The streak is over in more ways than one.

Not only did Cabrillo end a nine-year losing streak in the Big Game, the opportunistic Conquistadores also snapped Lompoc's four-year record of LPL perfection.

They did so by upsetting the Braves 28-18 Friday night before a sellout crowd in the 40th renewal of The Big Game at Huyck Stadium.

The victory throws the two teams into a co-championship in the Los Padres League, both at 5-1. It is the first football championship for Cabrillo since 1996 and the first time in four years the Braves have had to share the crown. It was also Lompoc's first defeat ever in LPL play after going 22-0.

“I told you three years ago we were going to stir it up,” said jubilant Cabrillo coach Don Cross. “We're definitely back.” Cross left an assistant coach's job at Lompoc High to take the head CHS job in 2003.

“We got some turnovers and got the short field. We got a big time blocked punt by Darnell (Womack). Like last week at St. Joseph, they turned it over and we didn't. It was the same tonight.”

The ballhawking Conqs took advantage of an interception, a fumbled snap on a Lompoc punt and a blocked punt to score three of their four touchdowns. They benefited from Casey Belluz's booming punts to force Lompoc deep into its own territory on virtually every possession.

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On defense, they were able to stop Lompoc tailback Joe Scott and force the Braves to throw.

The pivotal moment came in the third quarter when Lompoc trailed just 21-18 and appeared to be driving for its third touchdown of the period.

A penalty erased a 29-yard pass to all-league receiver Jon Terrones to the Cabrillo 20. Then Womack blocked Terrones' punt, and Josh Blair recovered. A personal foul call against Lompoc placed the ball on the Braves 14. From there it took Cabrillo three plays to pound the ball in. Taua scored at 3:34 to raise Cabrillo's margin to 28-18.

Lompoc coach Robin Luken said his team seemed flat. Luken recalled the emotional roller coaster his team has ridden since a Halloween auto accident killed two of his players and seriously injured a third.

“When you end up having a punt blocked, and you end up fumbling like we did your emotions just leave you. We didn't play with a lot of emotion tonight like we normally do.

“I knew we were in for a tough haul. I was hoping the letdown wouldn't occur here.”

Cabrillo opened the scoring when strong safety Eric Evans picked off a Tim Ochoa pass at the 35-yard line and ran it back to score with 3:30 to play in the first quarter.

Lompoc replied on a 60-yard pass play from Ochoa to Terrones, but two possessions later a punt snap got away from Terrones and Caleb Meza tackled him on the 5.

Conquistador mainstay Vai Taua powered into the line twice to score.

Cabrillo got the ball 1:57 before halftime and, on its first play from scrimmage, C.J. Simmons lofted a 42-yard pass to Taua for a first down at the Lompoc 27. Four plays later, Simmons found Womack in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-6.

Lompoc seized the momentum in the third quarter, driving 80 yards to score with an Ochoa-to-Terrones aerial gobbling up 24 yards to the CHS 9-yard line.

After a defensive stop, Sam Ruiz bolted 64 yards on a punt return. The run, plus a Cabrillo personal foul, put the ball on the Conqs 15. Two straight Michael Linstead of runs, of 12 and three yards, cut Lompoc's deficit to 21-18.

That was as close as the Braves would get.

The game marked the final appearance in the Los Padres League for the Braves. Next fall they will play in the PAC-5 League against Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Paso Robles, Righetti and San Luis Obispo.

Morro Bay will be the LPL's third representative in the CIF playoffs. The Pirates tied Santa Ynez and St. Joseph at 3-3. The Pirates get the third seed because they defeated Cabrillo. The Conquistadores beat Santa Ynez and St. Joseph, which is hoping for a wild card bid.

Paso Robles 58, Atascadero 21

A momentum reversal? How about 51 Paso Robles points in the second half after the Bearcats trailed 21-7 at halftime?

The Bearcats' huge second half at Paso Robles carried them to the PAC-5 League championship. The team that started the season 2-4-0 went 4-0 in league games and wound up the regular season 6-4-0.

Atascadero (2-2, 7-3-0) earned the PAC-5's third and last guaranteed playoff seed. Arroyo Grande finished second.

Paso Robles' winning touchdown came when Justin Swanson caught Stuart Sheldon's 14-yard pass. Sheldon passed for 264 yards Friday night. Cody Gang caught seven passes for 147 yards and caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Sheldon.

Santa Ynez 27, Morro Bay 7

At Morro Bay, Santa Ynez scored 20 unanswered second half points.

Kyle McQuitty ran a kickoff back 85 yards for the winning score. The Pirates' second half scores came on McQuitty's return, Manny Garcia's 35-yard interception return and Dain Jenson's 70-yard run.

Morro Bay finished the regular season 3-3 in the LPL and 5-5-0 overall. Santa Ynez wound up 3-3, 3-7.

Nov. 12, 2005