The San Luis Obispo football team dared St. Joseph quarterback Gavin Kelly to throw the ball. He did.

Kelly was 15-for-19 for 254 yards and three touchdown passes and also ran for two TDs last Friday night in the Knights' 42-22 win over the Tigers.

With the win the Knights improved to 9-1 overall and will open the playoffs at home this Friday.

Because of the success Kelly had in the air after spending most of the season running a ground-oriented offense, he was named the Male Athlete of the Week at the Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Roundtable luncheon held at Giavanni's Pizza on Monday.

Kelly thanked his offensive line, crediting the big linemen for most of the team's success. St. Joseph opens the playoffs at home Friday against Cantwell Sacred Heart of Montebello. The game will be televised on the Internet at www.santamariatimes.com and simulcast on local radio on KRTO 97.1 FM.

St. Joseph tennis player Ane McPike finished her team tennis career at the school with a fantastic playoff week. The Knights won the first two rounds before falling 10-8 to Cajon on Saturday.

McPike was a perfect 9-0 for the week, surrendering just three games in her final six sets during the last two matches.

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For her efforts she was named the Female Athlete of the Week.

McPike, who will begin the CIF individual playoffs this Saturday, thanked her teammates and wished everyone good luck in CIF.

Lompoc and Cabrillo High Schools were not represented at Monday's luncheon.

Righetti

The golf team led off the festivities, because Alexis Rodenberger had to leave early to go to soccer tryouts.

Golf coach Tracy Davis talked about her team, including Rodenberger, who contributed to the team's success playing from the four to the six spot. Davis also introduced her only senior on the team, Amber Lee, one of the three players on the squad to qualify for CIF individuals.

Cross country coach Heather Ortiz presented senior boys Bryan Carpenter and Topher Norling and the number one girls runner Cynthia Vasquez representing both Warriors squad who ran in the CIF.

Ortiz also explained that the girls team ran together as a team as a show of solidarity and to have fun at CIF, “with matching hairdos.”

The football team has peaked at the right time according to coach Gary Wilson. The Warriors are on a three-game winning streak and open the playoffs against Saugus High at the College of the Canyons Friday night.

“The kids are playing well and we are where we want to be,” Wilson said. “We're looking forward to a great game.”

Pioneer Valley

Football coach Greg Dickinson opened his remarks congratulating the other teams who made the CIF playoffs.

“We face each other during the year,” explained Dickinson, “but down the road all we want to do is see each other do well, because it just shows how tough the football is here on the Central Coast.”

The Panthers will host Cathedral on Friday.

St. Joseph

Football coach Mike Hartman first talked about tennis and McPike who was at the luncheon with her sister, freshman Elle.

“It's kind of neat that they get to come together to the luncheon,” Hartman said.

Elle was 10-8 as a singles player and 12-5 in doubles and Ane was 47-1 in LPL play, winning the last three league singles titles.

The football team struggled early against San Luis Obispo on Friday.

“They came out in their double wing and it took us time to adjust,” Hartman explained. “We made adjustments at the half and the defense had a good second half.”

Santa Ynez

Football co-coach Brian Wallace talked about the success of several fall sports teams at Santa Ynez. Pirates teams in volleyball, water polo and tennis all won league titles.

Wallace presented five girls from the first place tennis squad.

Lauren Swift and Emily Ineman were undefeated for two straight seasons and are advancing to the individual playoffs on Saturday. They will be joined by Erica Schroeder and Alisa Silsbee, who took second in league.

Louise Gyllenram ended the season as the number one singles player for the Pirates and finished third in league.

The football team finished the season with a win over Santa Maria.

The luncheon was the last luncheon featuring the fall sports and will take a week off during the Thanksgiving week. When the luncheon resumes on Dec. 1, it will feature the winter sports beginning with girls soccer, girls water polo and boy's and Hancock men's basketball.

November 18, 2008