John McReynolds/Sports Writer | Posted: Thursday, September 22, 2005 12:00 am
At Huyck Stadium Friday night, the second-ranked Cabrillo Conquistadores will face a flipside challenge from their last appearance before the home folks.
When they faced Taft two weeks ago, the Conqs (2-0) faced a mammoth line and a durable running back but not much in the air.
Pacifica, the team Cabrillo defeated last week, presented a more balanced attack, mixing the run with the pass.
In Dos Pueblos, the Conqs will see a team that highlights a passing attack.
The Chargers used two touchdown passes in the final five minutes to salvage a 24-24 tie with San Luis Obispo two weeks ago.
They took last week off.
The final scoring toss went 66 yards from quarterback Conner Rehage to Eddie Mesa, tipped off his hands, and fell into those of Paul Starr.
Starr pulled in four receptions in that game, Meza two as the Chargers totalled three times as many yards passing as rushing.
"DP is the best team we/ve played so far," said Cabrillo head man Don Cross Wednesday.
"They can throw and their defense is pretty salty. They/re only 0-1-1 but Los Alamitos and San Luis Obispo are both quality programs.
"Their quarterback/s got a cannon. He/s throwing deep outs from one side of the field to the other. That/s 40 yards on a rope. Our defensive backs have to understand to stay on their man. It puts a lot of presure on the defensive backfield."
To deal with Rehage and company Cross is juggling his defense.
Linebackers Vai Taua and Steve De St. Jean will line up at defensive ends.
"We/ve got to have a little different look. One guy (in the DP offensive line) is 318 and the others are 240-250. We/ve got to get some speed up there to run around them a little bit."
Caleb Meza will get his first start at middle linebacker and Darnell Womack will open at an outside spot from where he can retreat into pass coverage as needed. Colby McKissack will remain on the other side.
The corners will again be C.J. Simmons and Josh Crispin, the safeties Troy Deleissegues and Eric Evans.
The interior line will continue to feature Josh Sanders at nose guard and Brian Lane and Mario Sandoval alternating at tackle in the 4-3.
On offense, the Conqs will look identical to last week except insofar as several injured players will return. They include lineman Sanders, center Brian Reigle, and backup running back Shawn Andrews.
Simmons will open at quarterback but will be spelled for long stretches by Brian Gregory.
Cross expressed pleasure at the play of both his signal callers.
Gregory completed eight of 11 throws last week at Pacifica.
"Two of his incompletes were deep balls," Cross said. "On all the short and intermediate stuff that he should have completed, he did. He was perfect. And C.J. is getting more and more comfortable running the offense. He/s just a junior remember."
Simmons was a fulltime wide receiver prior to this season.
Game time is 7:30 at Huyck Stadium.
September 22, 2005