It/s back to the basics for the Lompoc Braves at Friday night/s football contest against Righetti at Huyck Stadium.

This after enduring their first defeat of the season, 27-7, at the hands of Los Altos in Hacienda Heights, a loss coach Robin Luken attributed to a teamwide breakdown.

"Football is a simple game," observed the coach Wednesday, waxing philosophical.

"It/s all about blocking and tackling. We didn/t do the basic fundamentals. We didn/t tackle and we didn/t block. On blocking it was not just the line, everybody has to block. It wasn/t a certain group. It was everybody."

In Luken/s opinion, the Braves/ two CIF titles in the past three years, and their 35-7 victory in the opener over Paso Robles took a toll.

"They were reading their press clippings. When you/ve been to the top of the mountain you sometimes slack off. They don/t realize they/ve got a target on their backs."

The 15th year coach was not overly upset however, rather taking the longterm view.

"We won two CIF titles after losing to Righetti and Arroyo Grande. Last year we beat them both and where did we end up? Getting our butt kicked in the semifinal."

In response to the Los Altos learning experience, Brave practices this week have been more focused, Luken said.

The Braves will need basic execution against the Warriors.

"We/ve got to stop No. 20 (running back Chad Stephens) and No. 3 (wideout Adam Wilson)," Luken said.

Stephens rushed for 304 yards in Righetti/s opening night loss at Villa Park, and 240 more in a blowout win over Santa Maria. Wilson has hauled in 11 passes for 229 yards in the two games.

In last year/s contest the Braves needed a 15-point turnaround in the final quarter, ignited by a punt return TD by Sam Ruiz, to inch past the Warriors 22-21. The final touchdown and two-point PAT came with only 20 seconds remaining.

The Braves suffered no injuries at Los Altos so the same basic lineup seen at Huyck two weeks ago will take the field.

Luken has made two roster changes however. Junior Bobby Vega (6-0, 180) will open for the first time at right guard, and sophomore Steven Morehart has been promoted from the JV team for backup action at tight end and linebacker.

The remainder of the offensive line will again see Joey Green at right tackle, Eric Talavera at center, junior Isai Bustos at left guard, junior John Downing at left tackle and Frankie Osegueda and Michael Linstead alternating at tight end.

The backfield will have Tim Ochoa at quarterback after his 9-for-20 passing performance for 184 yards at Los Altos, Joe Scott at tailback, Jakob Sims at fullback, Tommy Hayes and Sam Ruiz at wingback and Johnathon Terrones, recipient of a 45-yard TD pass last week, at wideout.

On defense Cody Velasco returns at noseguard, Ruben Garcia and Sims at tackles, and Osegueda and Zach Greco at ends. Linstead and Derrick Luken will be the linebackers with Ruiz and Sean Webb at corners, Hayes at strong safety and Terrones at free safety.

Game time is 7:30. The game will be broadcast on KTME 1410, KUHL 1440 and KSMA 1240.

Cabrillo at Pacifica

Coming off their stirring comeback 24-20 victory over Taft, the Conquistadores will seek their second victory at Pacifica of Oxnard.

They will do it without starting quarterback Sean McGinty. Monday/s medical report disclosed that the senior will be lost for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

"He/s out," coach Don Cross declared flatly on Wednesday.

"C.J. Simmons will start with Brian Gregory spelling him every two series. Brian may see a lot of action."

The coach agreed with the crowd assessment last Friday that Simmons/ scrambling ability added an entirely new dimension to the Conq offense.

"A quarterback has to be a threat running or passing," Cross said. "He/s already a running threat. He can kill you on the option. If he gets outside your contain guy, you/re in trouble. He can take a broken play and score on it."

Simmons, a junior who is new to the position, scrambled for 12 yards, then for 10, in the pivotal fourth quarter last week.

There will be no change in the basic Cabrillo offense however.

"The offense is going to be centered around (tailback) Vai (Taua) whether it/s C.J. or Brian," Cross assured.

The only other lineup change for the Conquistadores will see Jared Allen moving from guard to center to give Brian Reigle a week off to rest a back bruise. Brian Lane will take Allen/s spot. Lane, incidentally, was at the top of his coach/s props list for his performance Friday night.

After seeing the Taft game film, Cross defended his team/s defense which gave up an 80-yard ground drive in the fourth quarter which gave the Wildcats their only lead.

"People asked me what was wrong with the defense," Cross said. "The answer is - nothing. It was just two great teams battling."

In Pacifica, the Conqs will not see size anywhere near that of beefy Taft.

The Triton offense is balanced but its long strike capacity rests with quarterback Ryan Reid and 6-foot-3 receiver Craig Lee.

"The line is not in the Taft category," Cross chuckled.

Cross also had a laugh regarding the CIF Div. X rankings which were reported on Monday.

Cabrillo rocketed from 10th to first based on the Taft victory. "How anybody is ahead of Crespi," is beyond me," said Cross.

Speculation is that voters, made up of sportswriters and coaches, confused Taft from the San Joaquin Valley with the school of the same name in Los Angeles. The latter Taft is a longtime power which appeared on television Thursday night in a battle with Crenshaw.

Game time at Pacifica is early, at 7 p.m.

Directions to Pacifica High are: 101 south to Rose Avenue, north to Gonzales Road, right to the school at 600 East Gonzales Road.

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

September 15, 2005