Oxnard at Rio Mesa Game

Oxnard Yellowjackets (1-0 PVL, 3-3)

at

Rio Mesa Spartans (1-0 PVL, 5-1)

Friday night's game promised to be a key match-up in the very competitive Pacific View League. If you are a fan of high school football, you got your money's worth.

One of three rushing TDs by

Jordan Nunnery

Jordan had another outstanding game for the Spartans. He rushed 19 times for 103 yards and 3 TDs. On defense, he was in on 4 tackles, broke up 2 passes and blocked a crucial Oxnard field goal attempt at the end of regulation.

Jordan would score the first points of the game as the first quarter came to a close with the Spartans leading 6-0.

TD Catch by Davonte Nunnery

He had 2 catches on the night, good for 19 yards including this 10 yard TD catch from Trent Thornton.

At the half, it was Oxnard 14 - Rio Mesa 12.

Christian McNair for Two Points

Nice body position. At this point his catch gave the Spartans the lead at 20-14.

SWARM!!!

We needed this, but with better discipline against the option and naked bootleg.

Our basic concept vs. option teams is simple really. If you are going to run the option then you must have a good running threat at QB. If you don't have that quality in your QB then don't run the option.

Thus, we must account for the QB on every snap. We worked hard on this all week, but come Friday night our boys did not even come close to attaining this most necessary team goal.

We were not disciplined.

It cost us dearly.

After three quarters, the Spartans were in the lead 27-20.

Davonte Nunnery, Free Safety

Davonte had another solid night at Free Safety where for the second straight game he was in on 16 tackles.

This was very good for Davonte but a very bad sign for our defense.

At the end of four periods, the score was tied 27-27.

Overtime.

Oxnard QB Oscar Sandoval

The Difference Maker

We use the NCAA overtime system in high school. The ball is placed on the 25 yard line with teams having equal, alternating possessions until you have a winner.

We had the ball first and had to settle for a Tim Dominguez 30 yard field goal to take a 30-27 lead.

Now it was the Yellowjackets' turn.

The key play was a 3rd and 6 play from the 10 yard line. During an Oxnard timeout, I was intently listening on my headset from the pressbox as our Defensive Coordinator on the field stressed continually to the defense that the QB would be the one making the play. He exhorted our players to be disciplined and take care of their responsibilities.

Not a chance.

Iso to our left, QB naked boot to our right. All of our players on the right side bit on the Iso.

Thier QB was finally tackled on the 1 yard line and they scored the winning TD on the next play.

The final score was Oxnard 33 - Rio Mesa 30.

Frustrating.

For more on the game, click on this link to the Ventura County Star's article:

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/22/bootleg-boosts-oxnard-to-ot-win-over-rio-mesa/?vcspreps=1

Week #7 Results: BOLD = RM Opponents

Pacific View League Games:

Oxnard 33 - Rio Mesa 30 O.T.

Channel Islands 42 - Pacifica 35 O.T.

Camarillo 58 - Hueneme 14

Channel League Games:

Ventura 20 - Buena 6

Santa Barbara 35 - San Marcos 21

BYE: Dos Pueblos

Week #8 Games: BOLD - RM Opponents

Pacific View League Games:

Hueneme (0-2 PVL, 2-5 overall) at Rio Mesa (1-1, 5-2)

Oxnard (2-0, 4-3) at Channel Islands (1-1, 5-2)

Camarillo (2-0, 4-3) at Pacifica (0-2, 2-5)

Channel League Games:

Santa Barbara (1-0 CL, 4-3 overall) at Ventura (2-0, 8-0)

Dos Pueblos (0-1, 0-7) at Buena (1-1, 2-6)

BYE: San Marcos (0-2, 1-7)

Pacific View League Standings

Camarillo 2-0 PVL, 4-3 overall

Oxnard 2-0, 4-3

Channel Islands 1-1, 5-2

Rio Mesa 1-1, 5-2

Hueneme 0-2, 2-5

Pacifica 0-2, 2-5

Reading is FUNdamental

After reading a series of dark, depressing Scandinavian noir mysteries in recent weeks, I opted for The Amber Room, a mystery/adventure novel given to me by our son Andy on our last visit to Las Vegas.

I found it to be a fun, bright read as it mixed the Nazis, Stalinist Russia, priceless stolen art treasures, World War II and the murders of the two protagonists' parents, along with dozens of innocent commericial airline's passengers and another 15 to 20 "bad guys" to boot.

The Scandinavian mysteries are really dark afterall.

Tanner Wrout, Media Darling

#11 Tanner Wrout

6'0" - 205 lbs.

OR

183 cm. - 93.2 kg

(just in case any EuroBall teams are interested)

Tanner Wrout, the Rio Mesa Spartan's outstanding Fullback and Middle Linebacker who appears to be heading to an Ivy League school next Fall, had a nice article written about him in the Ventura County Star today.

Click on this link to see today's write-up: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/16/prep-notebook/

Big game this Friday as the Spartans (1-0 Pacific View League, 5-1 overall) host the hard charging Oxnard Yellowjackets (1-0 PVL, 3-3). The 'Jackets have won three of their last four games.

Oxnard has won the last four meetings between the two teams, a rivalry that started in 1969. This will be the 34th time the two schools have played each other in a Varsity football game.

Oxnard Loves to Run the Ball!!!

Here against Ventura, Oxnard QB #12 Oscar Sandoval (321 yards rushing, 6.4 ave., 4 TDs) is seen handing the ball off to the Yellowjackets' RB #14 Grant Weiss (798 yards rushing, 7.5 ave., 10 TDs).

Another tough, physical game for the Spartans this week to say the very least!!!

Pacifica at Rio Mesa Game

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:

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/15/stopping-point-defensive-play-secures-spartans/?vcspreps=1

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!

"The Way" a Movie by Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen

On Friday, October 7th the 2010 movie The Way was finally released in the United States. On Saturday, Laurie and I were joined by Brian and Koreen FitzGerald for the one hour drive down to Burbank to view it in one of only three theaters in Southern California showing the film on its opening weekend.

The plot centers around Martin Sheen's character Tom, an opthamologist from Ventura, California, who comes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect the remains of his adult son Daniel, played by director Emilio Estevez, killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James.

Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son's desire to finish the journey.

What Tom doesn't plan on is the profound impact the journey will have on him and his way of viewing the world around him

Though ill prepared for the 500 mile trek, Tom soon discovers that he will not be alone on this journey. On "The Way," Tom meets other pilgrims, each with their own issues and looking for greater meaning in their lives: a Dutchman trying to lose weight, a Canadian woman purportedly trying to quit smoking but really trying to shake lose from her life's demons and an Irish writer who is suffering from a bout of writer's block.

From the unexpected and, oftentimes, amusing experiences along "The Way," this unlikely quartet of misfits creates an everlasting bond -- a Camino Family if you will.

By the end of the film, Tom learns what it means to be a citizen of the world again as the Camino helps Tom to bring closure to his unresolved relationship with his son Daniel. Tom discovers the difference between "the life we live and the life we choose."

As most of you know who follow this blog, our friends Jason and Christie Johnson walked a large part this Camino de Santiago in 2009. I walked the entire French Route seen in the movie in 2010 and, as I write, Matthew Epperson is in Burgos, Spain about 165 miles into his 500 mile Camino this Fall.

The Camino was a life changing experience for me and the memories of the shared joy, sorrows and dynamics of our Camino Family (Hans from The Netherlands, Trine from Denmark, Julie from Canada, Michelle from Germany and the San Diego girls Jillian, Jamie and Ruth) are with me daily.

The movie for me was tough to judge because although it tried to capture the spirit of the Camino, it could not do it for me in only 1 hour and 55 minutes. I must admit getting emotional during the opening credits and marveling again at the incredible scenery that Northern Spain provides on the Camino. Still, it was hard for me to distill a 33 day trek into 2 hours.

All in all though, I was glad that a movie about the experinces that all peregrinos share, regardless of when you strolled the Camino, was brought to the screen.

If you get the chance, see it. You'll feel good in the end -- promise.

Rio Mesa at Buena Game

SWARM!!!

Rio Mesa Spartans (3-1)

at

Buena Bulldogs (1-4)

Tanner Wrout Straight Arm

Friday night saw the Spartans travel to Ventura for the final non-league contest for both squads.

On paper, it looked like Rio Mesa would have an easy time of it but if you looked a little deeper it quickly turned into a tough match-up for the Spartans.

The Bulldogs four losses were by only 10, 7, 5 and 2 points.

In their last three games, Buena had scored 110 points, an average of 36.7 points per game in this recent stretch.

Since our main problem to date has been scoring points (only 46 points in the last three games), it had all the earmarks of a trap game for the Spartans.

Our goal for the week was to finally get our running game untracked.

We did.

TB Jordan Nunnery's 81 yard TD Scamper

Thanks to a much improved effort by the Offensive Line, Jordan enjoyed a great night. He rushed 20 times for 191 yards and 2 TDs. He also had an 84 yard Kickoff Return to set up a 5 yard TD run by his back-up, Martel Tyler.

FB Tanner Wrout

Bulling His Way as Usual

Another splendid night for Tanner as a runner, blocker and linebacker.

He toted the pigskin 14 times for 143 yards and a TD.

PRESSURE!

Here, LB #11 Tanner Wrout and DE #8 Christian McNair apply great pressure to Buena QB Kendrick Mathis. Mathis had a very good night both running and throwing the ball as he led the way for the Bulldogs with 161 yards of Total Offense.

Kendrick Mathis Stretching for the Pylon

Despite the efforts of Tanner Wrout and #50 LB Nathan Garay he reached the end zone to make the score 21-13 in favor of Rio Mesa at the half.

Second Half Defensive Dominance

We made a few solid adjustments during halftime and were able to put the clamps on the Bulldog offense holding them scoreless over the final 24 minutes while intercepting two passes.

We added another 4th quarter insurance TD to win our fourth game of the campaign by a final score of 28-13.

As I said earlier, we ran the ball very well tonight and simply wore down both the Bulldogs and the clock. For the night, Rio Mesa had 49 rushes for 380 yards, a 7.76 yards per carry average and 4 TDs.

Now 4-1 on the season, we open the defense of our share of the Pacific View League crown at home against the Pacifica Tritons who enter league play with a record of 2-3.

The Buena Bulldogs (1-5) open their 2011 Channel League schedule with a home game against the San Marcos Royal (1-5).

For more on the game, go to the Ventura County Star at this link:

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/07/spartans-use-their-fleet-feet/

Week #5 Results: BOLD = RM Opponents

Rio Mesa 28 - Buena 13

Nordhoff 42 - San Marcos 6

Ventura 42 - Oxnard 7

Santa Barbara 31 - Pacifica 21

Canyon 42 - Dos Pueblos 0

Channel Islands 50 - Santa Paula 14

Camarillo 49 - Oak Park 15

BYE: Hueneme

Week #6 Games: BOLD = RM Opponents

Pacific View League Games:

Pacifica (2-3) at Rio Mesa (4-1)

Hueneme (1-4) at Oxnard (2-3)

Channel Islands (4-1) at Camarillo (2-3)

Channel League Games:

San Marcos (1-5) at Buena (1-5)

Ventura (6-0) at Dos Pueblos (0-6)

BYE: Santa Barbara (3-3)

Pacific View League Standings

Channel Islands 0-0 PVL, 4-1 overall

Rio Mesa 0-0, 4-1

Camarillo 0-0, 2-3

Oxnard 0-0, 2-3

Pacifica 0-0, 2-3

Hueneme 0-0, 1-4

KEEP ON READING

Book of the Week

Another great read by the Norwegian master of the crime noir genre! What makes these Scandinavian writers all so good and oh so dark?

Amadita Ruiz de Villa

Dr. Amada Ruiz de Villa

1947-2011

My cousin "Amadita" passed away yesterday after a thankfully short battle with throat cancer. She had her 64th birthday last Saturday.

As a boy, when our family would vacation in Cuba, I always looked forward to getting into mischief with her in San Antonio de los Baños where her family lived. Those are some of my best childhood memories.

Last night, to kickoff Cancer Awareness Month, many of the players for both Buena and Rio Mesa donned pink gloves, sox, wristbands, etc., to honor those who have fought with this terrible disease.

As I saw these flashes of pink, it brought me into a quiet, pensive mood as I relived those hot, humid days in a small town outside of Havana.

Miss you cousin.

#3 Alabama at #12 Florida Game

#3 Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0)

at

#12 Florida Gators (4-0)

Mascots Ready for Action

A few weeks ago I got a call from my old University of Washington friend about making the trip to Gainesville, Florida for this titanic battle.

Now while this was an awesome proposition, it was not an unusual one for Mark.

Over the years, similar calls from Mark have led us to, among other events, the 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star game in Seattle, a Washington game at Notre Dame, an LSU game at Alabama, five BCS National Championship games (1999, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010), 2006's Super Bowl XL in Detroit and countless Rose Bowl games.

If you love sports, a friendship like Mark's is a very fortuitous thing to say the least!!!

I, of course, said "YES!!!"

After our Dos Pueblos game was finished Friday night, it took me less than an hour to get to the Los Angeles Airport for my 11:45 p.m. red-eye flight to Tampa, Florida. I did not get a lot of sleep on the Delta flight that got me to the Sunshine State at 7:20 a.m. Saturday.

Mark, who was already in Tampa conducting some business negotiations, picked me up right on time and whisked me back to the Sheraton for a much needed shower and a change of clothes.

Once cleaned up, we were off for the two hour drive North to Gainesville, the home of the University of Florida.

The University of Tampa

It was just a few blocks from the Sheraton and Mark had already checked out the University's unique architecture the day before. Interesting indeed, this building was once a high end hotel until UT took it over in the 1930s.

Mark holding Jude

Once we got to Gainesville at about 11:00 a.m., our first stop was the home of John, Morgan and Jude Regas. John is the Account Executive for Gator IMG Sports Marketing and Mark's connection in the UF Athletic Department.

Nice young family.

It was time for food and the pre-game festivities before the 8:00 p.m. kickoff.

Gator Pride was EVERYWHERE!

The Scene of the Evening's Contest

Lunch with Tim Tebow

The highly recommended place to eat our lunch was the Ballyhoo Grill. In a stroke of Gator Luck, we ran into Tim Tebow there. He was very quiet, almost stiff, but just as nice as you would think.

Say, didn't he have a Denver Broncos game Sunday at Green Bay to play?

Deep Fried Gator Meat

You can deep fry anything, dip it in BBQ sauce and you have an award winning appetizer!

Much better than a spleen sandwich in Palermo!!!!!

After lunch we parked the car in a young man's front yard for $30. It sounded a bit high until he informed us that the price included free beer until game time which was still a good five+ hours away.

Statues of the Holy Trinity

If football is indeed a religion in the South, then this is part of the UF Pantheon.

These are statues depicting Florida's three Heisman Trophy winners, from left to right, Tim Tebow in 2007, Steve Spurrier in 1966 and Danny Wuerffel in 2006.

That's why they call it GATORade

Mark on the left with John Regas on the right

That is John's assistant Justin between them. John had a little free time to take us on a small tour of the UF facilities.

Home of the 2006 & 2007

NCAA Basketball Champions

The Gator's Baseball Stadium

Gator Pride in the lobby of . . .

The Football Hall of Honor

The Holy of Holys for Gator Nation, it was closed on game day.

Unless you know someone.

The Gator Trinity's Heisman Trophies were on even display.

1966 Steve Spurrier

1996 Danny Wuerffel

2007 Tim Tebow

Nice Gator

This Gator Statue is located at the front entrance to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the end of Gator Walk.

TRADITION

Gator Walk

At exactly 5:45 p.m., the entire Gator team and coaches unloaded from a bus at the far end of the Gator Walk to pass through a gauntlet of truly adoring fans, by the Gator Statue and enter the Stadium to dress and prepare for the huge challenge in front of them.

Gator Bait

That is a Gator head that you can place atop your own dome to pay tribute to the passing heroes on their way to the game.

Here Come the Gators!

In the IMG Hospitality Tent

Once last chance to fuel up before Kickoff, it was catered by Sonny's BBQ, the dry rub ribs were outstanding!

My Tablemate had INTERSETING Hair

Fully sated and ready for some football, we entered the Stadium about 50 minutes before the start of the game.

I had debated which camera to bring to Florida, my big Nikon D3000 or my Nikon pocket-sized Coolpix. I opted for the more convenient Coolpix since I figured we would be too far from the action in some far away spot in the cavernous stadium known simply as "The Swamp."

Our Seats

Section 10, Row 5, Seats 27 & 28

at the 47 Yard Line

The seats were incredibly close to the field right behind the Florida bench with great sightlines.

DAMN!!! Why didn't I bring the big boy???

The Swamp is HUGE!!!

We would be joined by 90,888 of our closest friends, the second largest crowd in Florida Field history.

Most of the following pictures are courtesy of the Gainesville newspaper.

There were PASSIONATE Fans

There were INTENSE Fans

There were MELLOW Fans

The view from Section 10, Row 5, Seat 28

We were SO close to the field!

Florida WR Andre Dubose

covered by Bama CB Dre Kirkpatrick

Gator QB John Brantley would hit Dubose on a 65 yard TD bomb on the first play of the game.

Our view of the Line of Scrimmage

#3 Bama's Trent Richardson - A BEAST!!!

As the night wore on, the Gators wore down. Richardson and and the Crimson Tide just physically pounded the Gators.

Richardson had 29 carries for 181 yards and 2 TDs.

Richardson for SIX!!!

Bama Defense Dominating

This sack of Gator QB John Brantley just before halftime knocked the Florida signal caller out of the game with a leg injury and effectively ended any hope that the Gators had for a victory.

The final score saw the Crimson Tide roll to a brutal 38-10 victory to improve to 5-0 overall, 2-0 in the SEC West good for a first place tie with LSU (5-0, 2-0) and surprising Auburn (4-1, 2-0). The Crimson Tide hosts SEC East member Vanderbilt (3-1, 1-1) next Saturday.

The Gators are now 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC East tied with South Carolina (4-1, 2-1) for first place. Florida travels to play the #2 ranked LSU Tigers next week. OUCH!

By the time the game was over and we had driven back to Tampa it was 1:45 a.m. on Sunday.

I caught a 9:30 a.m. flight to Houston followed by another flight to Los Angeles that got me back to SoCal at about 2:45 p.m..

The Iconic Restaurant at LAX

I was still sleep deprived but excited about having enjoyed yet another EXCELLENT Mark Johnson Adventure!!!

In related college football news, the University of Washington (4-1, 2-0 PAC-12 North) rolled past the University of Utah (2-2, 0-2 PAC-12 South) 31-14 in a PAC-12 game. The Huskies have a BYE next week and then host Colorado (1-4, 0-1 PAC-12 South).

In Division III, the #20 California Lutheran Kingsmen (2-1, 1-0 SCIAC) overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit and rallied to a dramatic 28-24 victory over the #13 Redlands Bulldogs (2-1, 0-1)!

It was the SCIAC opener for both squads and the first ever game at CLU's brand new $8.9 million William Rolland Stadium. Good job Kingsmen!