Last week, the Righetti High School football team was put to the test against a weaker San Luis Obispo team. And with a major showdown for PAC-7 supremacy looming next week against Arroyo Grande, the Warriors might have been excused for over-looking the Lompoc Braves.

But the Warriors came out strong early, built a big lead and cruised to a 45-3 victory over Lompoc at Huyck Stadium Friday night.

"There are some good teams in this league - the PAC-7 is tough," said Righetti coach Gary Wilson. "Each week if you don't come to play, it will hurt you.

"That's like tonight against Lompoc, they have some good kids and they come to play. And if you let down just a little bit, they'll take advantage of it."

Last week, the Braves scored 35 points against a good Atascadero team, but Friday night Righetti, dominating both sides of the ball, completely shut down the Lompoc offense.

"I think they are an opportunistic team," Lompoc coach Robin Luken said about Righetti (7-2, 4-0 PAC-7). "They take advantage of the things they can do.

"They did some things very well and they had a good game plan against us."

Lompoc (0-9, 0-5 PAC-7) finished the night with seven yards net rushing and 55 yards in the air against a Righetti defense that has allowed a scant 25 points in league play.

"The defense has been doing it all year," Wilson said. "Coach Prober does a great job preparing the guys."

The Righetti offense has scored 93 points in league and rolled to 466 yards in total offense Friday, 361 on the ground. Michael Hale finished the night with 150 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns.

"He just carries people," Wilson said about Hale. "He is just a hard-working kid who wants that extra yard."

In relief of starting quarterback T.J. Jordan (5-of-8 passing, 105 yards), Uso Taua ran the ball six times for 122 yards which included a 70-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Hale started the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown run at 8:43 in the first quarter. After a three-and-out by Lompoc, Matt Miller returned a Jake Morehart punt 49 yards for a touchdown.

In the second, Jared Miller hit a 42-yard field goal, capping an 11-play drive that took 4 1/2 minutes. At 4:48 Eric Wilson caught a 3-yard TD pass from Jordan and Hale scored again at 1:06 from 1 yard out.

The Righetti offense was very efficient in the first half. On 20 offensive plays, the Warriors had 10 first downs and four scores. Meanwhile, the defense allowed 13 yards in total offense to Lompoc.

"Last week, we scored 35 and this week nothing," said Luken. "They came out and got physical with us. I think we surprised Atascadero, then in the second half they came out and got physical with us and built up their big lead.

"Their physicalness of the game we just don't have. Our kids give the best they got, but the other teams in the PAC-7 have just been more physical."

Part of that physical play cost the Braves their heart and soul, Jake Morehart, a huge team leader. Morehart was injured in the third quarter and taken to the hospital.

"He got a concussion and hurt his neck and it was just a precautionary thing," Luken explained. "But when you have a concussion I seriously doubt he'll be able to play in the Big Game next week."

Lompoc plays Cabrillo at Huyck next week in the Big Game. The Warriors also have a big game. Even though Arroyo Grande fell to Atascadero Friday 37-14, Righetti still needs to beat the Eagles next week in order to claim first place outright.

"Next week in the showdown with AG, we have to come out and play our best," Wilson said.

Lompoc freshman 28, Righetti freshman 21

After suffering their first loss of the season the week before against Atascadero, the Lompoc High freshman football team bounced back with a big come-from-behind PAC-7 League win Thursday over previously undefeated Righetti.