Lancers Rout Rio Mesa

THOUSAND OAKS — Defensive back Dave Anderson led a tenacious defense as Thousand Oaks High scored 29 points in a six-minute span of the third quarter to rout Rio Mesa, 42-7, in a nonleague game at Thousand Oaks.

In the prolific quarter, Anderson had a pair of interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and he set up another score by Thousand Oaks (3-2) with a punt return.

In the first series of the second half for Rio Mesa (2-3), Anderson intercepted a Pancho Tinoco pass and returned it 21 yards to the Rio Mesa 38-yard line. Teammate Clint Wilson, who rushed for 45 yards and two touchdowns in 10 carries, scored on a 26-yard run three plays later.

With five minutes remaining in the quarter, Anderson returned a punt 20 yards to the Rio Mesa 23-yard line, where Santo Riccobono scored on the next play.

On Rio Mesa’s next play, Anderson intercepted another Tinoco pass, this time racing 45 yards for a touchdown to complete the Lancers’ scoring.

“We were in a zone and the ball happened to come my way,” Anderson said. “I got great blocking on the return and [defensive back John] Freeth was leading the way for me.”

Freeth, who recovered a fumble that led to Thousand Oaks’ first score, added, “We knew they are a run-oriented team and we really packed it in tight. We have a lot of momentum right now.”

Riccobono opened the scoring for Thousand Oaks as he connected with Putter Ashford on a 24-yard scoring strike midway through the first quarter.

Ben Olson, the Lancers’ other quarterback in their two-quarterback platoon system, found Kevin Ange with a 75-yard scoring pass to help stake the Lancers to a 13-0 halftime lead.

Olson finished with 97 yards, completing three of seven passes. Riccobono completed four of six passes for 47 yards.

Rio Mesa’s lone score came with 7:32 remaining on a three-yard run by Tinoco to cap an 80-yard, 17-play drive.

Rio Mesa had 210 yards of offense, including 32 yards on a pass play during a fake punt in the last few seconds of the game.

After losing its first two games by lopsided scores to Crescenta Valley and Hart, Thousand Oaks won its third consecutive game.