable mistakes that we'll work on in this bye week,“ said St. Joe head coach Mike Hartman.

Senior George Barrientos would recover a Sua fumble on Nipomo's 14 to stop the Knights. Nipomo would punt the ball away to back the Knights up to their 35-yard line late in the second quarter.

The Knights put together a 65-yard march down the field, ending in a three yard Sua run up the middle with 1:20 left in the half.

It proved to be just the beginning as St. Joe ran wild, scoring 21 unanswered points.

Knights quarterback Brian McConkey alternated between handing it off to Sua (28 carries for 128 yards) or faked it, and ran to the outside. He scrambled for 83 yards on six runs, including one touchdown.

The defensive line of the Titans did not seem to have an answer, especially on the left side, where both Sua and McConkey did the most damage.

”Our offensive line challenged them,“ said Hartman. ”They really turned a corner tonight.“

The Titans special team would keep things interesting, almost turning a bumbled second half kick off into an onside kick, and recovering another Nipomo punt deep in St. Joe territory.

Chris Lemus would catch a Sperakos pass from 11 yards out for the only 4th quarter score, to make it 28-20.

St. Joe would control the clock with the run, and Nipomo only had one possession, going four and out.

”It was what we hoped for, coming into the 4th quarter and having our chances,“ said Hitchen.

The Titans host northern rivals Morro Bay (3-2, 1-1) next Friday.

St. Joseph enjoys a bye week, before taking on Santa Ynez (1-4, 1-1) on the road.

Oct. 8, 2005