One play away - just one play away.

Righetti High School was one just play away from upsetting the PAC-7 leading Atascadero Greyhounds Friday night at Righetti's Warriors Stadium.

But that one play sealed the Greyhounds' victory - a 17-13 squeaker that kept Atascadero a perfect 4-0 in the PAC-7 while raising their overall record to 7-1.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Righetti (1-3 in the PAC-7, 4-5 overall) had taken a 13-7 lead over the favored Greyhounds.

Atascadero was facing a third-and-11 from the Righetti 43-yard line when quarterback Gunnar Jespersen threw for the end zone. It looked like he was trying to hit his star receiver, Erik Rassmussen, in the left corner of the end zone, but Rassmussen got his feet tangled up with the Righetti defender and both went down near the five-yard line.

Atascadero's Brandon Roberts was also in the end zone - nearer to the goal posts - and he also broke for the ball. He jumped at it, stretched out as far as he could and hauled in what turned out to be the game-winning 43-yard catch.

“We just made one more play than they did,” said Atascadero head coach Vic Cooper. “Brandon made an incredible catch. That was the difference.”

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“We were just one play away,” said Righetti head coach Gary Wilson. “It seems like we're just one play away from winning a lot of these games.”

The Warriors shut down the Greyhounds' high powered running game. The Greyhounds Michael Reynoso came into the game with 969 yards rushing through the season's first seven games. Righetti held him to 57 yards on 12 carries.

For the most part, they stopped Atascadero's passing attack - holding Jespersen to five completions in 13 attempts. But those five completions were good for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

Righetti's offense was led by running back Michael Alexander, who gained 122 yards on 20 carries and scored one of the Warriors' two touchdowns, and by quarterback Adam Wilson, who picked up 79 yards on the ground and the other RHS touchdown on 18 carries.

Wilson threw for 98 yards on eight completions with one interception.

The defenses dominated the first half.

Atascadero was forced to punt on their first possession and their punter, Nic Coons, dropped the ball perfectly at the Righetti five yard line.

Facing a third-and-three from their own 12 yard line, Wilson hit wide receiver Emmanuel Rubalcalba with a strike. The ball immediately popped out of Rubalcalba's hands and the referee ruled it a catch and fumble. It was a questionable call.

Atascadero recovered at Righetti's 13-yard line.

But the Righetti defense rose to the occasion - stopping the Greyhounds cold.

Facing a fourth-and-12 from the 15 yard line, Atascadero could only come away with 3 points on a Jake West 32 yard field goal.

And there it stood - 3-0 Atascadero - into the second half.

“In the first half, we got that field goal because of a mistake. They were ready for us. They shut down our running game,” said Cooper. “Their coaches had a good game plan. I think I was out-coached in the first half.”

The Warriors came out strong to open the second half - taking the opening kickoff at their own 19 yard line, marching 81 yards on 18 plays, using up nearly half of the quarter on the clock, capped off by Wilson's 4 yard touchdown run.

Martin Luque's point after gave the Warriors a 7-3 lead.

“The kids realized that they could play with these guys,” said Wilson. “We came out in the second half and put the ball up in the air successfully. That opened up our running game. Our whole offensive line - James Salazar, Eric Jones, Kevin Harmon, Manny Meraz, Steve Alurac and Todd Noel - deserve special recognition for the job they did tonight.”

But back came the Greyhounds who responded with their own 8 play, 80 yard drive. When Jespersen hit Rassmussen with an 11 yard touchdown pass, and West hit the PAT, the Greyhounds were back on top 10-7.

The Warriors moved back on top midway through the fourth quarter, marching 52 yards on 14 plays, culminating with Alexander's 8 yard run. Luque's point after kick attempt was tipped at the line and went wide left but Righetti had taken a 13-10 lead with 7:57 left on the clock.

Three plays and 1:05 later, Jespersen threw into the end zone and Roberts made his spectacular game-winning catch. West hit the point after - Atascadero was up 17-13 - and the Greyhounds' defense did the rest.

“Our downfall has been that we have that one big mistake - give up that one big play and it comes back to haunt us,” said Wilson. “Our kids have a lot of heart. They play hard. They never quit. They come out and play great football - they're competitors but that one play hurt us.”

“Righetti is a very good team. There were a lot of fireworks tonight. They took us into the trenches and were very physical,” said Cooper. “It was just a battle - a battle all night. We had some kids that stepped up at the end of the game and made some spectacular plays and that was the difference.”

Righetti wraps up its 2007 regular season next Friday night at Arroyo Grande. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

q Sports Editor Elliott Stern can be reached at 739-2235 or by e-mail at elliottstern@santamariatimes.com.

Oct. 28, 2006