Balanced Attack Propels : Santa Paula to 28-14 Win

Santa Paula High used the one-two punch of Eddie Rabago and Art Marcelo on Thursday night to roll to a 28-14 nonleague football victory over St. Bonaventure at Ventura High.

Rabago rushed for a pair of one-yard touchdowns and 125 yards in 21 carries and Marcelo made several key receptions and helped end a fourth-quarter St. Bonaventure threat with a fumble recovery.

It was a satisfying performance for Rabago, whose team lost its opener, 34-3, to Royal. But the 5-foot-11, 185-pound tailback was quick to share the credit.

“My linemen did a real good job,” Rabago said. “They were opening up holes tonight.”

Ahead, 13-7, at halftime, the Cardinals put together a time-consuming, nine-play, 68-yard drive to pull away from the Seraphs in the third quarter. Rabago belted through the St. Bonaventure line for three first downs and Marcelo made a reception for another.

Finally, Miguel Soria crashed over for the touchdown from three yards after taking a pitch from quarterback Brian Whittaker. A two-point conversion pass from Whittaker to Brian Lister gave Santa Paula a 21-7 lead.

An interception by Danny Alcantar gave Santa Paula possession again four plays later at the Seraph 49 and Marcelo, who had four catches for 67 yards, made a twisting grab at the seven for 23 yards to set up the Cardinals’ final score.

Whittaker capped the drive with a three-yard sweep to extend the lead to a comfortable 28-7.

The Seraphs (1-1) went to a wing-T formation late in the third quarter and it gave their running game some spark, particularly on a 43-yard run by Gino Nucci with an inside handoff. Toby Noblin bashed in from the one for his second touchdown, but 28-14 was as close as the Seraphs could get.

St. Bonaventure (1-1) surprised Santa Paula (1-1) on its first possession by using a one-back offense to march 74 yards in six plays, capped by a brilliant, weaving 29-yard run by Noblin to go ahead, 7-0.

But Santa Paula played ball control on the next series behind Rabago, who rumbled for 53 yards in nine carries during a 60-yard, 15-play drive. Rabago scored on a one-yard plunge to make the score, 7-7.

Rabago also contributed with his foot to help the Cardinals get the field position they needed for a go-ahead score. His 41-yard punt pinned the Seraphs inside their 12-yard-line, and when Noblin shanked a punt for St. Bonaventure, Santa Paula was in business at the Seraph 42.

Rabago kept the drive alive with a six-yard sweep on third down for one first down and Marcelo’s leaping grab of a Whittaker pass pushed the Cardinals to the five. Two plays later, Rabago again scored from one yard.

After throwing three interceptions last week in his varsity debut, Whittaker settled down nicely against St. Bonaventure. The junior was sharp, completing nine of 14 passes for 106 yards, with one interception.

Seraph senior quarterback Peter Houston completed seven of 16 for 68 yards and threw two interceptions.