OAK PARK — The sprinklers were accidentally turned on at the start of the second half in Oak Park on Friday night, and the Carpinteria Warriors subsequently got stuck in the mud.
The Warriors managed only one first down in the second half as the Eagles scored three unanswered touchdowns to win 21-14.
It wasn’t for a lack of effort, but it may have been a lack of personnel.
John Hazelton’s players were throwing themselves all over the place to deliver some big hits defensively on Oak Park’s game-winning drive in the fourth. But there were only 10 Warriors on the sidelines for every play.
That’s a total of 21 kids in pads for the team, and not a lot of time for them to catch a breath.
“I don’t ever get a play off. Maybe a PAT,” said running back Ivan Milhollin after the game. “It’s hard because we have to bring the JV up in practice to serve us for team offenses and team defenses.”
Of course, excuses are not what the Warriors (2-4, 0-2 Tri-Valley League) are looking for. Hazelton made a point to go over and shake the hand of Eagles wide receiver Max Fahn, who caught three big passes for the hosts.
“You’ve got to first of all give credit to Oak Park,” he said.
Still, the huffing-and-puffing way of life for the depleted Warriors is undeniably a factor in what happened on Friday night.
“Yeah, sure. We have 21 guys suited up, so it just is what it is. It would be nice to have some help, but we don’t have it,” said Hazelton.
Ryan Caudillo made a big play right away for the Warriors, hauling in an interception to end Oak Park’s first drive.
Quarterback RJ Rosborough would later find senior receiver Justin Alvarado on a slant route which turned into a 41-yard touchdown as he turned on the jets to make it 7-0 with 4:29 left in the first quarter. Alvarado would also return the opening kickoff in the second half 51 yards, but the Warrior drive couldn’t get anything out of it.
Oak Park (4-3, 2-0) was forced to punt on its next three possessions after the pick, as the Warrior defense held strong.
On their fifth possession, the Eagles found themselves at the Carpinteria 37 with 3:30 remaining in the half. The drive would fizzle thanks to a sack by Rosborough and Michael Jenkins that set Oak Park back 11 yards. The Eagles went for it on 4th-and-18 from the 37, but couldn’t convert.
The Warriors put together a drive bit-by-bit after that Tony Sanchez caught a pass in the middle of the field, juggled it, absorbed a hit and forged ahead for a key 15-yard play. Rosborough followed with a 13-yard keeper. A pass interference call in the corner of the end zone kept things chugging forward, and Rosborough found Sanchez at the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown pass with just a second remaining in the half.
Eagles running back Grayson Phillips was crowned Homecoming King at halftime, and he responded with a 33-yard touchdown catch from Kyle Andrus to put Oak Park on the board with four minutes left in the third.
Cody Skene scored on a 4-yard run as time expired in the period, and later scampered in for the game-winner with 3:29 left.
During all of this, the Warrior offense was in quicksand. Rosborough would scramble regularly, trying to keep his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame upright for positive yardage, but the first-down marker kept sticking its tongue out at Carpinteria. The Warriors’ final shot came on 4th-and-12 from the Oak Park 42. Just over a minute remained, and Rosborough heaved one deep to Alvarado, who couldn’t haul it in amidst double coverage.
With four games remaining, Carpinteria will need to win three to make the postseason. Considering one of those games is next week’s against Oaks Christian, the Warriors will probably have to beat Bishop Diego, Nordhoff and Santa Clara.
“I like my kids. We might have been beaten by a better team, but I like how my 20 kids play,” said Hazelton. “We’re still alive. We’re behind the 8-ball, but we’re alive.”
And based on Milhollin’s reaction to the loss, it’s safe to say the Warriors aren’t going to let up one bit.
“I’m pissed, so I’m going to work harder,” he said firmly. “The rest of the guys are, too.”
OAK PARK 21, CARPINTERIA 14
Carpinteria…7 7 0 0 — 14
Oak Park……0 0 14 7 — 21
First Quarter
C—Alvarado 41 pass from Rosborough (Acevedo kick), 4:28.
Second Quarter
C—Sanchez 5 pass from Rosborough (Acevedo kick), 0:01.9.
Third Quarter
OP—Phillips 33 pass from Andrus (Porras kick), 4:00
OP—Skene 4 run (Porras kick), 0:00.
Fourth Quarter
OP—Skene 9 run (Porras kick), 3:29.
TEAM TOTALS C OP
First Downs 10 17
Rushes-Yards 30-60 27-130
Passing Yards 132 138
Total Yards 192 268
Comp-Att-Int 12-25-0 12-23-1
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0
Penalties-Yards 4-30 4-31
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—C: Milhollin 8-29, Rosborough 16-17, Caudillo 4-6, Razo 1-5, Alvarado 1-3. OP: Skene 16-74, Andrus 7-36, Phillips 3-10, Dupont 1-10.
PASSING—C: Rosborough 12-25-0-132. OP: Andrus 12-23-1-138.
RECEIVING—C: Alvarado 4-72, Caudillo 3-5, Milhollin 1-6, Sanchez 4-49. OP: Bathke 1-5, Roman 1-9, Lo 1-5, Phillips 3-58, Taylor 1-4, Fahn 3-57.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.
TEAM RECORDS—C 2-4, 0-2. OP 4-3, 2-0.
