Last week, the Righetti High School football team was put to the test against a weaker San Luis Obispo team. And with a major showdown for PAC-7 supremacy looming next week against Arroyo Grande, the Warriors might have been excused for over-looking the Lompoc Braves.

But the Warriors came out strong early, built a big lead and cruised to a 45-3 victory over Lompoc at Huyck Stadium Friday night.

"There are some good teams in this league - the PAC-7 is tough," said Righetti coach Gary Wilson. "Each week if you don't come to play, it will hurt you.

"That's like tonight against Lompoc, they have some good kids and they come to play. And if you let down just a little bit, they'll take advantage of it."

Last week, the Braves scored 35 points against a good Atascadero team, but Friday night Righetti (7-2, 4-0 PAC-7), dominating both sides of the ball, completely shut down the Lompoc offense.

"I think they are an opportunistic team," Lompoc coach Robin Luken said about Righetti. "They take advantage of the things they can do.

"They did some things very well - they had a good game plan against us."

Lompoc (0-9, 0-5 PAC-7) finished the night with seven yards net rushing and 55 yards in the air against a Righetti defense that has allowed a scant 25 points in league play.

The only points for the Braves came in the third quarter on a 45-yard field goal by Juan Morales.

"The defense has been doing it all year," Wilson said. "Coach Prober does a great job preparing the guys."

The Righetti offense has scored 93 points in league and rolled to 466 yards in total offense Friday, 361 on the ground. Michael Hale finished the night with 150 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns.

In relief of starting quarterback T.J. Jordan (5-of-8 passing, 105 yards), Uso Taua ran the ball six times for 122 yards which included a 70-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"Last week, we scored 35 and this week nothing," said Luken. "They came out and got physical with us. I think we surprised Atascadero, then in the second half they came out and got physical with us and built up their big lead.

"Their physicalness of the game we just don't have. Our kids give the best they got, but the other teams in the PAC-7 have just been more physical."

Part of that physical play cost the Braves their heart and soul, Jake Morehart, a huge team leader. Morehart was injured in the third quarter and taken to the hospital.

"He got a concussion and hurt his neck and it was just a precautionary thing," Luken explained. "But when you have a concussion I seriously doubt he'll be able to play in the Big Game next week."

And regardless of team records, the Big Game is still important. Next week, the Braves will take on Cabrillo in the 45th meeting of the two teams in 44 years.

"The seniors realize this is it, you don't get a second chance at this game," Luken said. "That's 44 years of history, now what mark are they going to leave with that history?

"That's what they will be playing for - that's what this game is about."

To win the game, Lompoc will have to go back to the basics, according to their coach.

"If we want to win the game," Luken explained, "we have to take care of the ball and we have to tackle on defense. And we have to be more physical.

"Those are the things we have to do this week if we want to beat the Conqs."

Lompoc freshman 28, Righetti 21 (Thurs.)

After suffering their first loss of the season the week before against Atascadero, the Lompoc High freshman football team bounced back with a big come-from-behind PAC-7 League win Thursday over previously undefeated Righetti.

The Warriors pulled out to a 14-0 lead on the strength of two touchdowns by halfback Taelor Griego and two defensive interceptions by Luke Wilson.

The Braves comeback got rolling with the second half kickoff which Nico Hayes returned for a touchdown. Hayes quickly added two more touchdowns to give the Braves a 21-14 lead.

Righetti answered back with a touchdown pass from Tropy Prober to Wilson.

The Braves' offensive line of Anthony Gonzales, Sam Wellmaker, Martin Cruz, Pepe Morales, Gabe Gutierrez as well as tight end Tyler Ornelas took over the game in the second, creating big holes for Hayes, Taylor Cornejo and Lavon Coleman.

Lompoc closed out the scoring with a quarterback-keeper by Luciano Lopez.

The defense came up with some huge stops, led by Willie Irabarren, Kiki Andrews, Charlz Whitfield, Anthony Gonzales, Joseph Powers and Ralphy Arellano, including stopping a last-minute drive by Righetti to preserve the victory.

The Little Big Games between the Cabrillo and Lompoc freshmen and junior varsity teams, will be played Thursday at Huyck Stadium. The freshman game will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the junior varsity game following approximately 30 minutes after the freshman game is completed.