The Finishing Kick

Pioneer Valley finished off long drives Friday night. Cabrillo couldn't finish all of its short ones.

The Panthers had the game salted away by halftime after scoring on drives of 67, 96 and 62 yards. Pioneer Valley's defense stopped the Conquistadores inside the 10 twice as the Panthers won this Los Padres League opener in a 41-14 rout at Pioneer Valley High School.

The home club led 28-7 at halftime. Panthers linebacker Marco Paredes returned an interception 50 yards for a score. Steve Rucobo picked off Conqs quarterback Sean Allen's pass at the Pioneer Valley 4 the next series.

“You can't get in that kind of hole against a team like Pioneer Valley,” said Cabrillo coach Don Cross. “They're a good team - well-coached.”

The Panthers stayed unbeaten at 4-0-0. Cabrillo is 1-2-0 overall. Six Panthers scored Friday night.

As for the defense, linebacker Daniel Segoviano and end Nick Leyden helped lead the surge as the unit had another impressive game. Pioneer Valley's ‘D' has given up 39 points this season.

Cabrillo's second touchdown came on a 77-yard drive against the Panthers' second string. Greg Watson scored from 34 yards out.

A Peter Renteria fumble which Conqs defensive lineman Chris Zahuta returned to the 18 set up Cabrillo's first score, quarterback Sean Allen's 11-yard run, in the second quarter.

The Panthers defense ruined any hopes the Conquistadores had of getting back into contention after intermission. A drive that started at the Cabrillo 44 after the second half kickoff went for naught when Leyden, Albert Squires, Colter Souza and Joey Gomez nailed Allen for a three-yard loss back at the seven.

“We were expecting the run, but you have to be ready to play run or pass,” during those two series, said Leyden. The Conqs tried the run, and the Panthers stuffed it.

A personal foul penalty near the end of the third quarter put the Conqs at Pioneer Valley's 18. But on fourth down from the 10, Justin Buchan nailed David Fraats for a yard loss.

The win was costly for the victors but not as costly as they originally feared.

“No breaks!,” someone shouted jubilantly on the PV sideline after the game. The Panthers had feared standouts Tyler Vogt (defensive end, offensive lineman) and Daniel Martinez (key offensive lineman) may have both suffered broken legs in the first half.

Instead the diagnosis was, “They both have high ankle sprains,” said Pioneer Valley coach Greg Dickinson. He chuckled ruefully. “They won't be back next week,” for a big Friday night game at St. Joseph (7:30 p.m.).

In fact, “They'll be out two weeks,” said Dickinson. Vogt and Martinez were both having big games before they got hurt.

The loss of those two will be tough, Pioneer Valley running back Philip Garcia acknowledged but, “We'll just get replacements in and keep it going.”

The Panthers rushing game rolled up 331 yards. Once again 6-2, 285-pound center Terry Keath helped anchor a line that opened big holes.

“They have big, physical kids up front,” Cross said. “We're kind of undersized there,” on defense.

Their line sprang both Garcia (105 yards) and Dan Ando (103) for over 100 yards. Ando burst up the middle through a small hole Keath opened for a 20-yard touchdown run to make it 34-7 in the third quarter. Reserve William Bruce finished the Panthers' scoring with a one-yard run in the fourth.

“Our offensive line is blocking better every week,” said Garcia. “Every week we're moving one step up the ladder.”

It took Pioneer Valley all of six plays to cover 69 yards for a score on the game's opening possession. Quarterback Renteria began by hitting Sherman Braddock for 27 yards to the Cabrillo 40 on the opening play. Andrew Gonzales subsequently went in from the one behind Keath.

Cabrillo's first possession lasted two plays. On play number two, Paredes grabbed Allen's short pass and ran 50 yards with it for a touchdown. When Renteria scored from the Cabrillo three and Erik Silvas scampered in from the 10 in the second quarter, the Conqs' fate was sealed.

The Conquistadores ran the ball decently at times. Bennie Garrett had 94 yards on 21 carries, and Watson had 85 yards on 10.

The Panthers' defense, however, overshadowed that with big stops.

Sept. 22, 2007