Hueneme Is Tossed in the Wind

A football season that began for Hueneme High in the hot days of August with anticipation of a run to a Southern Section Division IV title ended in a cold wind Saturday when the Vikings fell to San Luis Obispo, 17-7, in a division semifinal at Hueneme.

The Vikings (7-5-1) squandered a chance to advance to their first section final, finding themselves done in by a nonexistent passing game and frequent penalties.

Operating without standout receiver Keary Colbert, who broke a finger in a first-round victory over Righetti, Hueneme had to rely on tailback Donald Thompson and the offensive line. Thompson had 133 yards in 24 carries, but found himself facing nine- and 10-man defensive fronts.

“There were just a lot of people in tight, trying to tackle me,” Thompson said. “The line took out a lot of guys but it was a matter of too many being there.”

Hueneme quarterback Jeff Garcia completed two of nine passes for 16 yards and had a pass intercepted. The Vikings tried a power-I formation instead of their traditional wing-T attack, but could not score after the second quarter.

Hueneme took a 7-0 lead into halftime after driving 35 yards in four plays and scoring on a one-yard run by fullback Henry Otineru with 1:35 remaining in the second quarter.

The short march was set up when defensive back Leslie Lee intercepted a pass by Mike Crivello and returned it 30 yards.

San Luis Obispo (11-2) tied the score by driving 54 yards in eight plays and scoring on a one-yard run by Khaled Elmasri with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter.

On its ensuing possession, Hueneme punted after three plays and San Luis Obispo took over at the Viking 45. Six plays later, Josh Loesche kicked a 27-yard field goal.

Hueneme drove 56 yards in 13 plays on its next possession, but turned over the ball on downs at the San Luis Obispo 24. Garcia was sacked a play earlier for a 10-yard loss, knocking the Vikings out of field-goal range.

Hueneme forced a punt and took over at its 28 with 1:51 to play. But on the second play, Lee fumbled and San Luis Obispo recovered. Tim Rebich ran for a 22-yard touchdown 13 seconds later.

Hueneme was penalized eight times for 81 yards and San Luis Obispo seven times for 75 yards. Several Hueneme penalties aided San Luis Obispo scoring drives and another wiped out an apparent touchdown pass from Garcia to Moses Gonzalez.

“We had our shots,” Hueneme Coach Larry Miller said. “A couple of those penalties killed us. We had them down seven and could have put a nail in their coffin but it didn’t happen.”

San Luis Obispo was led by Elmasri, who carried six times for 41 yards and a touchdown. Kani Walker had 39 yards in 12 carries and Crivello completed eight of 12 passes for 117 yards.