Chargers plow over San Luis

Close game keeps Dos Pueblos on their feet entire time

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER
The Dos Pueblos Chargers began the 2007 football season last night the way they wanted to end it last year: with a 19-14 victory over the San Luis Obispo Tigers at Valley Stadium.
“We didn’t have an option,” Charger’s quarterback Gary Braun said of opening the season with the Tigers. “We were going to win.”
Braun said images from last year’s 21-20 playoff loss at the hands of the Tigers fermented in the minds of Charger’s players through the off season, culminating in last night’s effort.

Braun was the clear leader on the field last night, putting the Chargers on the board first with an 80-yard scramble with eight seconds remaining in the first quarter to give the Chargers a 7-0 lead.
The extra point found its way through the uprights despite being kicked from 25-yards out after the Chargers were dinged with a 15-yard penalty -- the result of Braun summersaulting into the end zone to cap the touchdown run.
Another, more tragic memory of last year also crept up last night during the first drive, when Charger’s running back Nick Sarricchio got tacked on the first play and didn’t immediately get up.
As trainers and coaches ran onto the field and Tiger’s players took a knee at the 35-yard line, the crowd went silent, as it became impossible not to think of former Charger’s tailback Brad Ebner, who suffered a traumatic brain injury during the fourth game of the season last year.
The crowd was able to cheer however after Sarricchio hobbled off the field favoring his right leg.
The Tigers answered back in the second quarter after quarterback Dave Schultz launched an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide reciever Robert Rose to tie the game.
The tigers were assessed a face masking penalty on the kickoff and the Chargers took over at the Tiger’s 41-yard-line.
Braun started off what would become a two minute touchdown drive with a pitch to Ronnie Arias, who picked up five yards, followed with a 39-yard bomb to Derek Martinez, who got pulled down by Tiger’s defenders at the 15-yard-line.
Braun ended the hasty march up the field with a lofty 15-yard pass into the ride side of the end zone to Aki Franklin. The Chargers could only make it a six-point lead after the extra point was blocked.
With 2:23 remaining in the second quarter, the Chargers were facing a second down and 12-yard situation at their own 29-yard-line when Braun threw and interception.
The Tigers took over with 35 seconds on the clock at the Charger’s 45-yard-line and promptly made their way down behind four perfect passes by Schultz, the last of which, a 17-yard-pass with 11 seconds remaining that found Rose for his second touchdown reception of the game.
Going into the locker room, the Tigers held a 14-13 advantage.
Braun said Head Coach Jeff Uyesaka told his team to take the field in the second half as if the game was tied 0-0.
‘We have a lot of experience and knowledge,” Braun said of his fellow teammates. “We knew it wasn’t over.”
The Charger’s defense kept the Tiger’s offense silent in the third quarter, in part because Dos Pueblos dominated the clock.
The Chargers began their first possession of the second half with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter and took the lead for good after racking up three first downs during five minute drive.
After playing within seven-yards of the goal line for the last part of that drive, Braun connected with Sean Craig for a three-yard touchdown pass.
The only hiccup came after the Chargers went for the two-point conversion, but failed to punch it in, leaving the score at 19-14.
The two teams reversed roles in the fourth quarter after the Tigers took possession of the ball with 9:51 left to play and rattled off 14 plays, nailed five first downs and accumulated about 80 yards of offense before their leading running back, Brian Lewelling, coughed up the ball with 3:28 remaining.
Luis Guzman recovered the fumble for the Chargers and Braun kept it on the ground until time expired.
Commenting on the impressive ground and air attack, Braun said: “We’re a very versatile team.”
The Chargers (1-0), face Cabrillo next Saturday at Valley Stadium.