Quiz: When did the Lompoc Braves last taste defeat in a league football game?

Answer: 2001, when they were still in the old Northern League.

Since then, they have gone 18-0 in the Los Padres League.

Friday night/s contest at Huyck Stadium against Morro Bay will give the locals the chance to tie their all time league winning streak of 19, set in 1975-9 and tied in 1992-6.

No. 18 was a 52-0 blowout of Nipomo.

"What I enjoyed was that the kids rallied to the ball," said coach Robin Luken Wednesday. "There was lots of gang tackling, and our offensive line came through."

Luken singled out wingback/cornerback Sam Ruiz who pulled in a 13-yard reception on a fourth-and-one play to put the Braves at the Nipomo three, then carried over for the touchdown, this after earlier scoring on a 28-yard interception runback.

"He was in his zone. He went over the back of the guy for the interception. Talk about an awesome game," Luken bubbled.

However, The 15-year coach was not totally pleased.

He pointed out penalties as a continuing problem.

The Braves were flagged eight times for 65 yards last week with three of those coming on unsportsmanlike conduct calls.

"You can/t keep making the same mistake every week. This is game No. 6 for us. It/s time to stop making rookie mistakes. This is my first year having a group that does that sort of stuff.

"We/re working on it, I guarantee you that."

Friday/s lineup will once again be without linebacker Zach Greco, the team/s leader in tackles through four games, due to a shoulder injury, so sophomore Steven Morehart will start in his place.

Luken is very high on the youngster, even comparing him to some past Lompoc greats who played strong side linebacker.

"The sophomore did OK. He/s going to be a good one. He has a chance to fit into the mold like Jason Way, Nate Mendoza, Ricky Aguilar and Luke Overman," Luken said.

Center Eric Talavera will also miss another game with an ankle sprain so Cody Velasco will snap with Isai Bustos and Bobby Vega at guards, John Downing and Ruben Garcia at tackles.

Morro Bay, 3-1, with a 13-6 victory over St. Joseph in its LPL opener last week, is "a team that wants to run downhill," Luken said.

"They/re big up front. Their quarterback (Jake Crizer) is who you have to stop. He likes to pull the ball down and run it. He accounts for 80% of the offense." Crizer rushed for 162 yards against St. Joseph.

Luken estimated the Pirates will pass on only 20% of their plays.

"I think we match up well," he said. " I think we/re a faster team speedwise."

Brave statistics are startling.

Receiver Johnathon Terrones has hauled in 10 passes for 391 yards (39 yards per catch) and four touchdowns.

Among rushing leaders, Joseph Scott has amassed 392 yards on 49 carries for an 8 yards-per-carry average. Ruiz/ average is 7.4 on 18 carries and fullback Jakob Sims has a 6.5 average on 24 carries.

Quarterback Tim Ochoa has connected on 30 of 50 passes (60%) for 654 yards and six TD/s. He/s been intercepted three times.

Game time is 7:30.

Cabrillo at Atascadero

The No. 1-ranked Conquistadores (4-0) take a holiday from the LPL for a non-league battle at Atascadero.

But the team has a reason to take it seriously.

"They knocked us off last year when we were 4-0 so the kids are fired up," coach Don Cross said Wednesday.

"And we want to beat a Pac-5 team. We/ve beaten two Div. IV teams (Dos Pueblos and Pacifica).

"Plus they/re off to a fine start. They/re 3-1.

"They bring a strong running game. It looks like they/ve adopted their old approach, letting their linemen block one-on-one. Their run/pass ratio is about like ours," 780% running.

The one question Cross voiced regarding the Greyhounds was whether or not workhorse running back Neil Tidwell would play. "He gets the ball most of the time. He ran for 300 yards against St. Joseph but he didn/t play last week."

Ricky Taylor, Tidwell/s replacement, is no slouch. He rushed for 173 yards against Santa Maria two weeks ago.

The Greyhounds defeated Seaside 13-10 last Friday.

Cross said his defense, shuffled for the pass-happy Dos Pueblos Chargers two weeks ago, will remain in place.

"That/s the way we played Santa Ynez and they/re an I-back team," he pointed out. It worked out well as the Conqs gave up just one touchdown and only 62 yards rushing in their 33-8 triumph.

That lineup will keep Caleb Meza, Darnell Womack and Colby McKissack at linebackers with Vai Taua and Josh Blair at ends, Josh Sanders and Mario Sandoval alternating in the middle, and team tackle leader Steve De St. Jean lining up in varying spots depending upon the offensive set.

Cross pointed out the improvement in Conq line play between the DP contest and the Santa Ynez game.

"The sophomores on the offensive line got a wakeup call vs. DP. They got confused a little. Santa Ynez tried the same things but the kids had progressed. That/s what got us the running lanes early." Cabrillo got off to a quick 13-0 lead over the Pirates on runs by Taua.

Cross reported no injuries from the SY game but will hold out guard Brian Lane for a second week.

Conq stats show Taua with 543 yards on 81 carries for a 6.7 yard average, and De St. Jean with a 6.4 average on 23 carries.

Kicker Casey Belluz has 10 extra points plus three field goals including one from 45 yards out.

Game time is 7:30. The contest will be broadcast on KXTY 99.7 FM.

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

October 6, 2005