No K.J. Cusack, no problem.

The dynamic St. Joseph senior speedster was out with an unspecified injury, but Morro Bay found out the hard way the Knights have plenty of other guys who can the ball.

Besides, the Knights' big offensive line is its formidable self no matter who's running the ball. The unit helped Anthony Ibarra, Cusack's replacement, rack up 167 yards and score two touchdowns as St. Joseph beat Morro Bay 34-14 in a Los Padres League game at St. Joseph's Jay Will Stadium.

The Knights (6-0, 8-0) stayed perfect for the season on their homecoming. They also clinched a tie for the league championship on a Halloween eve in which St. Joseph senior Mariah Cochiolo was crowned homecoming queen at halftime.

"I hadn't had many carries before this," Ibarra said after the game. He had 24 Friday night and, with the help of his linemen, he made the most of them.

"They're good to run behind," he said fondly. Ibarra grinned. "They're big." Besides Ibarra, quarterback Jacob Cano racked up a total of 78 yards on nine carries, and Jacob Rivera totaled 56 yards on eight.

Morro Bay is 1-4 in the LPL, 4-4 overall.

"Morro Bay is better than its record shows," said St. Joseph coach Mike Hartman. "They have some physical guys who run hard."

The Pirates did sport an often tough running game Friday night. Bronson Gonzalez scored the last touchdown of the game, with 4:09 to play, and he had 93 yards on 16 carries.

Hylan Lockshaw had 14 carries and 76 yards, but linebacker Taylor Sanders helped St. Joseph's defense keep the Pirates from sustaining many drives. The Knights' 'D' has given up just 78 points this year.

That's the lowest in school history at this point in the season, a St. Joseph assistant coach told his players afterward.

When a down lineman wasn't throwing a block to clear Ibarra or another St. Joseph ball carrier, fullback Daniel Becerra often was.

Ibarra said, "We're trying to close out (the regular season) and go into the playoffs on a good note."

The Knights have held the No. 3 ranking in the CIF Southern Section's Northwest Division all year. St. Joseph plays its last league game this year at Santa Ynez at 7:30 p.m. next Friday. The Knights host San Luis Obispo Nov. 13 in their regular season finale.

"Soon," Hartman replied when he was asked when Cusack might be back.

Cano scored the Knights' second touchdown on a four-yard run. Ibarra started the scoring with a seven-yard scamper.

St. Joseph place kicker Garrett Dudock stayed perfect on field goal attempts for the season. He nailed a 43-yarder with three seconds left in the first half and then a 40-yarder in the last minute of the game.

"I didn't play much last year because we had such a good kicker (Anthony Gallegos)," said Dudock.

"I worked hard on my kicking during the summer, and it's paid off." Dudock has missed one point-after kick this season. That one was blocked.

The Knights, up 7-0, were ahead 24-7 at halftime. Keith Bendixen flattened a defender with a block, and Ibarra scored from 11 yards out to make it 20-0. Dudock added the extra point.

Morro Bay answered with a nice 83-yard drive that ended with quarterback Gardner Kennedy's four-yard touchdown pass to Austin Nesbitt. Cody Chavez's point-after kick made it 21-7. Dudock's field goal followed shortly thereafter.

Cano threw a 10-yard pass to Mitch McNulty in the third quarter for the Knights' last touchdown.

The Knights will now gear up for what they hope is a big stretch run. "It's been a fun season," Dudock said. "We have a good group of guys."