At Huyck Stadium, the land of the run-oriented Delaware wing-T, a surprising offensive weapon catapulted the Lompoc Braves to a one-sided 35-3 victory over Righetti Friday night

That weapon was the forward pass.

Junior quarterback Tim Ochoa had his biggest varsity game 7 completing nine of 12 pass attempts for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Ochoa added 64 yards on the ground.

"They were playing with eight men in the box so you/ve got to throw the ball," said Lompoc offensive coordinator Roger Pacheco. "We took what they gave us. We don/t like to throw, but you/ve got to do what you/ve got to do. And Timmy/s getting better every week."

Ochoa/s passing prowess was reminiscent of the strongarm days of former quarterbacks Bryan Vargas and Jarrod DeGeorgia throughout the /90s.

In the second half, Ochoa did most of his damage 7 connecting on six of seven pass attempts for 158 yards and three touchdowns.

But his breakout performance began earlier.

Late in the second quarter with the game still scoreless, Ochoa found Joseph Scott at the Righetti 20 on the left sideline. The tailback did the rest, juking two defenders and then turning on his speed to score.

That trend continued into Lompoc/s first possession of the third quarter when Ochoa threw into the end zone from the Righetti 26 in the direction of receiver John Terrones.

"I saw John in the back of the end zone," said Ochoa, whose pass was short but effective as Terrones, a returning All-Leaguer, circled back and outmuscled Warriors/ defensive backs Chad Stephens and Cody Denham for the TD grab to give Lompoc a 14-3 lead.

"Number Seven (Terrones) can really make you look good," said Braves coach Robin Luken. "Against double coverage, he went right between them because he was bigger and stronger and got it."

Three minutes later, Scott found a hole over the middle and outran the secondary to score from 48 yards out.

"The big difference was our line," Ochoa said. "They stepped it up."

Ochoa stepped it up as well, hitting Terrones again for a 77-yard gain and Lukas Carpio for six in the fourth quarter.

"The guys up front controlled it," said Luken. "Both of them, offense and defense."

The swarming Lompoc defense limited Stephens, the Warriors/ workhorse, to less than100 yards for the first time this season. Stephens, who had amassed 550 yards over his previous two games, ran for 94 yards on 29 carries.

"You plug up the lanes," said Lompoc linebacker Mike Linstead of containing Stephens. "You don/t let him cut back."

Stephens/ longest gain went for nine yards and that came in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors/ lone score late in the second quarter was set up by linebacker Adam Wilson interception. On the play, Ochoa was under intense pressure from Righetti linebacker Kyle Leon and rushed a throw. Wilson picked it off and returned it 20 yards into Lompoc territory.

Following a Braves/ penalty to move the ball even closer to the goal line, Stephens was stopped for no gain. Then two Trevor Elswick pass attempts fell incomplete, forcing Righetti to settle for Martin Luque/s 21-yard field goal.

"It was all the defense," said Lompoc cornerback Sean Webb who broke up three pass plays and made an interception.

Webb also limited Wilson, Righetti/s top receiver, to two catches for 40 yards.

"Coach Luken let me take tape home of Wilson," said Webb. "I studied his little moves, but I have to give it up to (assistant) coach (Rollie) Garife and (safety) Tommy Hayes."

The Righetti offense threatened to score earlier, going on a 10-play, 77-yard drive highlighted by a 32-yard pass from Elswick to Wilson to put the ball on the Lompoc 7.

But the Braves/ defensive unit 7 which limited the Warriors to 42 yards in the air 7 stuffed three runs by Stephens and then stopped Elswick/s quarterback sneak on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

In the second half, the Lompoc /D/ really got stingy 7 not allowing the Warriors a first down on three of five possessions. Meanwhile, Lompoc scored on four of five.

"Who would have thought. I was hoping 21-17," said Luken. "Both lines played much better than last week, but there/s still room for improvement."

"I/d give them a /B,/" said Luken of his team/s all-around performance. "If you want an /A/, you play December 9."

Cabrillo 21, Pacifica 20

OXNARD 7 Quarterback Brian Gregory threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Troy Deleisseguis with 23 seconds left, then Casey Belluz kicked the extra point to cap a rally that helped the Conquistadores boost their record to 2-0-0.

Pacifica is 0-3-0.

The Conquistadores trailed 20-7 and Pacifica was driving when defensive end Steve De St. Jean recovered a Tritons fumble on the Cabrillo 35.

Vai Taua eventually scored from six yards out, and then the Conquistadores had their late-game heroics. Fullback De St. Jean scored Cabrillo/s first touchdown on a 5-yard run.

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

September 18, 2005