Arroyo Grande falls just short against Lompoc 42-37, as SLO and Paso post big wins

By Matthew Ho

Updated September 17, 2022 1:01 AM

League play began on Friday in both the Ocean and Mountain leagues, and in the marquee game, the Lompoc Braves came out on top against the Arroyo Grande Eagles 42-37 in a back-and-forth affair.

Throughout the night, both teams traded blows on the offensive end with the pass game working for the Eagles.

Receivers Damien Santos and Brett Pinkerton were the main targets for quarterback Drake Missamore. They moved the chains for the Eagles with routes over the middle, using their length to make contested catches.

Meanwhile, running backs Junior Herlihy and Ben Walz did damage on the ground.

At one point, the Eagles fed Herlihy for six-plus plays in a row as he eluded defenders up the middle. Walz served as the goal line back and punched in two touchdowns from short yardage.

Ultimately, though, the Braves just more made big, timely plays that allowed them to stay ahead in the second half and seal the game. Receiver and kick returner Nelson Maldonado made two of the most crucial plays to secure the win for Lompoc.

Brandon Butler of Arroyo Grande breaks up a pass to Monte Ortiz of Lompoc. Arroyo Grande fell to Lompoc 42-37 in a hard-fought Mountain League football opener on Sept. 16, 2022. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

In the third quarter, Maldonado received the kickoff but dropped the ball at the 1 yard line. Before he could be tackled, he snatched up the ball up and cut to the left before reversing right and running the length of the field for a 99-yard score.

“I was trying to keep it from going into the end zone because I wanted to give it a chance to get it back,” Maldonado said.

“I saw a big hole and I took it, and I was reading my blocks from there. Couldn’t do it without my boys in the front,” he said.

This play zapped the momentum from the Eagles, who had just scored a field goal. Maldonado’s score gave the Braves a 28-16 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, the Eagles made one last push when Santos caught the ball in the end zone and brought the Eagles within a touchdown at 35-30.

Damien Santos of the Eagles stretches for a catch at the end of the first half while being defended by Monte Ortiz. Arroyo Grande fell to Lompoc 42-37 in a hard-fought Mountain League football opener on Sept. 16, 2022. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

But once again, Maldonado came through and ran in a 43-yard touchdown up the middle, racing away from the Eagle defenders.

The Eagles reached the end zone once more on a 15-yard pass from Missamore to Pinkerton, but it was too little, too late as quartberback Cavin Ross kneeled the ball and ran the time out.

Ross got the ball downfield, but also utilized his strong frame to make gains on the ground including a touchdown.

While the Braves took the win, head coach Andrew Jones thinks the team can still dramatically improve its play.

“I thought we were sloppy at times offensively and, you know, some bad balls,” he said.

“We got a lot of things to clean up if we want any kind of a chance to compete for this league championship.”

Arroyo Grande (1-3, 0-1) is on the road against St. Joseph (3-1, 1-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. Lompoc (4-0, 1-0) will look to carry its win to Paso Robles next Friday at 7 p.m.

Drake Missamore throws for Arroyo Grande. The Eagles fell to Lompoc 42-37 in a hard-fought Mountain League football opener on Sept. 16, 2022. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

San Luis Obispo 54, Cabrillo 14

San Luis Obispo showed off a big-play offense that got the Tigers out to a 44-7 halftime lead over Cabrillo on Friday, en route to a 54-14 win.

The Tigers scored on the ground and through the air, including rushing touchdowns of 5 yards by Isaiah Hernandez, 25 yards by Nolan Attala and 45 yards by Eli Smiley Rooney, all in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Hernandez broke through with another touchdown run of 78 yards, before Miles DeBrum added a 22-yard score and quarterback Jace Gomes hit Felix Stork for a 32-yard touchdown.

Mack Garcia scored on a 15-yard rushing touchdown for SLO in the third quarter before Ben Oetman’s second field goal of the game wrapped up the scoring for the Tigers.

“I’m very proud of the team win tonight. We had so many contributors to our offensive success,” said head coach Pat Johnston. He also shouted out the offensive line for “doing their respective jobs on a consistent basis,” as well as their defense for containing Cabrillo’s offense.

San Luis Obispo (4-1, 1-0) next faces Atascadero (1-3, 1-0) on Friday at 7 p.m..

Paso Robles 31, Righetti 6

Paso Robles cruised to a convincing win over Righetti on Friday.

Once again, Leo Kemp “dominated in the run game and on defense,” according to head coach Matt Carroll.

Additionally, Tristen Salgado and Hayden McKanna were key players in the passing game on the receiving end from quarterback Tyler Luna.

On defense, Trevor Lambeth caused a fumble and also intercepted a ball.

Paso Robles (3-1, 1-0) hosts Lompoc (4-0, 1-0) on Friday at 7 p.m as Mountain League play continues.

St. Joseph 42, Nipomo 0

Nipomo was no match for a St. Joseph team that scored six touchdowns, including four through the air and two on the ground.

Nipomo (0-4, 0-1) hosts Mission Prep (2-2, 1-0) on Friday at 7 p.m..

Mission Prep 32, Santa Ynez 27

Mission Prep defeated Santa Ynez in a tightly contested matchup between two of the better teams in the Mountain League.

Head coach David Schuster said the team “operated with tremendous heart.”

“I’m really proud of them. This team continue to grow and get better every week, especially with the youth on this varsity team.”

On the Santa Ynez side, the team hurt their chances of winning with two turnovers to the Royals zero. Despite the turnover disparity the team had a chance to win the game.

The Pirates were on the 14-yard line on fourth and 8 but threw incomplete.

Mission Prep (2-2, 1-0) plays at Nipomo (0-4, 0-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Templeton 37, West (Bakersfield) 7

Templeton got better as the game moved along on Friday. After a scoreless first quarter, the Eagles found the end zone five times on Friday, with 30 of their 37 points coming in the second half.

Templeton (3-1, 1-0) is at home against Santa Maria (2-2, 0-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Atascadero 28, Santa Maria 24

Atascadero overcame a 21-7 deficit to defeat Santa Maria on Friday.

Brayden Slane made the touchdown-saving tackle to complete the comeback for the Greyhounds.

Kane and Trey Cooks were productive on the offensive end. Both had two touchdowns apiece in the win.

Atascadero (1-3, 1-0) hosts San Luis Obispo (4-1, 1-0) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Morro Bay 38, Pioneer Valley 21

A big second quarter propelled Morro Bay (3-2, 1-0) to a win over Pioneer Valley (1-4, 0-1) in both teams’ Ocean League opener on Thursday.

After failing to score in the first quarter, the Pirates put up three touchdowns in the second period and went into halftime with a 21-14 lead en route to a 38-21 victory.

After the Panthers got out to a 7-0 lead, Morro Bay quarterback Nicky Johnson scored on a 3-yard run to even the game, according to MaxPreps. After a missed extra point, the Pirates were down 7-6.

On Morro Bay’s next drive, runs by Johnson and Nami Hoag put the Pirates in position for another score, when Johnson hit Aiden Blackwood for a 21-yard touchdown. A 2-point conversion tied the score.

After a Pioneer Valley punt, Morro Bay started its next drive on the 28 yard line and marched 72 yards to score again right before the break on a 9-yard pass from Johnson to Caleb Calhoun.

In the third quarter, Hoag scored again for Morro Bay, punching the ball in from the 1 yard line, followed by a 10-yard field goal from AJ Alvarez that made the score 31-14.

Johnson wrapped up the scoring for the Pirates with his second touchdown to Blackwood on a 15-yard completion.

Morro Bay sealed the win when Ian Lambright intercepted a Pioneer Valley pass with under a minute to play.

Morro Bay (3-2, 1-0) has a bye next week and travels to Santa Maria on Sept. 30.