The only thunder and lightning in Carpinteria on this Friday night came from the Warriors’ defensive unit.
Lineman Andrew Sova rumbled 50 yards for a touchdown after intercepting a screen pass and defensive back Alex Rodriguez picked up a fumbled and bolted 74 yards for another score in Carpinteria’s 42-0 domination of Santa Clara at Memorial Stadium.
The victory came a few days after Carpinteria learned that its weather-suspended game against Santa Ynez last Friday would count as an official contest and it would suffer a loss. The Warriors trailed 21-0 at halftime but a thunderstorm forced the game to be suspended.
“They certainly got challenged about it,” Carpinteria coach Ben Hallock said. “They certainly responded to the challenge and they were ready to come out and play well tonight.”
“This was a rebound game,” Rodriguez said.
The Warriors made sure they jumped on Santa Clara early, scoring on their first possession. Sophomore quarterback Ian Craddock deftly handled the ball on a fake to Jeffrey Moorhouse and rolled around the end for a 9-yard touchdown run at 6:26 of the first quarter.
Carpinteria then surprised Santa Clara with a successful onside kick. Anthony Graham recovered the ball at the Saints’ 49. The Warriors drove to the 1-yard line, but they were stopped short of the end zone on fourth down.
That was the only low point of the night for Carpinteria, which improved to 3-1. Santa Clara fell to 1-2-1.
The Warriors held the Saints to one first down and got the ball back on the Santa Clara 38. On second down, Craddock created a big play. He scrambled to his left and, with a defender hanging on him, hit wide receiver Jordan Robinson for a 25-yard completion. Two plays later, Rodriguez scored from 7 yards out and ran in a two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Sova and the Carpinteria defense made it a tough night for Santa Clara quarterback Matt Ramirez, who completed 11-of-25 for 123 yards, with two interceptions. Sova had 3 1/2 sacks.
“He’s got a great motor. He just keeps coming and coming and coming,” Hallock said.
A Sova sack led to a three-and-out possession for the Saints.
Carpinteria took over at the Santa Clara 45 and on first down Craddock hit Gustavo Arreola on a post pattern for a touchdown. Another two-point conversion run put the Warriors up 22-0 with 6:41 left in the second quarter.
“The safety bit on the play action and I just threw it to him, and he was open,” said Craddock, who was an efficient 7-of-11 for 140 yards.
Santa Clara finally was able to put something together on offense. Running back Russell Johnson broke free for 16 yards and Ramirez hit Chris Licon for a 35-yard gain and Devyn Sasaki for nine yards.
But Carpinteria’s defense stepped up and made another big play. Licon fumbled after taking a big hit and Rodriquez picked up the loose ball and sprinted 74 yards up the right sideline for a touchdown. The conversion run failed, leaving the Warriors with a 28-0 lead with 5:07 left in the second quarter.
“I dream about that kind of play,” said Rodriguez of scoring a defensive touchdown.
Robinson intercepted a Santa Clara pass before halftime.
The Warriors’ defense kept the pressure on in the third quarter. With Santa Clara facing a third-and-seven from the 50-yard line, Ramirez dropped back for a middle screen pass. Sova read the play, snared the pass and took off for the end zone. His touchdown and Craddock’s PAT kick made it 35-0.
“Xavier (De Alba) put the pressure on and I just read the quarterback and picked it off. That was it,’ said Sova.
The defense wasn’t finished. Moorhouse, who was all over the field making plays, blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt.
Carpinteria’s Paul “Skis” Cortez broke off a 46-yard run to the Santa Clara 2 and scored two plays later on a 5-yard run to cap the scoring with 3:41 left in the third quarter. Cortez led all rushers with 80 yards on 7 carries.
The game was played with a running clock in the fourth quarter.
Santa Clara…0 0 0 0 — 0
Carpinteria…6 22 14 0 — 42
First quarter
C—Craddock 9 run, run failed, 6:26
Second quarter
C—Rodriguez 7 run, Rodriguez run, 8:41
C—Arreola 45 pass from Craddock, Rodriguez run, 6:41
C—Rodriguez 74 fumble return, run failed
Third quarter
C—Sova 50 interception return, Craddock kick, 8:36
C—Cortez 5 run, Craddock kick, 3:41
