Jason Jimenez reached the endzone three times for Santa Barbara High on Friday night, providing a huge spark in the Dons’ 26-14 victory at Rio Mesa.
Rio Mesa led 7-0 deep in the first half until Shawn Ramos finished off a 75-yard drive by finding Jimenez for an 8-yard touchdown reception.
Just 26 seconds later, Jimenez made a huge momentum grab by scoring again on a 47-yard interception return.
Santa Barbara scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 26-7 lead before Rio Mesa finally answered.
“We have eight players with 20 varsity starts,” Santa Barbara coach Doug Caines told the Ventura Star. “Our experience came in handy, but we still are making too many mistakes.”
Ramos completed 18 of 26 for 244 yards.
Rio Mesa’s Kado Brown scored the Spartans’ first TD on a 2-yard run and totaled 183 yards passing. In the fourth quarter, Brown connected with Martel Tyler for a 63-yard touchdown completion.
Santa Barbara improves to 3-1 ahead of welcoming Centennial of Bakersfield to Peabody Stadium next Friday.
Rio Mesa(1-2) travels to play Dos Pueblos(3-1).
