It didn’t take Cody Bidlow long to get the hang of playing defensive end.
The 6-1 senior blocked a punt and returned it for a first-quarter touchdown Friday night and the Dos Pueblos High defense did the rest as the Chargers blanked Cabrillo 17-0 for their first football victory at Scott O’Leary Stadium.
The Chargers evened their record at 1-1 while the Conquistadores fell to 0-2.
“It feels amazing to get our first home win (in their fifth try),” said Bidlow, who switched from wide receiver to defensive end two weeks ago. “We knew we had the ability and we knew we should not lose to this team. We came out with everything we got and you can see on the scoreboard there’s a goose egg.”
PHOTO GALLERY, ORDER ORIGINAL PRINTS
Bidlow blocked a punt by Josh Bartley, grabbed the ball without having it touch the ground, and sprinted into the end zone for a 21-yard score with 6:08 to go in the opening quarter. “I pretty much caught it,” said Bidlow, who closed out the game with a sack (along with Michael Rascon) after Cabrillo drove to the 15.
Early in the second quarter, senior quarterback Zack Boytis hooked up with Branden Tangel on a 52-yard TD pass to make it 14-0. Tangel caught the ball near the left sideline, slipped a tackle at the 35 and was gone.
Boytis completed 7-of-13 passes for 115 yards with four going to Tangel for 89 yards.
“I’m proud of the guys, they made history,” said seventh-year Charger coach Jeff Uyesaka. “The senior class has grown up a lot and matured a lot just in the last couple of weeks. I’m glad it’s this year and I’m glad it’s them. They’re going to learn a big lesson from where they’ve come from to where they are now tonight.
“They came together as a team and got the first win at home.”
Uyesaka said he’d never seen a player block a punt and maintain possession, all in one motion.
“He blocks it, then he puts his hands down like a receiver to catch it and runs for the touchdown,” said Uyesaka. “That was pretty special. … Cody Bidlow, wow, he’s an athlete. He was our Special Teams Player of the Game and maybe even Defensive Player of the Game.”
There were nine fumbles in the nonleague game with Cabrillo losing all four of theirs and Dos Pueblos surrendering two of five. John Dunion, Shane Taylor and Jacob Thompson recovered the first three Conquistadore fumbles for Dos Pueblos.
The Chargers commited nine of their 11 penalties in the second half, including five on a 29-yard drive that led to a 36-yard field goal by Micheel on the penultimate play of the third quarter. The Chargers had touchdown passes of 44 and nine yards called back due to ineligible receivers downfield.
“We have so far to go,” said Uyesaka. “I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed in the offense but our bar is high and we’re not reaching it. Frustration is the word for it. We have to improve. We can’t afford to have four or five turnovers against a good team and not put points on the board.”
Uyesaka praised the defensive efforts of Taylor, a senior linebacker, and cornerbacks John Dickinson and Josh Bartley, who he said did a good job of coming up and filling on the run. “And Collin Powell had a sack and a forced fumble,” he added.
T.J. Babouta rushed for a game-high 89 yards on 26 attempts for the Conquistadores while DP’s Anthony Houston had 79 yards on the ground.
Cabrillo, which has been outscored 48-3 in two games, had 154 rushing yards but only averaged 3.0 per carry. Fernando Osua had a 66-yard punt and boomed the second-half kickoff five yards beyond the back of the end zone.
“I told the guys to enjoy the moment and enjoy the night,” said Uyesaka. “Be proud of winning, that was one of our biggest goals.”
DP travels to Lompoc on Friday while Cabrillo plays at St. Joseph.
DOS PUEBLOS 17, CABRILLO 0
Cabrillo ……………. 0 0 0 0 — 0
Dos Pueblos ……… 7 7 3 0 — 17
