Photo by Jim Spann
Photo: Warrior defensive lineman Brian Alvarez, #50, wreaked havoc all night in the Nipomo Titan’s backfield in the Warriors’ 29-14 loss last Friday night.

On a cold evening in Nipomo, the Titans kept their fans warm, scoring 29 points to the Warriors’ 14 for their second victory of the season.

The Warriors made the Titans first touchdown easy by fumbling the snap in the first drive to allow a 3-yard touchdown to running back Billy Chambers just a minute and a half into the game, giving the Titans an early 6-0 lead.

Once again the young Warrior defense, without starting middle linebacker Karson Kump, allowed over 200 rushing yards.

“(Not having Kump) changed three positions,” said Warrior coach John Hazelton. The Warriors had two new defensive ends and started last week’s defensive end, Raziel Gama, at middle linebacker. “They tried hard … and the effort was strong,” added Hazelton of his defense.

Steve Otto, listed as a wide receiver, gained 160 yards on 13 carries and seemed to capitalize on the same play throughout the second half.

Otto, lined up in the wide receiver position, would receive a handoff from quarterback Mason Sperakos and sprint around the left side. In the third quarter, he benefited from the play with big gains of 12 and 26-yards, and a 59-yard touchdown run.

The Warriors found themselves trailing 9-0 after a 22-yard field goal by Nipomo’s Brent Siguine at the end of the first quarter.

The Warriors, still alternating at quarterback between junior Eric Stein and sophomore Freddy Maldonado, had trouble sustaining drives for the second consecutive week.

In the second quarter the Warriors pulled within two points, when Stein hit J.P. Jimenez in stride for a 24-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the field with 9:58 left in the half. Joel Vasquez’ extra point was good.

The Warrior run defense contained the Titans for the remainder of the quarter, allowing just 36 yards on 11 attempts, but the secondary had a tough time stopping 6-3 wide receiver Sebastian Dechert.

Sperakos connected with Dechert four times in the second quarter, his only catches of the game, for 57 yards including a 13-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left on the clock. Seguine added the extra point and put the Titans up 16-7 heading into the half.

While the Warrior secondary shored up in the second half, the Titans run game stepped up and Carpinteria couldn’t contain Chambers or Otto. The Titan duo combined for 138 of the Titans 144 rushing yards and each scored a touchdown to pad the Titans lead.

The struggles began early for the Warriors. After forcing a Titan punt, an ill-advised punt return at the Warrior 1-yard line, resulted in a three-and-out from their own 11 yard line.

The misfortune turned tide as Warrior junior middle linebacker Robert Murillo tipped a ball into Maldonado’s hands for a Warrior interception returned to the 50-yard line.

The Warriors advanced to the Titan 32-yard line, but an interception gave the ball back to Nipomo.

Nipomo capitalized on the turnover and marched the ball 61 yards on six plays. The drive was highlighted by Otto’s 12- and 26-yard runs, stamped by Chamber’s second touchdown of the night. Isaac Gutierrez blocked the extra point, but the Titans still led 22-7 with 3:32 left in the quarter.

After another Warrior three-and-out series—the Warriors had four turnovers in their seven second half possessions—Nipomo ran, what looked to be, the exact same play with Otto and it resulted in a 59-yard touchdown. Seguine’s kick was good and the Titans had a commanding, 29-7 lead with 1:42 left in the quarter.

“We have to execute,” said Hazelton of the offensive turnovers. “That’s our problem, or lack thereof.”

The Warriors scored again with 14 seconds left in the game after Adam Smith recovered a fumble. Stein scored from one yard out. In that drive, Vinny Jimenez rushed for 36 yards on four carries to setup the touchdown. Vasquez added another extra point, making the final score, 29-14.

The season is still early and the Warriors did some things well.

Offensively, when the Warriors went no-huddle they moved the ball and did a good job with the passing game early in the first half. Normally a run oriented team; the offense passed 29 times, but had only had 12 receptions.

Hazelton said, “We had at least three or four dropped balls … It was our game to win.”

Defensively—with the exception of defending against the sweep/reverse Otto had success with—they pressured Sperakos and the running backs.

Defensive tackle, Brian Alvarez, was huge for the Warriors. Alvarez’ name, time and time again were called over the PA system for tackle for losses. He also pressured Sperakos into several incomplete passes.

This week…
The Warriors will next travel to Santa Ynez to take on the Pirates who are 2-1 and just came off a close loss, 24-21, to Nordhoff (1-1).

The Pirates are led by senior quarterback Billy Peters (#16) who is averaging 195 yards passing and has a 50 percent completion percentage with four touchdowns and no interceptions. On the ground, junior running back Justin Iniguez (#35) has rushed for 175 yards and scored six touchdowns in two games.

To stop the Pirate offense, Hazelton said the defense must concentrate on AART; Alignment, assignment, responsibility and technique.

The Warrior game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Santa Ynez High School.