Righetti High School's football team put a huge exclamation point on their three-game homestand Friday night at Warrior Stadium.

The team made sure this would be a happy Homecoming weekend with a 35-17 victory over the visiting Santa Barbara Dons.

The win capped an excellent homestand - with non-league victories over South High of Bakersfield, Tehachapi and Santa Barbara - to run its record to 3-1.

“Coming off a hard loss to Pioneer Valley (in week zero) - our kids have responded very well,” said Righetti coach Gary Wilson. “Our offense was good tonight. Our defense was stellar - I just can't say enough about the game those guys played tonight.”

Quarterback Adam Wilson led the offensive attack with four touchdown passes - including back-to-back 27-yard TD strikes to wide receiver Todd Noel late in the game to ice the victory.

Wilson completed 12 of 16 passes for 213 yards.

Tailback Kyle Leon added the fifth score on a 23 yard touchdown run.

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Kicker Martin Luque contributed five points - hitting all five of his point after attempts.

The Warriors first-string defense nearly pitched a shutout - allowing just one Vincent Alvarez field goal through three quarters before giving way to the second and third team squads.

The defense allowed Santa Barbara a mere 34-yards on the ground - forcing the Dons into a passing game. Through the air, Santa Barbara's two quarterbacks picked up 143 yards on 11-for-42 passing.

Santa Barbara starting quarterback Bryson Lloyd managed to hit just 4-of-14 attempts, good for 34 yards. Just before halftime, Lloyd gave way to Tyler Madden who completed 11-of-42 attempts for 143 yards and a late 14-yard touchdown.

On the first play of the game, it looked like Santa Barbara would come out smoking.

Santa Barbara's Tad Slaff hauled in the opening kickoff and raced 99-yards down the left sideline for a game-opening touchdown.

But there was a holding penalty against the Dons that brought the ball back to their own 10-yard line and from their it was all downhill for Santa Barbara.

The Warrior defense shut down the Dons' opening drive on six plays.

Righetti scored quickly the first time they touched the ball.

Righetti got great field position on the punt - taking over at their own 49-yard line.

Two plays later Righetti was on the scoreboard.

Wilson came out throwing - the first play was a 6-yard pass to Emmanuel Rubalcaba. Wilson then hit Timmy Dwyer with a little flair pass. Dwyer hauled it in and raced 45-yards for the score. The Warriors were up 6-0. Luque's PAT made it 7-0, capping Righetti's two-play, :43-second, 51-yard scoring drive.

“They came out and filled the box. They packed it in anticipating a running game,” said Wilson. “So we had to open it up. It was good to let Adam open it up and get some air under the ball. It will help us out down the road.”

Then Slaff had another awesome kickoff return - taking the ball at the 5-yard line and racing down to the Righetti 23. But the Dons were hit with two penalties on the return, once again killing excellent field position.

Righetti fumbles - not the Santa Barbara defense - stopped two more drives later in the first and early in the second quarters. Each time Santa Barbara got good field position. Each time the Righetti defense shut the Dons down.

“We've got to take care of the ball better,” said Wilson. “But things like that are correctable before the (PAC-6) league season begins.”

With just over three minutes remaining in the first half, Wilson and the Warriors struck again - an almost instant replay of their first scoring drive.

After forcing a Santa Barbara punt, Righetti began at their own 39-yard line. Wilson threw a short screen to Matt Mole - good for zero yards.

Then Wilson faked the same flare pass that resulted in Righetti's first touchdown. The move drew the defense in, then Wilson turned and found Jeremy Conway racing down field. Wilson hit Conway in stride at the 10-yard line and Conway cruised untouched into the endzone with a 61-yard touchdown reception.

Two plays, :45 seconds, 61-yards. With Luque's PAT, Righetti was up 14-0 as halftime neared.

The Dons' only sign of life came early in the second half when, after intercepting Wilson deep in Righetti territory, they had the ball first-and-10 at the Righetti 28.

Santa Barbara got to the Righetti 13-yard line but could get no closer. They settled for a 30-yard Alvarez field goal, cutting the score to 14-3.

Late in the third quarter, the Warriors marched down field on an 8-play, 80-yard drive.

In the first half, the Warriors featured Matt Mole at tailback. In the second half, Kyle Leon - on fresh legs - came in to handle the featured back role.

On this drive, Leon picked up 66 of the 80 yards - starting the drive with a powerful 10-yard run up the middle, adding a 33-yard scamper in the middle of the drive and capping it off with a 23-yard touchdown run around the left side.

The 21-3 score gave the Warriors some breathing room, but they weren't done yet.

As the fourth quarter began, Wilson capped off a 9-play, 50-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Noel.

The Warriors defense then shut down the Dons, forcing a punt. Righetti's Chris Graham rushed the punter, got through the line untouched and blocked the Santa Barbara punt attempt. Righetti recovered at the Santa Barbara 27-yard line.

On the next play, Wilson hit Noel with another 27-yard scoring pass - back to back 27-yard TD's to Noel - and the game was on ice.

“Todd made some great catches for us tonight - great catches,” said Wilson.

Righetti was up 35-3 and coach Wilson brought in the reserves.

The Dons scored two late touchdowns in the final 7-minutes of the game to bring the final score to 35-17.

“You have to mention the coaches. The kids - both offense and defense - have really stepped up over the last few weeks and so have our coaches,” said Wilson. “Coaches Derrick Beebe and Ron Probert have been doing a great job. We wouldn't be winning without the excellent work of coaches Dutch Van Patten, Makani Sarellano and Ron Probert. We have to give these guys credit, too, for tonight. They're a great group - a solid group. Just like the team, they get better each week.”

Sept. 23, 2006