Photo by Jesse Groves
Photo: Kolby Castillo has huge game with a touchdown and two interceptions versus Morro Bay

The Warrior football team (1-0) made sure the third time was the charm as they opened the season with a 17-10 victory at Morro Bay. The Warriors had lost the two previous season openers to Morro Bay by a combined score of 52-7.

Junior Kolby Castillo was “the man.” Castillo put the Warriors on the board with a 64-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Steven Brantingham (3-11, 74 yards, TD) in the second quarter to give the Warriors a 7-3 lead. The Warriors never looked back and Castillo anchored the defense as well with two interceptions.

The Warriors surprised Morro Bay, and their fans as well, as they came out the first series, and most of the game, in a shotgun-spread attack.

After a Warrior fumble at their 45-yard line, the Pirates (0-1) drove the ball to the 14-yard line, but the Warrior defense stood strong and the Pirates settled for a 21-yard field goal by Kevin Hamps with 1:03 left in the first for the 3-0 lead.

With some opening night jitters for the players and officials, both teams lined up on the wrong side of the field for the kickoff return.

The jitters quickly faded for the Warriors as Castillo ran away from the Pirate secondary in the second quarter for the 7-3 lead.

The Warrior defense clearly had the upper hand all night as they shut down the Pirates offense five times inside the 20-yard line.

“There’s nothing more exciting then getting stops and controlling the game,” said Hazelton.

Morro Bay, known for their big offensive line and gaudy running attack, was out rushed by the Warriors, 166 to 147 yards and were unable to score on a run.

At the end of the first half, the Pirates again had the ball inside the red zone at the 16-yard line with 25 seconds left. The drive was stopped as Castillo grabbed his first interception in the end zone.

The Warriors walked into the locker room with 7-3 lead and plenty of momentum.

They came out fired up in the second half as Brantingham slipped two tackles on his way to 19 of his game high 103 rushing yards. Junior Vinny Jimenez followed the run with a 10-yard run; however the drive was thwarted on two penalties.

The Warriors received a scare late in the third quarter when Brantingham went down after a 24-yard run. He walked off on his own power and the injury was later described as cramps.

Junior Andrew Campos was inserted at quarter back and proved to be a viable asset as the backup.

Campos, out of a shotgun formation, rushed the ball three straight plays of 9-, 11- and finished with a 6-yard touchdown.

Junior Joel Vasquez successfully kicked the PAT to give the Warriors a 14-3 cushion heading into “Warrior Quarter.”

The kicking game was strong for the Warriors as Vasquez had a kickoff go into the end zone, converted a field goal and hit his two PAT attempts. Punter Brian Alvarez twice punted the ball inside the 20 yard line.

The Warriors dominated the fourth quarter defensively causing four turnovers.

Senior defensive lineman Jake Ruiz may have had his best quarter ever, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass.

Ruiz recovered a fumbled snap on the Morro Bay 12-yard line and sophomore defensive end Eric Stein hit Morro Bay’s Jake Crizer causing the ball to pop loose. Ruiz was there for the interception.

“It feels good, I (have) to thank my defensive end Eric Stein,” said Ruiz of his first career interception.

Morro Bay would finally get a touchdown on a 16-yard pass from Crizer to Brian Budd with 1:28 left in the game. Facing a 4th-and-23 situation the Pirates successfully ran a reverse pass from Budd to Logan Budd for a first down at the 16-yard line.

With the lead cut to 14-10 on a PAT by Hamps, the Pirates went for the onside kick but Robert Murillo recovered it for the Warriors.

The Warriors gave the Pirates once more chance with 28 seconds left in the game, but another interception by Castillo ended any hope for them and gave the Warriors their first 1-0 start since going undefeated in the 2002 season.

“We fought to the end and this is a big step. It felt great and this is how we should start the season,” said Castillo.

Also having a big game was Brantingham who rushed for 103 yards and threw for 74 and a touchdown.

Last season Brantingham attempted just five passes and had just two passing yards. In the opener he went 3-11 and threw his first touchdown.

“Brantingham was tremendous. He played at an All-CIF level,” said Hazelton, “He was really tremendous and it was an outstanding performance.”

“(The) program stepped up. It was a different offense and defense,” said Hazelton, “This is the way Carpinteria teams are supposed to play.”