Drubbing

There really isn't another word for it. This was billed as a big deal locally.

Since the Mrs. and I have ties with both program (we live here and we were heavily involved with the with Oaks Christian Academy's church partner for some time before the school opened and we know many still involved in the community there), we figured it'd be a cheap and enjoyable Friday night. It was cheap.

Oaks Christian pummeled Lompoc 49-0. Come to think of it, maybe 'pummeled' more favorably describes the evening than drubbed. Either way, you get the picture.

Here's the summary:

-Lompoc starting QB Tim Ochoa finished the night 2-for-10 with 17 yards passing and 2 INT. Lets also not forget the 8 sacks.

-13 Lompoc running backs combined for a total of 49 yards rushing.

-By my personal count, the Braves offense crossed midfield only twice though they did take posession of the ball a few times on the Lions half of the field.

The defense, while it picked up in the second quarter and second half, was not much better. OCA starter and soon-to-be Notre Dame starter QB Jimmy Clausen lit up the defense for 4 TD's and 202 yards with only one INT. Starting RB, the USC-bound Marc Tyler ran for 218 yards on only 12 carries.

It was never a game.

My personal observations--take them for what they are worth (which is not much)--fall pretty much in line with what you'd glean from a quick read of the stat sheet. Oaks Christian enjoyed distinct advantages everywhere on the field. They were taller, bigger and faster at nearly every position.

Lompoc coach Robin Luken put it this way: “They are incredible. I told (Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell) those two guys he had at defensive end were (college players),” said Lompoc coach Robin Luken, referring to the 6-foot-5 Lemmens and 6-foot-5 defensive end Michael Ebbitt, who's being recruited by Texas A&M. “I think we need to check their driver licenses."

That's what I kept thinking...most of the guys on the field looked like they could step onto a college field and perform well. It was a striking difference.

Lompoc has a proud football tradition and has won a CIF title as recently as 2003, and reached last year's CIF Division X finals despite the tragic loss of 3 key members of the team. But it was never close.

Yesterday's preview and today's article made much of the fact that Sports Illustrated ranks Oaks Christian as the #3 HS program in the country. Me thinks they are every bit that good.