Carpinteria’s Brandon Jordan is tackled by Nipomo’s Isaac Bausley and Terry Wambolt following a catch. (Presidio Sports Photo)
Carpinteria showed signs of life on Friday night after a season-opening 42-0 knockout punch from Santa Ynez. The Warriors got back up and played defending CIF champion Nipomo tough in the first half before the Titans muscled their way to a 31-12 final at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium.
The Warriors scored their first points of the season on a 6-yard Mike Garibay touchdown run early in the second quarter, keeping the Warriors close at 7-6. Down 14-6 late in the second quarter, Carpinteria got its first turnover of the season from the defense only to see the offense give it right back. The Titans were able to kick a field goal as time ran out in the first half to take a 17-6 lead at the intermission.
Brandon Jordan and Austen Paulicano leap for the ball that gets tipped into the air before Jordan brings it down for a TD.
“We were this close to making things work, to get right up there and making it a very tight game. We were this close,” said Warriors head coach Ben Hallock.
The Warriors scored their second touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard grab by Brandon Jordan. In a jump-ball situation with defender Austen Paulicano, Jordan was able to tip the ball high into the air and catch it while falling into the endzone. The play completed a 74-yard drive on which Garibay completed all three of his pass attempts for 69 yards, including a 35-yarder to Terrell Richardson into double coverage.
Nipomo quarterback Gavin Hall threw for two touchdowns and scored another on a QB sneak. Hall connected with Rick Gaussoin for a 36-yard TD in the first half and Tyler Diaz in the second half on a 7-yard slant.
Hall saluted his offensive line, especially the backups getting time because of injuries.
“Some of our guys were hurt and they just stepped up and filled the role. I had all day in the pocket,” Hall said. “We had a whole new center, a new offense, the guys picked it up and studied a lot so that helped.”
The Titans are off to a 2-1 start. Head coach Tony Dodge thought his team came out sluggish but improved as the game unfolded. Being complacent with the Warriors was talked about in practice.
“We told them all week, they’re going to be much better than they were last week,” Dodge said. “Last week was their first game, we improved from game 1 to game 2 immensely and as you can see Carpinteria also improved.”
Nipomo’s final touchdown was a 30-yard gash through the left side of the defense by JJ Ramirez, giving the Titans a 31-6 lead with 49 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Nipomo has undefeated Santa Ynez on its schedule next week while the Warriors (1-1) have another unbeaten team, Oak Park (3-0), on the docket.
Terrell Richardson hauls in a 35-yard pass from Mike Garibay in double coverage.
