Photo by Jim Spann
Photo: Joel Carty was back in action for the first time since his injury on the first play of the first game. He rushed for 93 yards, but the Warriors still lost 12-3.

Defense wins football games. Friday night it was the Carpinteria defense that kept the Warriors close, all the way to the last minute of the game, before the Pirates cemented the victory with a Brett Miller nine-yard run to pay dirt, handing the Warriors their second loss in pre-season action. Tri-Valley League play begins next Friday at Nordhoff.

There was also a serving of turnovers, not apple, as that sweet gift kept on giving all night. One minute the Warriors had the ball, and the next, well, you know. There were so many I lost count (maybe eight), but at every opportune time just as the Warrior offense was about to launch an assault, the elusive pigskin was on the ground squirming and begging to be picked up.

With 5:37 remaining in the half, the Pirates picked up one of those gifts at their own 37, driving 13 plays to score all the points they needed to win this one, a two-yard plunge by running back Tanner Belen, 6-0, to end the half.

Evan Boardman & Company thwarted one Pirate onslaught at the Warrior 15 late in the first quarter, when he swatted Pirate quarterback Sean Hemming in the backfield, breathing new life into the Warrior defense.

E.B. & Co. would also cause two more fumbles, sack the quarterback as the Pirates were threatening to score, block a field goal (Ryan Quiroga) and basically shut down Santa Ynez until the Warrior offense gave one more gift late in the fourth quarter, this time at their own 18-yard line.

It would take six plays for Santa Ynez to capitalize and put this game out of reach.

The Warriors offense had been close, almost scoring twice in the fourth quarter, only to be denied by two interceptions, one in the Pirate endzone.

The lone score for Carpinteria came on a Rigo Ramirez 35-yard field goal midway thru the third quarter.

Up next for the Warriors, the daunting task of Tri-Valley League action and the hopes of repeating as champions. Carpinteria is still the defending TVL champs as well as Division XI champions, and a new season begins this Friday in Ojai against the Nordhoff Rangers, which is the home of possibly the best Tri-tip sandwich of all Division XI schools.

Be there!