The Cabrillo Conquistadores used their multi-weapon running game to shake off an early challenge by the Santa Maria Saints and turn a tied game late in the second quarter into a lopsided 42-14 triumph at Huyck Stadium in Lompoc

”As far as execution this was our best game offensively no question,“ said Cabrillo coach Don Cross.

The Conqs scored on four straight possessions in the second and third quarters relying on workhorse Vai Taua for four touchdowns and, increasingly, on quarterback C.J. Simmons on option runs for key yardage.

Taua totalled 120 yards including a 24-yarder, Simmons 84 including a 23-yarder, though the longest ramble of the evening came from wingback Darnell Womack who reeled off 48 yards on the first play of the game. The Conqs totalled 334 yards rushing.

”Their backs were superior to our guys,“ said Santa Maria coach Shawn Ramirez flatly. ”Vai and Simmons and No. 22 (Womack), they all did their part.

”We knew going in they were loaded in the backfield and we prepared for it. We were just outmanned.“

The Saints made a game of it early as they took their opening possession 79 yards on nine plays. The longest was a pass from Daniel Gauna to Ruben Acuña for 26 yards which only came to an end when Acuna pounded into one of his teammates at midfield, but Gauna shook off three tacklers and gained 13 yards and tailback Angel Espinoza got loose for 14 yards twice including the TD run.

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Even after Cabrillo drove 79 yards to retake the lead at 14-7 the Saints kept moving the ball.

Starting on their own 20 they drove 80 yards- Espinoza picked up 16, then an interception was fumbled right back and recovered by Vincent Zarate and a personal foul was called on Cabrillo all on the same play which gained 33 yards. Then Gauna passed to Ben Arreola to take the ball to the five from where Espinoza scored.

”Santa Maria decided to run right at us and trap us,“ said Cross. ”We practiced pass rushing all week. Shawn had a nice plan to run right at us. In the second half we slowed them down a little bit.“

On Cabrillo's go-ahead touchdown drive Taua gobbled up 24 yards, Simmons 12, Taua eight, then Simmons on the option left waited until perilously close to the line of scrimmage but passed to Colby McKissack for 20 yards to the Saint two yardline before Taua carried for the score. Sixty-six yards on a six-play three-minute thrust.

The Conqs expanded their halftime margin to two TD's when Brian Gregory, who Cross insists is not ”the passing quarterback,“ appeared under center with 46 seconds to play and lofted a pass 25 yards downfield to a wide open Darnell Womack who carried the ball to the end zone for a stunning 82-yard strike.

”It was a big play,“ agreed Cross. ”We caught the safety flatfooted. Darnell has a lot of speed and he ran right by the kid. My offensive coordinator told me he wanted to run that play earlier.

The Cabrillo defense did not allow the Saints inside the Conq 40 in the second half until only five minutes remained and the final score was in lights.

The play of defensive tackle Josh Sanders against lineman #74 was a key,“ said defensive coordinator Mike Regan.

”We suggested a different alignment,“ said the coach. ”He was getting kicked out by No. 74 (Rodrigo Villa). So he took him on a little different in the second half.“

Santa Maria rushed for a respectable 201 yards with Espinoza accounting for 106 of it. Gauna completed four of ten passes for 65 yards.

Cabrillo is now 2-0 in league, 5-1 overall, while Santa Maria falls to 0-2, 1-5.

Lompoc 42, Cabrillo 20

The Braves (5-2, 3-0) came back from a third quarter deficit to win a 20th consecutive league victory.

The Pirates suprised early with a 37-yard touchdown strike from Billy Peters to Kyle McQuitty.

Peters was 11 of 28 attempts with one interception, for 137 yards.

”We knew we could play with these guys and that was just self-affirming,“ head Pirates coach Josh Cunningham said of the opening drive and score.

One possesion later Braves quarterback Tim Ochoa would abandon the pass and literally run past the entire Pirate offense, 61 yards to tie it in the first quarter.

Two near field goals and the first touchdown of the second half had Santa Ynez smelling an upset against the defending league champs.

”My hat's off to Santa Ynez, we didn't expect them to play as well as they did,“ said Braves rusher Joseph Scott.

Scott led his team in offense, with 152 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns.

Lompoc regrouped in the second half, and put together a 60-yard campaign, culminating in a one yard touchdown by tight end Michael Linstead. The point after would be missed, but the Braves would continue to run a dominant offense, scoring rushing touchdowns with Scott twice before the end of the quarter to take a 28-14 lead.

”We went into the T offence the second half and pounded away,“ said the Braves coach Robin Luken.

The Braves running backs had 280 total yards on 39 carries.

Peters would connect with McQuittey midway through the fourth quarter, but the blue and white would answer right back with Frankie Osegueda and Scott both running into the end zone to put the game away, 42-20.

One factor in the closer game was penalties, many of them personal fouls, with Lompoc drawing 16 flags giving 159 yards to the Pirates.

The Braves, expected to keep their number one ranking in the southern section CIF Division X poll, enjoy a bye week to rest before facing league opponent St. Joseph.

Sports Writer Glenn Wallace contributed to this report.

Oct. 15, 2005