The Righetti Warriors are taking a road trip to take on the Santa Ynez Pirates at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Righetti will be strutting in after a win while Santa Ynez will be coming in after a loss.
Righetti not only won on Thursday, but they posted their biggest win since August 22nd (when they won 56-0). They claimed a resounding 49-7 victory over Pioneer Valley. The score at the end of the third wound up being the final score as the Warriors just coasted through the last quarter.
Righetti's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Michael Mendez led the charge by rushing for 173 yards and one TD while picking up 10.8 yards per carry. That rushing touchdown marked the first that Mendez has punched in this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Nicholas Matautia, who threw for 242 yards and four touchdowns on only 18 passes.
Righetti didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. In fact, those interceptions all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Caden Viker. Righetti received some extra help from Adrian Ramos, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Santa Ynez unfortunately witnessed the end of their four-game winning streak on Friday. They took a 28-23 hit to the loss column at the hands of San Luis Obispo. Despite 52 more yards than the Tigers, the Pirates couldn't convert that extra yardage to scores.
Righetti will have to contain Austin Willis as he made an impact in Santa Ynez's last game. He picked up 64 receiving yards and one score, and also rushed for 50 yards. Mason Skidmore also helped out with an impressive 95 receiving yards.
Even if they lost, Santa Ynez's defense still kept up the pressure with five sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as five different players picked up one apiece.
Righetti's win ended a five-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 3-6. As for Santa Ynez, their defeat was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 6-3.
Everything came up roses for Righetti against Santa Ynez when the teams last played back in November of 2024, as the team secured a 49-14 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Warriors since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
