The Lompoc High football slogan “Defense Wins Championships” was in full effect Friday night as the Braves shut down a solid Cathedral team 22-3 in the CIF Division X playoff's first round.

“Defense is what we've hung our hat on all year,” said Lompoc coach Robin Luken. “How far we go is going to be dependent upon our defense. If we do it right, defense wins championships. Offense wins games.”

The victory at Huyck Stadium sends Lompoc on a bus ride to Temple City the day after Thanksgiving.

The Phantoms stunned the Braves on the first play from scrimmage when Ayinde Vaughan took a screen pass right and sprinted around and over the Braves for 38 yards.

On the next play, however, Vaughan was lost for the game with an ankle sprain and with him departed much of the Phantom backfield speed. Their drive carried to the Brave seven, but bogged down there.

A 23-yard field goal by Richard Mora put Cathedral on the scoreboard, but after that the Phantoms never penetrated again inside the Lompoc 40-yard line.

The Phantoms were forced to punt on their next six straight possessions. They generated only 121 yards total offense.

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“They're really strong up front,” said Cathedral coach Kevin Pearson of Lompoc.

“No. 56 (Joey Green) is the best defensive lineman. Our offensive coaching staff were watching him Sunday (on film) and we were so impressed by that kid. All their guys, No. 45 (Jakob Sims), No. 35 (Mike Linstead), their defensive front is excellent,” the coach added. “That's why they're so good on defense, those five front guys.”

The Lompoc offense immediately responded to the Cathedral field goal by moving 68 yards on 10 plays with an 18-yard rollout by quarterback Tim Ochoa serving as the keynote. Ochoa connected with Johnathon Terrones for a 32-yard TD pass to take the lead with 4:12 to play in the quarter.

“They were biting on the fake,” said Ochoa. “On the touchdown pass, I saw that No. 1 (Maxwell Lacy) came up and I just threw it to Johnathon and he caught it and scored.”

The Braves' next two possessions of the first half were short-circuited by interceptions - sparking memories of one week prior when turnovers cost them the Cabrillo game.

The memory clouds grew darker when a fumble on Lompoc's third play after intermission ended yet another possession.

Finally late in the third quarter, the Braves drove to the Cathedral 36 from where Ochoa rolled left, raced down the sideline, then cut inside for a scintillating TD run to give Lompoc a two-score lead at 15-3.

Ochoa said the play was for him to run.

“Johnathon had a big block on that play,” the quarterback said. “I got outside and I saw Johnathon in front of me. A guy was coming from the side. Johnathon sealed the guy out and I cut in.”

Ochoa led all ball carriers with 56 yards on five carries. He completed nine of 16 passes for 94 yards.

The final Lompoc score came after Cathedral tried a surprise pass in a punting situation from their own 16. It fell incomplete and Lompoc scored four plays later on a 10-yard pass from Ochoa to Joseph Scott.

“We played real hard defensively,” said Luken. “On the first drive when they got the three points, I'm not sure we weren't still feeling a little like last week. Usually I see fire in eyes, but tonight I didn't see concern. Then I think we got our composure. We got our focus and we decided to play football.”

Nov. 19. 2005