It was a tale of two halves Friday night at St. Joseph's Al Maguire Field.

The Knights won the first half 6-0. The visiting Arroyo Grande Eagles won the second 20-6, giving the Eagles their first win of the young season - a 20-12 come-from-behind thriller over St. Joseph.

“I'm proud of the way the kids conducted themselves - the kids on both sides,” said Arroyo Grande head coach John Huss. “This is a great rivalry. There aren't many rivalries like this any more. It's always a good game.”

Both teams had plenty of chances to win this annual non-league rivalry. Both also cost themselves shots at scoring even more points.

For the Eagles (1-1), six first-half penalties turned out to be drive killers. For the Knights (1-1), six first half penalties and three second-half interceptions kept them from putting this game in the win column.

“You can't turn the ball over against a good team and Arroyo Grande is a good team,” said St. Joseph head coach Mike Hartman. “Our kids played hard. They played well - but you just can't turn the ball over.”

Running back/defensive back Matt Lynch led the Eagles with 83-yards on 11 carries including a 62-yard touchdown run that put the game away. On defense, Lynch turned in several big plays including two interceptions that turned the momentum AG's way.

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AG's other Matt - Matt Valez - picked up 77 yards on 10 carries including a 9 yard touchdown run.

Reade Lodbill powered in for an 11-yard TD for the Eagle's other score.

The Knights were led by star running back Thomas Sua with 77-yards on 15 carries including a 1-yard touchdown run.

Tight end Scott Cathcart scored the Knights' other touchdown on a spectacular 30-yard over-the-shoulder catch from St. Joe quarterback Chase Sanders.

“Our kids played well,” said Hartman. “We matched up physically with them and to match up physically with Arroyo Grande is a good thing.”

The game was scoreless through the first quarter.

Tough defense by both sides, penalties on both sides and a fumble by the Eagles kept either team from building momentum.

The second quarter was much the same until the Knights put together a 9-play, 70-yard drive as the clock was winding down.

With 1:30 before halftime, St. Joseph's Sanders lofted a perfect spiral to the corner of the endzone and into Cathcart's hands. The point after was blocked and the Knights went into the lockerroom with a 6-0 lead.

“When we looked at their game films, they never threw deep,” said Lynch. “So that touchdown pass was a bit unexpected. After that we adjusted.”

St. Joseph's Daniel Rudolph electrified the home crowd on the second half kickoff. Hauling the ball in at the 1-yard line, Rudolph angled to his left, then cut back to his right - and was off to the races. Arroyo Grande's kicker Chris Nichols finally caught up to Rudolph - hauling him down at the AG 29-yard line -after a 70-yard kickoff return.

“We knew he was a good returner,” said Huss. “I have to give my kicker Chris Nichols credit. He did an exceptional job. After that run (by Rudolph), I told him to kick the ball out of the endzone - and he did. They didn't have another kick return the rest of the night.”

From there, the Knights marched 29-yard on 7 plays - capped off by Sua's 1 yard TD run. The point after kick failed, The Knights were up 12-0.

The momentum seemed to be going St. Joseph's way.

But momentum has a way of shifting.

“Our kids just realized that after St. Joseph scored that second touchdown, they'd have to respond - and they certainly did,” said Huss.

In last week's season opener, AG‘s Lodbill ran the game-opening kickoff back 96 yards for a touchdown. It would be six quarters before the Eagles crossed the goal line again.

“We needed to get some points on the board because the offense had scored a touchdown this season,” said Lynch. “The offense has never been kept off the board for two games in a row - ever. We were going to score some points tonight no matter what.”

And on Friday night, Arroyo Grande came right back with their own 7-play, penalty-free touchdown drive.

Lynch was the spark that lit the Eagles' fire.

It started when he hauled in the ensuing kickoff at the AG 20 and powered straight up the middle of the field into a sea of Knights. He was hauled down at the AG 40. Six plays later - three runs and three passes - AG had a first-and-goal at the SJ 9-yard line.

Valez promptly carried the ball the final 9-yards for Arroyo Grande's first offensive touchdown of the season and, after the point after attempt went wide left, the Eagle's had cut the score to 12-6.

On St. Joseph's next drive, Sanders was intercepted by Lynch at mid-field. Lynch returned the interception 31 yards to the SJ 19. Two plays later, Lodbill ran it in from the 11. Nichols' PAT gave AG the lead at 13-12.

The Eagles defense then held, forcing the Knights to punt.

Four plays later, Lynch took a handoff from Pedrini, sprinted to his left then cut back to the right - right through the Knights' defense - putting a cap on a fantastic night with a 62-yard touchdown run. Nichols' point after gave AG a 20-12 lead.

But Lynch's night wasn't over - he intercepted Sanders for a second time on the Knights' next drive.

The Eagles' Lodbill picked up Arroyo's Grande's third interception with 4:40 left in the game to end any chance of a late Knights' comeback.

“Lodbill and Lynch got us key interceptions. They gave us extra possessions and good field position - a the chance to get back in the game,” said Huss. “But St. Joseph is a very good football team. They capitalized on their opportunities and almost put the game out of reach.”

“Our kids played hard and they played the right way,” said Hartman. “The scoreboard isn't the only way to measure success. This is a learning experience for our younger players. We'll be ready for next week.”

St. Joseph heads down to Santa Barbara next Friday night to take on Bishop Diego. Arroyo Grande has a home game next week hosting Pitman of Turlock. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 16, 2006