The Righetti gridmen didn't get any respect leading into Friday night's home opener against South Bakersfield with many area sports writers picking them to lose.

But the Warriors sure earned plenty of props by the end of a 62-26 thumping of the visiting Rebels in their first contest on a new artificial grass field.

“We were embarrassed in how they placed us in league on the Central Coast. The Tribune and down in Santa Barbara they said we were going to get beat up by South Bakersfield,” said Righetti coach Gary Wilson. “Actually, they did us a favor. They motivated us, and we came out to make a statement and I think we did that.”

Senior quarterback Adam Wilson was one of three Warriors to eclipse 100 yards rushing. The first-year play-caller rambled for four touchdowns and 157 yards on 19 quarterback keepers. Wilson, who also starts at free safety, added a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown to cap his career night.

“I can't get those touchdowns by myself. It's that offensive line,” said the Righetti quarterback. “They're giving me those touchdowns, and the defensive one was just right position at the right time.”

Junior tailback Matt Mole was just as hard to stop, dashing for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, while fellow junior back Michael Alexander rumbled for 103 yards and one score on 17 carries.

“Mole had a great game. He's hitting the holes hard,” said the coach. “They're still young and they're doing things that we need to correct. But I tell you what, ‘They came through for us tonight and we're real excited to have those guys on our team.'”

Advertisement

After the first Rebels' punt actually netted minus five yards, Righetti started deep in South territory and took full advantage as Mole finished off a five-play, 23-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0.

The Warriors covered more yardage on their second score of the first quarter, moving the ball 62 yards on 11 plays and ending with Wilson scampering in from five yards out.

With the Righetti defense keeping South on lockdown, the Warriors extended to a 27-0 halftime lead on both Mole and Wilson's second TD runs of the game.

“He's doing a tremendous job for us,” said Wilson of his son. “He runs the ball real well. He wants the ball. We want him to have the ball so he can control the game and so anytime we can get him to keep it we're going to. But we want other people to carry the ball, too.”

The rout was on early in the third quarter with Righetti taking the opening drive 80 yards for a touchdown on Wilson's 10-yard scramble to make it 34-0 and then, on South's ensuing possession, Wilson running back an interception for a touchdown to go up 41-0.

“Everyone was upset how we got seeded in the area and we wanted to make a statement,” said Adam Wilson. “Righetti's a powerhouse and we're going to show them.”

But Wilson and the first-team offense's night was not over yet when South broke up the shutout on quarterback Joseph Maldonado's 32-yard touchdown run.

Righetti went right back to work in the third quarter with Wilson again finding the back of the end zone from one yard out, but the Rebels responded with a quick four-play strike for their second score. A successful on-side kick by South and an even quicker two-play touchdown drive cut the deficit to 48-20 with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

“I saw that we kind of broke down the second half. We did that and we have to work on that,” said Righetti's offensive leader. “I didn't know I was going to come back in, but they started scoring. I love being on the field. I want to be out there the whole time.”

Wilson trotted back on the field for Righetti and led another scoring drive. This time Alexander got the call for a three-yard touchdown run to finally open the fourth quarter after an hour-plus third quarter.

Righetti's defense, however, ended the string of South touchdown drives when K.C. Sarellano recovered a fumble and ran it 40 yards to the Rebels' 10-yard line. Sarellano then got four straight carries on offense, the last a TD dash from one-yard out to make it a 42-point spread.

South added a final touchdown with 6:05 remaining as Maldonado threw a 13-yard strike to receiver Jerry Howard (4 catches, 84 yards) to end the scoring in a wild second-half that produced a combined 61 points.

Following an opening loss to Pioneer Valley, Righetti evened its non-league mark at 1-1 heading into a week-two home game against Tehachapi at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 9, 2006