Carpinteria couldn’t keep pace with Templeton in Friday night’s season opener for both teams, as the Eagles outscored the Warriors 49-42 in the non-league shootout played at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium.
The game was locked up 34-34 after three quarters but Templeton scored 15 straight in the final period to gain the victory. Carpinteria punched in one last touchdown with 5.8 seconds on the clock to complete the final score.
The Warriors had battled back from a 20-10 halftime deficit. They fell behind even farther in the third quarter at 27-16 before mounting a comeback on the strength of Ian Craddock’s arm.
Craddock had one first-half touchdown throw to his name when Tyler Murphee – who had two interceptions on defense – hauled in a 71-yard catch on a reverse passing play to make the score 27-16.
Carpinteria’s junior quarterback would finish with five touchdowns.
The first was a 17-yarder to Duncan Gordon. On the next possession, Gordon recovered a fumble caused by Derrick Shirley-Moore and Craddock proceeded to connect with Jonathan Esqueda for a 35-yard score.
The Warriors were back in the game at this point, taking the lead at 28-27 with 6:06 remaining in the third quarter.
Templeton quarterback Alex Elterman gave the lead back to the Eagles on a 17-yard hook-up with Andrew Garrettson.
Craddock continued the back-and-forth by finding David Olvera for a 46-yard scoring play that left the score knotted at 34-34.
Even though Craddock threw for his fifth touchdown late int he game, the fourth quarter belonged to the Eagles. Chris Romero scored his second rushing touchdown of the night and Justin Alvarez scored Templeton’s second TD of the quarter to give the Eagles the win.
The Warriors (0-1) host South Torrance next Friday.
