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High School Football: Carp gets its kicks in win vs. SY, 7-0

By Kenny Cress/Sports Writer

As far as Carpinteria coach John Hazelton was concerned, this game turned on a punt.

The Warriors were clinging to a 7-0 lead at friendly rival Santa Ynez when they were backed up with a fourth down at their own 13-yard-line with under four minutes left to play. Senior punter Manny Casilll, who had booted kicks of 47 and 53 yards on his previous kicks, put his foot into the ball.

The kick sailed 59 yards. Thus, instead of having wonderful field position with 3:31 left, Santa Ynez was on its own 22. Michael Ramirez and Jacob Blackwell stopped Parker Colvin for a two-yard loss on fourth down from the Warriors 23 to preserve Carpinteria’s 7-0 win in a season opener on a balmy Friday night.

The game was originally scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start but was pushed forward to 5 because of a lighting problem at the Santa Ynez stadium. The Pirates play at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Lompoc.

Quarterback R.J. Rosborough scored on a one-yard sneak behind center Garrett Gonzales with 2:44 left in the third quarter. Casill kicked the extra point.

Carpinteria held on the subsequent drive when officials ruled a diving fourth-down grab by Pirates receiver Miller Westfall in the end zone a no catch. For Hazelton, though, “That punt by Manny was a game-changing play.

“He was seventh in the CIF Southern Section last year with a 46-yard average,” said Hazelton. “I’ll tell you, what I liked most was his reaction. He drops a ball (shortly before as a receiver) and naturally he’s disappointed. Then he goes and makes a kick like that.”

Santa Ynez coach Chris Johnson felt his team gave a good account of itself.

Pirates then-fourth-year coach Josh Cunningham left for an unspecified reason late last month. Johnson and fellow assistant Brian Wallace were introduced as interim co-head coaches at a Santa Ynez’s boosters club meeting Tuesday night.

If the Pirates were distracted, they didn’t show it. They had just four penalties, for a total of 20 yards. Carpinteria had only three penalties, for 25 yards. The Pirates looked well-organized on the sideline.

“Guys were getting to where they needed to go,” Johnson said. He chuckled. “That’s what you want to see.”

Linebacker Jeff Sellers led the charge as the Pirates stacked up Rosborough one fourth-and-one from the Pirates 48 near the end of the third quarter. Colvin, who rushed for 111 yards on 16 carries Friday night, racked up 23 on the following drive as Santa Ynez moved to a first-and-goal on the Warriors 7.

Justin Alvarado barreled through on a sweep and nailed Colvin for a six-yard loss to the 13. Two plays went nowhere, then a sprawling Westfall got his arms under a Casey Eubanks pass, but officials ruled the pass incomplete. At least one observer on the sideline said it sounded like the ball hit the ground.

“Close,” Johnson said with a rueful grin. “But that’s part of it.”

Colvin kept the drive alive with a darting run. Eubanks got the ball to him on a screen pass just as a blitzing Warrior hit him on third down. Colvin made three Warriors miss and got the first down with an 11-yard gain to the Carpinteria 23.

“That was a great run,” Johnson said. “It’s the kind of play we expect from him, that’s for sure.”

Carpinteria’s defense, though, was good enough to rack up the shutout. A nice Santa Ynez game-opening drive featuring Colvin’s running and some crisp blocking led by center Mark Suarez came to nothing after three first downs when Eubanks’ fourth-down pass from the Carpinteria 32 went incomplete.

Santa Ynez had five first downs to Carpinteria’s one after one quarter, but had no points to show for it. Momentum shifted the last six minutes before halftime as the Warriors’ defense tightened up against Colvin’s running, and the Carpinteria attack picked up steam.

A 24-yard pass from Rosborough to Ivan Milhollin went for 24 yards to the Santa Ynez 16. The Pirates were bailed out shortly thereafter when Damian Acevedo missed a 32-yard field goal try wide left. Rosborough came into the game as one of the most heralded passers in the area, but the Warriors gave up on the deep ball early. Santa Ynez’s defensive backs effectively shut off Carpinteria’s deep routes, and Pirates linebacker Chase Thompson mucked up the Warriors’ passing attack with constant pressure on Rosborough.

Both coaches praised their team’s character afterward. Every player on Carpinteria’s roster suited up, but there are only 24 players on Carpinteria’s roster. Players on both sides cramped up. Santa Ynez lost Eubanks to cramps the last couple of minutes. Rosborough battled cramps most of the second half, including on a long run when he cramped up and went down.

“I thought our players showed a lot of courage,” said Hazelton.

Thompson said, “Tonight showed what kind of condition we’re in. We’ve been practicing in this heat. Most of the time, it was the Carpinteria boys who were cramping up.”

Carpinteria earned the coveted Warrior Sprit Never Dies, Pirates Pride trophy that the winner gets every year. The trophy is in honor of the late Jim and Jean Galhon. Rosborough and Justin Alvarado earned Carpinteria Players of the Game honors, with plaques in honor of the Galhons. Colvin was Santa Ynez’s Player of the Game.

Carpinteria 7, Santa Ynez 0

Carpinteria 0 0 7 0 — 7

Santa Ynez 0 0 0 0 — 0

SCORING

Third Quarter

C — R J Rosborough 1 run (Manny Casill kick).

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING: Carpinteria — Rosborough 16-72, Ivan Milhollin 9-52, Nick Razo 2-3. Santa Ynez — Parker Colvin 16-113, Nick Phillips 6-27, Casey Eubanks 14-9, Eric Herrera 2-4, Miller Westfall 1-4.

PASSING: Carpinteria - Rosborough 8-19-0-0, 74. Santa Ynez — Eubanks 4-10-0-1, 70.

RECEIVING: Carpinteria — Milhollin 3-53, Justin Alvarado 1-9, Casill 1-5, Isaac Cervantes 1-5. Santa Ynez — Colvin 3-24, Cole Castagna 1-46.

PREP FOOTBALL SCORES

Immanuel 13

Morro Bay 36

Atascadero 42

Clovis 21

Templeton 3

Taft 28

BDHS 14

AGHS 21

Carpinteria 7

Santa Ynez 0

Righetti 17

PVHS 29