Friday Night Highlights Preview, Week 3

Posted: Sep 23, 2011 1:12 AM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Sep 23, 2011 1:12 AM

Three local 11-man football teams enter the fourth week of games undefeated. Technically referred to as "Week 3" of the high school football season, this is the final tune-up for teams before PAC-7 and Los Padres League play kicks off next week.

CABRILLO @ ARROYO GRANDE, 7 pm
At 3-0, Cabrillo is off to its best start in six years and ranked #3 in the Northwest Division of CIF. The Conquistadores have already ended long losing streaks this season to Dos Pueblos and Righetti. Cabrillo is averaging more than 250 rushing yards per game and is led by Isaiah Montes, TJ Babauta and Jeff Aldridge. Dan French already has 5 interceptions. Arroyo Grande enters 2-1 after a 28 point win last week at Templeton and is ranked #3 in the Western Division. Brent VanderVeen threw for 282 yards and 2 touchdowns. Garrett Owens, the Cal-Hi Sports State Athlete of the Week, caught 10 passes for 126 yards and a TD. He also kicked a 57 yard field goal to set a school record and convert the longest field goal by a high school or collegiate athlete this season. AG won last year's meeting 35-14, but Cabrillo is out to complete the sweep of the Eagles by Lompoc city schools. Lompoc High knocked off AG in the season opener 38-28.

DOS PUEBLOS @ LOMPOC, 7PM
The Lompoc Braves enter a perfect 3-0 after their 36-14 win over Santa Barbara last week. Once again, Lompoc has relied on its ground game to start the season. Behind Lavon Coleman (462 yards, 6 TD) and Taylor Cornejo (256 yards, 3 TD), the Braves are averaging 300 rushing yards and 33 points per game. Kicker Jose Morales has already converted 4 field goals for the Braves, who are the top-ranked team in the Northwest Division and the reigning CIF champions. The Chargers enter 0-3. DP won its first league title in almost 30 years last season, but has struggled in the early going. They are coming off a 28-7 loss at Cabrillo and have been outscored 37-91 in 2011. Dos Pueblos has won the last two meetings with the Braves, including a 45-21 victory in 2010.

MORRO BAY @ SAN LUIS OBISPO, 7 PM
Morro Bay football will go for its first win of the year on Friday against the Tigers. The Pirates enter 0-2 and are coming off a 24-15 loss at Fillmore. Dolin Mininni has carried the load for Morro Bay, including a 220 yard, 3 touchdown effort last week. Mininni has scored all 3 Pirate touchdown this year running behind Morro Bay's experienced offensive line. San Luis Obispo is gunning for its third straight win. The Tigers beat Oxnard last week in their home opener 28-7. Coach David Kelley has his triple-option offense firing on all cylinders behind quarterback Garret Giovannelli. The junior threw for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns, as well as rushed for 67 yards in the win. The Tigers gained 320 yards on the ground, 153 of them were by Jacob Flores. Trevor McLeod hauled in 2 touchdown receptions. Jack Ferguson collected 13 tackles and 2 sacks to lead the Tiger defense. The Tigers won last year's meeting with Morro Bay 34-12 and two out of the last three meetings.

PASO ROBLES @ CENTENNIAL, 7:30 PM
Paso Robles continues its tough non-conference schedule in Bakersfield against Centennial. The Bearcats are 1-1 and coming off a 27-7 win over Santa Ynez. Colton Madrigal compiled 184 total yards, 161 came on the ground, in a two TD performance to earn him FNH Player of the Week honors. Elias Stokes threw for 2 touchdowns and 135 yards, and rushed for 55 yards. The Golden Hawks are 1-2 and coming off a 28-22 loss to Clovis. They average 431 yards of offense, 286 through the air and 146 on the ground, Quarterback Joe Bresson has thrown 7 passing TD and has four receivers with 114 yards or more. Alex Zubia has 4 sacks in 3 games. Centennial won last year's meeting 62-28.

SEASIDE @ ATASCADERO, 7:30 PM
Ranked 9th in the Western Division, Atascadero enters 2-1 after a 34-6 win at Independence and returns for its first home game in three weeks. The Greyhounds were led last week by Logan Sprouse, who scored on a 63 yard reception from Robbie Berwick and a 67 yard punt return. Berwick, a sophomore, threw for 158 yards in the victory. Seaside enters 0-2 after falling 38-36 to Soquel. They feature a high-powered offense that averages 213 passing yards and 92 rushing yards per game. Atascadero won last year's meeting 30-13.

MATER DEI @ ST. JOSEPH, 7 PM
St. Joseph will look to bounce back from a 14-10 loss to Palma that evened the Knights' record at 1-1. Quarterback Paul Avila is averaging 212 passing yards per game with Chad Brooks and Zak Karsh as his primary receivers. The Knights, who are ranked 6th this week in the CIF Western Division, are also averaging 215 rushing yards per game led by Scotty Cusack, who has 159 yards on just 7 carries in their season-opening win. Cusack missed most of last week's game against Palma with an injury. His status for this week is unknown. Mater Dei enters 2-1 and is coming off a 38-13 loss to St. Augustine. The Knights crushed the Crusaders last year 48-0.

RIGHETTI @ TEMPLETON, 7 PM
The Eagles and Warriors enter this battle with 2-1 records. Templeton, which is ranked 7th in the Northwest Division, is coming off a 45-17 loss to Arroyo Grande, while Righetti won last Friday 35-21 over Camarillo. Templeton has a strong ground game led by junior Matt Arace, who rushed for 138 yards last week, including a 44 yard touchdown run. He's averaging 102 yards per game. Righetti won behind a strong performance from quarterback Troy Prober. He threw for 163 yards and 4 touchdowns against Camarillo. The Warriors won their first meeting in recent history last year 34-6.

SANTA YNEZ @ CARPINTERIA, 7:30 PM
The game pits two teams ranked in the top six in the CIF Northwest Division. Sixth ranked Santa Ynez is looking to get back on track after its 27-7 loss at Paso Robles. Ryan Welker threw for 96 yards in the loss. The 1-1 Pirates average 162 passing yards and 133 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Ian Craddock and Alex Rodriguez have led fourth ranked Carpinteria to a 2-0 start. Last week, the sophomore Craddock led the Warriors to a 24-13 come from behind win over Nipomo. Craddock threw for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns, rushed for a score and kicked a field goal. Rodriguez rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries and hauled in 5 receptions for 119 yards. Carpinteria won last year's battle 24-14 and has won two out of the last three meetings.

MISSION PREP @ VILLANOVA PREP IN OJAI, 7 PM
Mission Prep will look to rebound from its first loss of the year, a 33-14 loss at Bishop Diego last week. The Royals' offense is led by quarterback Tyler Baty, who's averaged 213 passing yards per game and already thrown 10 touchdowns. Joey Hall has 15 catches for 264 yards and 6 TD catches, while Trevor Fernandez has 17 receptions for 195 yards and 3 scores. Andrew DeRosa has anchored the defense with 33 tackles. The Wildcats are 0-3 and have been outscored 133-41 to start the year, including a 41-14 loss last week to Campbell Hall. Villanova uses two quarterbacks, who have combined to average 191 passing yards per game. Villanova won last year 35-7.