When last seen at Huyck Stadium three weeks ago, the Cabrillo Conquistadores were slipping past Dos Pueblos in a gritty 9-6 defensive struggle.

But Friday night at Huyck, the Conqs used a turbocharged ground game that produced 331 yards rushing 7 including four touchdowns from Vai Taua 7 and a 42-14 runaway victory over Santa Maria.

&#8221As far as execution, this was our best game offensively no question,B said Cabrillo coach Don Cross.

The Conqs scored on four consecutive possessions through the second and third quarters, relying on Taua as well as quarterback C.J. Simmons 7 who picked up critical yardage on option runs.

Taua totalled 120 yards, while Simmons scrambled for 84 yards, but the longest ramble of the evening came from wingback Darnell Womack for 48 yards on the game/s first play.

&#8221Their backs were superior to our guys. Vai and Simmons and No. 22 (Womack), they all did their part,B said Santa Maria coach Shawn Ramirez flatly. &#8221We knew going in they were loaded in the backfield and we prepared for it. We were just outmanned.B

Simmons guided the Conqs/ offense to its highest output of the season.

&#8221I just try to get to the outside. Coach always tells me I/m not just the running guy. I/m supposed to throw the ball, but my bread-and-butter is running right now,B said the 5-9, 170-pound junior. &#8221I/m getting more and more comfortable every week. I enjoy playing quarterback. It/s something different. Every week it/s a new C.J.B

On Cabrillo/s go-ahead touchdown drive, Taua and Simmons traded long runs and then Simmons hit receiver Colby McKissack for 20 yards to put the ball on the Saint two. Taua finished it off the six-play, 66-yard touchdown drive that ate up three minutes of the clock.

Before the teams headed to the lockerrooms, the Conqs expanded their lead to two TD/s when quarterback Brian Gregory took over under center and, with 46 seconds left, lofted a pass 25 yards downfield to a wide open Womack 7 who bolted into the end zone for a stunning 82-yard strike.

&#8221It was a big play,B said Cross. &#8221We caught the safety flat-footed. Darnell has a lot of speed and he ran right by the kid. My offensive coordinator told me he wanted to run that play earlier. Brian just happened to be in there.B

On their opening possession of the second half, the Conqs went 87 yards on 13 plays with Taua scoring from the 15 to give Cabrillo a 35-14 lead.

The Cabrillo defense did not allow the Saints inside the Conq 40 in the second half until only five minutes remained and the final score was in lights.

The play of defensive tackle Josh Sanders against 6-3, 255-pound Rodrigo Villa was a key, said defensive coordinator Mike Regan.

&#8221We suggested a different alignment,B said Regan. &#8221He was getting kicked out by No. 74. So, he took him on a little different in the second half.B

On Santa Maria/s first possession of the second half, the Saints marched from their own 20 out to midfield, but Sanders stopped tailback Angel Espinoza twice in a row for losses to force a punt.

On Santa Maria/s next possession, the same scenario transpired with Sanders and Mario Sandoval sacking Saints/ quarterback Daniel Gauna for a nine-yard loss to deflate the drive.

Earlier, the Saints mounted marches of 79 and 80 yards, but Cabrillo put the clamps on in the second half.

The Saints totalled a respectable 201 yards rushing with Espinoza accounting for 106.

&#8221Santa Maria decided to run right at us and trap us,B said Cross. &#8221We practiced pass rushing all week. Shawn had a nice plan to run right at us. In the second half, we slowed them down a little bit.B

Cabrillo is now 2-0 in league, 5-1 overall, while Santa Maria falls to 0-2, 1-5.

Cabrillo JV 40,

Santa Maria JV 14

The Cabrillo JV team won its first game of the season led by tight end Jacob Ramsey/s two TD receptions from quarterback Ryan McGinty.

Tailback Scotty Robbins accounted for two more scores.

Cabrillo travels to Morro Bay next Friday.

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

October 16, 2005