SWARM!!!
Pacifica Tritons (2-3)
at
Rio Mesa Spartans (4-1)
After a solid 4-1 non-league season, the Spartans opened up the 2011 Pacific View League campaign against a very dangerous Pacifica Triton squad. Again, on paper, the Spartans were favored but after watching the Triton game films you had to worry.
Pacifica's outstanding RB #1 Dennis Taylor
Taylor is the leader of a potent Pacifica offense that came into the contest averaging a whopping 40.6 points per game despite their 2-3 record. Taylor entered the game with 740 yards rushing, an 8.8 yards per carry average, with 11 TDs.
The Triton offense is balanced as well with QB Nick Davis having completed 58% of his passes good for 886 yards and 10 TDs.
The good news for us was that the Pacifica defense was giving up 40.6 points per game.
An Italian Football League game worthy of Catania vs. Parma was about to break out.
Enough pre-game hype, it was time to stand up for the...
KICKOFF!!!
Tim Dominguez booting the ball with Mitchell Haerterich covering. Tim had another great game kicking the ball, placing Pacifica in poor field position and scoring 9 points by virtue of a perfect 6 for 6 PAT night and a 28 yard Field Goal.
Mitchell would have a key interception in the 1st quarter that he returned 64 yards to the 11 yard line to set up our second TD of the game. Mitch, an outside LB, was in on 16 tackles on the night.
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES!!!
The Spartans opening drive was a good one, culminating with 14 yard TD pass from Trent Thornton to #14 Davonte Nunnery celebrating here with Tanner Wrout. The Spartans led 7-0. Davonte was also a part of 16 tackles from his Free Safety position.
Solid First Half Defense
The Spartan derfense did a good job in the opening 24 minutes containing Taylor on the ground. Pacifica's QB Nick Davis was very effective though as the Spartans appeared to be in control at the half leading 30-14.
The Rio Mesa offense has been struggling most of the season but on this night scored on all five of our first half possesions with 4 TDs and a Field Goal.
During the extended 20 minute halftime to honor the 40 year reunion of the 1971 Rio Mesa football team that won the C.I.F. "A" Championship, the team was reminded not to relax, that Pacifica's offensive weapons could get them back into the game quickly if we were not focused.
Those would be prophetic words.
Welcoming Home the Tradition Makers
"Celebrate Good Times"
1971 C.I.F. "A" Champions
1971 Frontier League Co-Champions
10-2-0
Jordan Nunnery on the loose!!!
Jordan battled the flu all week but had a great night that included a 78 yard TD run and a 78 yard TD Kickoff Return, both in the second half. For the evening, Jordan had only four carries for 99 yards.
The Trenches
While we controlled this area in the first half, the Tritons would dominate it in the second stanza. In a very frustrating turn of events, we only had 12 offensive plays in the second half!
On a positive note, we did rush the ball 25 times for 294 yards.
Entering the 4th quarter, the Spartans still appeared to be in control, leading 37-21.
Martel Tyler
Martel ran the ball well, as he had to take on a bigger share of the offensive load due to Jordan Nunnery's flu issues. Martel had ten carries for 84 yards. He would participate in 12 tackles and also make a key interception on the Tritons' last possesion to seal the win.
Pacifica's QB Nick Davis
He was outstanding in leading the Tritons furious 4th quarter comeback attempt as Pacifica would score 21 points in the final 12 minutes!
Davis would complete 12 of his 21 pass attempts for 169 yards and 2 TDs and ran the ball effectively for another 65 yards.
Add in RB Dennis Taylor's 186 yards rushing and 3 TDs and we had the makings of a long evening.
"Easily intimidated by a forearm to the throat"
Me too.
That is Spartan center Orion Awa-DuBose bringing the hammer.
Tanner Wrout
On offense, Tanner rushed eight times for 119 yards and three first half TDs of 41, 30 and 1 yard. His biggest play though was on defense when he blitzed on a Pacifica two-point conversion attempt to try to tie the game at 44-44 with 4:12 left in the 4th quarter. He tackled the Triton ball carrier for a two yard loss as the Spartans hung on to an ever so slim 44-42 lead with way too much time left in the game.
The Rio Mesa "Hands" kickoff return team did their job and recovered Pacifica's onside kick at midfield.
All that was needed now was two first downs and the game would be ours.
Three and out.
Could we finally stop them?
#6 Darion Zimmerman for SIX!!!
Yes! CB Darion Zimmerman intercepted a pass and ran it back 24 yards for the insurance TD and the final points of the game, Rio Mesa 51 - Pacifica 42.
The Tritons had time for one more drive but as I said earlier, Martel Tyler intercepted a desperation Pacifica pass and returned it 69 yards before running out of gas thus insuring the victory at last!
For the night, the Spartan defense had three interceptions that were returned for a total of 157 yards and a TD -- a mini-offense in itself!
Our #1 goal had been achieved, 1-0 in the Pacific View League and 5-1 on the season.
For more on the game, go to the Ventura County Star's game report at:
Week #6 Results: BOLD = RM Opponents
Pacific View League Games:
Rio Mesa 51 - Pacifica 42
Oxnard 42 - Hueneme 20
Camarillo 36 - Channel Islands 29
Channel League Games:
Ventura 13 - Dos Pueblos 6
Buena 49 - San Marcos 21
BYE: Santa Barbara
Week #7 Games: BOLD = RM Opponents
Pacific View League Games:
Oxnard (1-0 PVL, 3-3 overall) at Rio Mesa (1-0, 5-1)
Camarillo (1-0, 3-3) at Hueneme (0-1, 1-5)
Channel Islands (0-1, 4-2) at Pacifica (0-1, 2-4)
Channel League Games:
Santa Barbara (0-0 CL, 3-3 overall) at San Marcos (0-1, 1-6)
Buena (1-0, 2-5) at Ventura (1-0, 7-0)
BYE: Dos Pueblos (0-1, 0-7)
Pacific View League Standings
Camarillo 1-0 PVL, 3-3 overall
Oxnard 1-0, 3-3
Rio Mesa 1-0, 5-1
Channel Islands 0-1, 4-2
Hueneme 0-1, 1-5
Pacifica 0-1, 2-4
Reading,
It's FUNdamental!!!
This week's read was Jo Nesbø's best to date in my opinion. It was the fourth of the nine Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo Crime Squad novels that I have read and the fifth Nesbø novel overall.
OUTSTANDING!!!
If you like mystery novel's, this Norwegian writer is for you!
2 comments:
So Rio Mesa is now playing in the IFL?
RMHS has applied for IFL II status for our first year.
Serie A is our goal, hopefully in 2013.
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