Bearcats control the line in PAC-7 win vs. Braves

“They were just really good up front,” said Lompoc coach Robin Luken about the Paso Robles offensive line. “They were better than we were - that's the bottom line.”

And behind that line, running back Nathan Nelson ran 29 times for 285 yards, as the Bearcats (5-1, 1-0) defeated the Braves (2-3, 0-2), 30-7 in a PAC-7 game at Lompoc's Huyck Stadium Friday night.

“They had a hat on everybody,” Luken continued. “When they do that, that's what happens.”

Nelson ran 15 times for 221 yards in the first half as Paso Robles built up a 17-7 lead at intermission.

The first score came late in the first quarter and was set up on a spectacular 78-yard run by Nelson from the Bearcat 11, all the way to the Braves 11. Josh Weferling took the next play into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

Lompoc looked ready to answer right back on the ensuing kickoff. Bobby Collins took the kick at the Lompoc 10 and ran towards the Braves sideline. He broke back towards the Bearcat side, before once again breaking across the field. He was finally brought down at the Paso Robles 42 yard line.

The play was brought back because off an illegal block penalty deep in Lompoc territory.

The drive was then started at the Lompoc 24. The drive took a little bit longer, but the Braves did drive down the field to tie the game.

A 13-play, 76-yard drive took 5:43 off the clock. Collins ran the ball eight times on the drive, gaining 66 yards. The big run was an inside handoff that gained 34 yards. That came after a 12-yard draw play to Collins. He scored on a three-yard run.

Paso Robles answered that drive with a quick 75-yard drive to regain the lead. Nelson ran for 78 yards on a drive that started on the Bearcat 25 and included a five-yard procedure penalty. A 53-yard scamper took the ball to the Lompoc seven. Three plays later, Nelson scored from the one.

The final score of the first half came with a little controversy. After recovering a Daryl Aguilar fumble at the Lompoc 43, the Bearcats drove down to the 22. With a few seconds remaining on the clock, quarterback Brandon Ladley threw a swing pass to Nelson, who was tackled behind the line of scrimmage for a nine-yard loss.

Paso Robles raced the field goal team onto the field and tried to line up for an attempt. The clock clearly ran to zero before the snap, but Paso's Ryan Bedell kicked it through the uprights.

After several seconds of hesitation the two officials under the goal posts signaled good. Several Lompoc coaches raced out onto the field, protesting and pointing to a side judge who had signaled the end of the half.

A brief huddle by the officials ended with the head referee indicating the 38-yard field goal was good.

“They told me that they didn't hear anything and they thought there was one second left on the clock when the ball was snapped,” explained Luken. “I thought they would have a discussion, but they didn't have a good one.”

“The guy with the white hat has the final ruling and he has to make a decision,” he continued. “His back was to the clock, so he can't see it.”

At the start of the second half, Lompoc fumbled the ball on the second play and Paso Robles recovered on the Braves 25. Nelson ran in on the first play, extending the lead to 24-7.

On the next possession, Lompoc went three and out and was forced to punt. After Nelson was thrown for a loss of four yards by Jake Morehart, Favi Vargas picked off a Ladley pass at the 35 and ran to the Paso Robles three-yard line.

The Braves could not punch it into the end zone and went for a 20-yard field goal. The kick by Jorge Hernandez was short and the Bearcats took over at their own 20.

“We had our opportunity where we could get back in the game,” said Luken. “We ended up having three downs and couldn't score. So we decided to go for three in order to put some points on the board. We knew we had to get three scores.”

“Then the roof caved in on us after that,” he lamented.

The ensuing drive by Paso Robles took almost six minutes off the clock. After a short four-play drive by Lompoc, the Bearcats went on a 10-play, 60-yard drive that took over three and a half minutes and resulted in a Nelson five-yard TD. A third and five pass for 15 yards to Josh Weferling took the ball to the five, setting up Nelson's third touchdown.

“They were a good physical football team,” Luken said. “They just came out and got in our faces - lined up, smacked us on the turf. We had no answer.”

“In this league you've got to be physical,” he continued. “That was one of my big concerns at the beginning of the year. We might be fast, but in that eight- man box, can we be physical?”

Lompoc travels to Arroyo Grande next Friday, while Paso Robles hosts Righetti.

Oct. 13, 2007