The Cabrillo Conquistadores will come out blazing Friday night at Huyck Stadium as they host the Santa Maria Saints.

Here/s why.

7 For the first time this season they are coming off a defeat after their 43-35 loss at Atascadero.

7 They are no longer ranked No. 1 in CIF/s Div. X poll, they are No. 2 behind Lompoc.

7 It/s Homecoming weekend and who wants to take a girl to the Big Dance after a loss?

The Conqs (1-0 in the Los Padres League, 4-1 overall) came from behind in dramatic fashion against the Greyhounds only to fall short.

But according to coach Don Cross, they put themselves behind at the start.

&#8221In the first half, the tackling on our squad was not very good,B Cross said Wednesday. &#8221We addressed that at halftime. If we/d done a better job of that, we wouldn/t have been in the hole we were in.

&#8221We did a better job in the second half. Their scores were on big plays. They couldn/t march on us.B

This week, in the Saints, the Conqs face a league opponent, albeit one that brings a lackluster 1-4 record. The Saints fell to Santa Ynez last week 35-26.

&#8221They/re a completely different squad from past years,B Cross said. &#8221They run the shotgun, the veer option.

&#8221They put together some nice drives against Santa Ynez which showed me signs of improvement.B

Quarterback Daniel Gauna is the point man of the attack both running and throwing.

The Saints/ Gabriel Rodriguez gained 207 yards against the Pirates last week and Gauna ran for 97. Ben Smith is also available this week after recovering from injury.

Cabrillo/s injury list shrank since last week.

Defensive end Brian Lane will be back after losing two weeks to a broken hand and two-way lineman Kyle Bearden, expected lost for the season back on Labor Day, will re-enter the lineup on both sides of the ball.

On the downside, there is Steve De St. Jean/s stomach. The big fullback/nose guard 7 Cabrillo/s most powerful tackler 7 will not play Friday due to soreness, perhaps a torn muscle, in his midsection.

Instead of the hulking 210-pound De St. Jean at fullback, Cross will use the 165-pound, but faster, Shawn Andrews, with Greg Watson, called up from the JV team, backing him up.

Either will of course be responsible for blocking for workhorse ground gainer Vai Taua.

&#8221We/ll still be a loaded weapon,B Cross said. &#8221You still have to tackle Vai.B Taua ran for 117 yards and three TD/s last week.

Without De St. Jean on defense, Josh Sanders, Mario Sandoval, and Bearden will take most of the inside line responsibilities with Lane, Josh Blair and Vai Taua at the ends, but any of them could be shuffled on a given play.

&#8221We/ll have seven or eight guys in there,B Cross said.

The coach also corrected the impression that quarterback C.J. Simmons is his &#8221running quarterbackB and Brian Gregory the &#8221passing quarterback,B a characterization he heard on the field at Atascadero.

&#8221I call the same plays when C.J. is in as when Brian is in,B said the coach. &#8221And I haven/t seen a defensive change.B

Lompoc at Santa Ynez

After their second consecutive shutout demolition, this one 41-0 over Morro Bay, the Braves (2-0, 4-2) have scored 93 points in Los Padres League play and have given up none.

They jumped from fourth to first in the CIF poll.

&#8221I didn/t have to look at much film,B said coach Robin Luken Wednesday. &#8221We were putting 6-8 helmets on the ball which is what we like to do. And the offensive line is getting better. They/re coming along.B

And they all will be present on Friday.

The man at the middle of the offensive line, center Cody Velasco, was carried off the field at the Morro Bay contest with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury, but Luken announced Velasco would start on Friday. &#8221He/s a tough, ornery critter,B Luken said. &#8221He/ll be ready to go.B

Also back from the disabled list is linebacker Zach Greco whose presence will push sophomore Steven Morehart into a reserve role.

On paper, the Santa Ynez contest would appear to be a blowout in the making, but Luken was not buying that.

&#8221How many times have you seen an 0-5 team upset a 5-0 team,B Luken asked. &#8221You/ve got to play the game.

&#8221We can/t screw up like we did against Arroyo Grande. We can/t make mistakes and come out lethargic. We/ve already shown we can play in that mode. We can/t have a repeat performance.B

Lompoc has been socked hard in both previous away contests, losing at Los Altos 27-7 and at Arroyo Grande 39-6.

Santa Ynez comes off its first victory of the year, over Santa Maria, in which quarterback Billy Peters passed for a school record 301 yards.

&#8221I like the way things are setting up,B Luken said, allowing himself to look ahead for a second.

&#8221Tell me the last time No. 1 and No. 2 (in the CIF poll) have played.B

Lompoc and Cabrillo meet in the regular season finale 7 the annual Big Game on Nov. 11.

For them to maintain their rankings, however, victory every Friday night is critical.

Lompoc draws a bye next week, then faces St. Joseph and Santa Maria.

Friday night/s game will be broadcast on 96.5 FM and with an audio only airing on Comcast Channel 23.

Sports writer John McReynolds can be reached at 736-2313, Ext. 106, or jmcreynolds@lompocrecord.com

October 13, 2005