Cabrillo shook off any aftereffects of last week's loss to Morro Bay and demolished Nipomo 52-7 Friday night at Huyck Stadium in Lompoc to move to 3-1 in the Los Padres League race.

The Conquistadores marched down the field on their first three possessions on drives of 53, 74 and 42 yards, all on the ground with workhorse Vai Taua doing the bulk of the ball carrying. He received help from wingback Darnell Womack who contributed a 21-yard run to the second drive, and quarterback C.J. Simmons who scored the second TD from 19 yards out.

Meanwhile the Conq defense held the Titans without a first down in the first quarter as the visitors punted twice and Cabrillo's Josh Sanders recovered a fumble.

In the second quarter the Titans staged a seven-minute 79-yard march on 17 plays to the Cabrillo one-yard line but came up empty when a fumble was lost to Conquistador Kyle Bearden.

Two seconds before halftime Cabrillo kicker Casey Belluz booted a 50-yard field goal to advance the score to 24-0.

Taua opened the second half carrying three times for 65 yards and a TD, the Conqs' Womack recovered a fumble at the Nipomo 20 which led to another quick scoring drive and sophomore Greg Watson accounted for 50 yards of a 55-yard drive to push the margin to 45-0.

Taua totalled 161 yards and three touchdowns, Watson 87 and Simmons 78 as the Conqs threw only three passes in the contest.

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“We came to play,” said Simmons. “We didn't realize how important that Morro Bay game was.”

Cabrillo coach Don Cross agreed.

“I think we came out fired up. Nipomo is 1-6 and struggling. The kids came out and played hard. It would have been easy not to. We came out and showed a lot of character and a lot of desire to get back in the race and march toward the playoffs. I'm real happy.”

Cross singled out Womack.

“Darnell played his best game at that weakside linebacker. He's a safety playing linebacker, but tonight he really seemed to figure some things out. I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't double digits in tackles.

Nipomo, now 1-4 in league, 1-7 overall, was led in rushing by Chris Lemus who covered 94 yards on 16 carries. The Titan's only score came in the fourth quarter when quarterback Mason Sperakos scrambled from eight yards out to cross the goalline.

Cabrillo, now 3-1 in league, 6-2 overall, visits St. Joseph next Friday.

Fillmore 30, Pioneer Valley 7

Fillmore quarterback Art Rubio rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Flashes (5-3) to a non-league win over the Panthers, who looked lethargic after losing starting QB Brian Beyers to injury.

Beyers' injury came after he had a pass picked off for a 35-yard touchdown by Bobby Halcon midway through the third quarter. Beyers was hit by a blocker on the play and didn't get up, not moving for several minutes. He was later carted off on a stretcher, believed to have suffered a concussion and neck injury.

Before his injury, Beyers was 7-for-17 with two interceptions; six of his 10 incompletions were drops by his receivers.

Fillmore took avdantage of three Pioneer Valley turnovers in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, turning two into touchdowns. They also picked up a safety when a Panther punt snap was bobbled and rolled out of the end zone.

Rubo also threw for 55 yards, benefitting from great field position in the second half. Of the Flashes' six second-half possessions, all six started inside the Panthers' 47 or closer, including two inside the 25.

Josiah Morales led the Panthers (5-3) with 57 rushing yards.

Oct. 29, 2005