“Take everything else aside,” Lompoc coach Robin Luken explained, “I was told when I got this job, you can lose every game but don't lose to the Conqs.”

“That's what Paisola told me and that's what Coach Warren told me,” he continued. “Now there's no pressure - just this one.”

And for the 13th time in 17 tries Luken led his Braves to victory as they held off Cabrillo 33-20, in the 42nd annual Big Game at Huyck Stadium on Friday night.

The “visiting” Braves used two big plays to win the Big Game, a 96-yard kick off return by Bobby Collins in the second quarter and a 51-yard interception return by James Mitchell in the third.

The Collins return came just seconds after Cabrillo quarterback Sean Allen had scored a touchdown to pull the Conquistadores to within 13-10.

Mitchell's interception came with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter while Cabrillo was working on a 10-play drive and threatening to take their first lead of the game.

Allen was scrambling for his life when he threw the ball towards the line of scrimmage. Mitchell stepped in, caught the ball and raced down the Lompoc sideline to give the Braves a 26-13 lead.

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“Sean tried to make a great play - just trying to make something happen,” explained Cabrillo coach Don Cross. “Unfortunately it turned into a pick.”

“But like I told him,” Cross continued, “that didn't cost us the game - that kid was just trying to make something big happen.”

A huge crowd, estimated at over 7,000 was treated to an exciting, if sloppy game.

Lompoc had three fumbles, losing two and Daryl Aguilar threw one interception, while Cabrillo lost two fumbles and Mitchell's interception. The Braves also had 10 penalties for 75 yards.

The Braves only had five first downs in the game, three coming on the last touchdown drive in the fourth. But big plays from scrimmage were huge as well.

Collins ran in from 34-yards with 2:17 in the first and broke out a 44-yard run converting a lateral from Aguilar at the 7:19 mark of the second. Then with two minutes remaining in the game, fullback Favi Vargas sealed the freezer door with a 20-yard run, putting the game out of reach.

“You know Collins is a game breaker,” said Cross. “He made some big plays and stepped up in the game. Other than that, I think we controlled things.”

Cabrillo outgained Lompoc 354-120, with the Conqs getting 244 yards on the ground. Bennie Garrett had 62 yards on 19 carries before he left the game with an injury. Matt Rotondi added 64 on just four carries, but he injured his leg late in the first half and never returned.

“Offensively we were moving the ball,” Cross explained. “Bennie went out, Rotondi went out and we still held our own.”

Greg Watson, returning from a concussion injury against Morro Bay two weeks ago, had six yards on two carries in the first half. But with Garrett and Rotondi down, Cabrillo went to Watson and he responded, rushing 13 times in the second half adding 53 more yards.

After the Mitchell interception, Cabrillo answered back with a long drive that ended with a one-yard run by Watson at 7:55, making the score 26-20.

Lompoc responded with a 10-play drive that ate up 4:23 off the clock, before Aguilar punted the ball to the Cabrillo 8.

The Conqs responded with two Watson runs for a first down, before Lompoc's Masson Blow recovered a Cabrillo fumble at the Conqs 31. Three plays later Vargas scored with a run up the middle.

“I'm not disappointed,” said Cross. “I thought we played our butts off in the second half and had a chance to win the ballgame. That's all you can ask for.”

A relieved Luken was taking in the moment as he saw his team celebrate with the trophy. It was not a stellar season for the Braves, but this win made it a lot easier.

“This was my 17th one,” Luken explained about the rivalry. “You've got to get a game plan together, get the kids ready and you've got to understand this is a big time event.”

“It makes for at least a year of satisfaction because you beat the Conqs,” he continued. “I've lost to them four times in my 17 years and it makes it tough - I remember all four.”

Cross was pleased with his team's effort.

“I'm proud of the guys I told them they were winners,” Cross said. “They prepared hard, they had great attitudes the whole season. I love them - they're winners.”

And about the rivalry?

“It was one of those classic games,” Cross answered. “It was a great ballgame and it was fun.”

November 10, 2007