Walking the Plank

The Santa Ynez Pirates (3-2, 4-4 overall) capitalized on four first half turnovers to bring the six-game win streak of visiting St. Joseph (4-1 6-2) to an end, in a 20-7 league game.

Pirates rusher Justin Iniguez started an explosion of second quarter points, with a 59-yard run, followed soon after by a quarterback keeper by Blake DuBois and a 17-yard pass to the wide open Evan Reed that put the home town in a frenzy, even before the half-time crowning of the Santa Ynez Homecoming Queen.

Four turnovers by the Knights and an outstanding performance by the Santa Ynez special teams accomplished the league upset.

The first turnover halted the Knights second possession of the game. Star tight end Scott Cathcart took a handoff and ran up the middle on a fourth and 11, turning the stall play into 17 yard gain.

On the Pirates 22, St. Joe's offense was held for no gain on two run tries. Quarterback Gavin Kelly tried a pass on down, and was hit by linebacker Alex Orosz just as he threw.

The wobbler fell into the hands of Santa Ynez's Chase Thompson to end the scoring threat.

Kelly was robbed from again in the first quarter, on the next Knights possession.

With the ball at midfield, Jeff Sellars on the Pirates defense cut through the offensive line and hurried Kelly, who passed the ball over the middle, where for the third consecutive week Spencer Angel made an interception look like he was the designated receiver.

After the Pirates defense stalled out another St. Joe drive, the offense took over on their own 32-yard line.

“We're going to march right down and score here!” Shouted Santa Ynez coach Josh Cunningham as his offense lined up.

Facing a third and 15 two plays later, that plan looked in jeopardy. The Knights rushed DuBois as he dropped back to pass, but he ducked the pass rush, and ran his way to the first down line, the Pirates first in the game.

Two plays later Iniguez would spring out of a fullback draw play for his 57 yard score.

The teams traded three-and-out's, but when Cathcart went to return the Pirates punt, the ball went in and out of his grip.

Long snapper Josh Keone, who was spot-on all night, was one of the first to Cathcart, and recovered the ball on the Knights 18.

The Pirates converted on the turnover four plays later with a five yard quarterback keeper.

“We played really solid, so we're feeling pretty good,” said Keone after the game.

With less than two minutes less the Knights tried a hurry-up offense, only to see it backfire when Santa Ynez's Parker Colvin snagged a pass over the middle.

This time DuBois only took one snap to capitalize, finding receiver Evan Reed wide open in the back of the end zone.

“We've been turning it over all season, and tonight it caught up with us. Santa Ynez just outplayed us,” said Knights head coach Mike Hartman.

Santa Ynez kicker Alex Palacios missed the extra point, but was flawless in his role as a punter, getting even a partially blocked punt 25 yards, and booting a 49-yarder on his last of eight.

St. Joseph only had two possessions in the third quarter, and started one on their own four-yard-line thanks to penalties.

“The third quarter went quick, and all of a sudden we have one period for three scores,” said Hartman.

The hurry-up offense came back into effect, with better results. Travis Biegel, who had 70 yards on seven catches, caught a Kelly touchdown pass to put the Knights on the board with 3:30 left in the game, but the ensuing onside kick did not work out.

A first down run by Iniquez, and a 28 yard catch by Jeff Rosecrance kept the ball in Pirate hands until the clock ran out.

Cathcart, the Knights total yard leader, was held to 55 yards receiving, in spite of being covered much of the game by the Pirates 5'5” senior Kevin Crowell.

“Kevin Crowell just played the game of his life,” praised Angel when asked about the Pirates secondary.

“It's given us a lot of spirit,” said Cunningham of the win.

Pioneer Valley 17, Templeton 0

TEMPLETON - The Panthers' defense is playing some of its best ball at the right time.

The unit, spearheaded by linemen Justin Buchan and Angel Guerrero Friday night, put up its second straight shutout. Pioneer Valley (3-3 Los Padres League, 5-4-0 overall) is back in the thick of the playoff hunt.

The Panthers are even in the win column and a game back in the loss column against Santa Ynez, whom they blanked 9-0 last week, and Nipomo, whom they lost to. Pioneer Valley dropped Templeton to 2-3, 5-3-0. Morro Bay is 5-0 in league games. St. Joseph is 4-1.

Four league teams are guaranteed playoff spots. The Panthers host Santa Maria, which is winless in league games at 7:30 p.m. next Friday night in their regular season finale.

Nick Rucobo spends most of his time at defensive back, but Pioneer Valley's coaching staff put him in at running back early in the first half. The move paid off. Rucobo scored the first touchdown on a seven-yard run.

Andres Montiel booted a 41-yard field goal in the third quarter. Dan Ando sprinted in from 40 yards out in the fourth.

Righetti 21, Atascadero 13

ATASCADERO - The Warriors throttled a strong Atascadero offense and stung the Greyhounds for the ‘Hounds' first PAC-7 League loss since 2005.

Area rushing leader Nick Tenhaeff managed to get just 50 yards on 16 carries against the Warriors. Righetti led 14-0 on Justin Level's one-yard run, a 12-yard Level pass to Ricky Cabigon and two Cody Miller PAT's before the Greyhounds scored in the third quarter on Jack Robinett's 19-yard interception return.

The Warriors (2-2, 6-3-0) put themselves in the thick of the playoff chase. The Greyhounds are 2-1, 6-2-0.

Sam Halop collected a 25-yard pass from Level in the fourth quarter to put Righetti up by two scores again. Greyhounds quarterback Steven Manier hit Alex Wolf with a 46-yard touchdown pass, the Warriors blocked the point-after kick, and the scoring was done.

Righetti had just 74 yards rushing, but Level was an efficient 12-for-18 for 151 yards. He threw one interception. The Warriors picked off Manier twice.

Atascadero had just 64 yards rushing and 203 yards of total offense. Righetti hosts Arroyo Grande at 7:30 p.m. next Friday night in the Warriors' regular season finale.

Oct. 27, 2007