Thousand Oaks Grounded in 26-14 Defeat to Lompoc

At the conclusion of his team’s 26-14 victory over Thousand Oaks on Saturday, Lompoc High Coach Robin Luken shouted “Defense, defense, defense!”

And why not? The Braves had held Thousand Oaks’ potent passing attack in check to claim the Division III playoff game.

Thousand Oaks (7-3-1) managed only 262 yards, well below its season average of 335.

After a scoreless first quarter, Thousand Oaks appeared on the verge of breaking out of its offensive doldrums.

Running back Eleo Cuadra took a handoff on the first play of the second quarter and blasted through a hole in the middle of the Braves’ defense to score on a 59-yard run.

Lompoc (7-4) scored the next 16 points. James Hurst scored on a three-yard run, and Lancer punter Barrett Grindle fumbled a snap out of the end zone for a safety.

Thousand Oaks quarterback Scott McEwan completed eight of 23 passes for 184 yards.

Cuadra, who had 85 yards in 12 carries, added his second touchdown of the game when he scored on a 25-yard run in the third quarter to make the score 16-14.

The Lancers had time to mount a final drive in the closing minutes. Trailing, 19-14, Thousand Oaks started at its 40 but the series ended when a McEwan pass was intercepted at the Lompoc 15.