The Santa Barbara High defense flexed its muscles and senior quarterback Abel Renteria rushed for three touchdowns en route to a 21-7 win over Oxnard on Thursday on Senior Night at Peabody Stadium.
The Dons honored 24 seniors before the game, a group that is made up of many players who played youth football with each other.
“I told my guys ‘It’s our time to be out there and be the stars of the show’,” Renteria said about Senior Night. “More than half of those seniors played on the same youth football team for a while so we have that chemistry.”
“It’s a great senior class,” Santa Barbara head coach Nate Mendoza said. “I told them that I’m so honored (to get) to coach these guys… I thanked them before the game, just a phenomenal senior class.”
As for the game itself, the Dons got a jolt to start the game as junior Kai Mault took the opening kickoff 40 yards down to midfield to give his offense great field position.
Renteria took advantage of this field position, leading a time-consuming 13-play drive down the field before taking it in himself for a 1-yard quarterback sneak touchdown. The score put Santa Barbara up 7-0 with 5:54 to go in the first quarter.
The next few drives were short-lived, as neither offense could move deep into their opponent’s territory until Renteria hit senior Jack Holdren for a 31-yard gain with just under three minutes left in the half.
That big gain along with a trio of passes to Mault had the Dons inside the red zone looking to extend the lead before halftime.
However, the Yellow Jackets forced a fumble and picked up the recovery, which led to the game staying close at 7-0 heading into the locker room.
The beginning of the second half was similar to the second quarter, as both teams exchanged punts to open the half.
The Dons then got a momentum swing in their direction after the defense forced a turnover on downs after stuffing the Oxnard running back to take possession at their own 33-yard line.
Renteria then put on a show through the air, going 8-for-8 with 62 passing yards on the drive, including a back shoulder 16-yard reception to senior Winston Bartley, who tapped his toes inside the sideline at the 1-yard line.
That highlight catch set Renteria up for his second quarterback sneak touchdown of the night, expanding the lead to 14-0 with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter.
After another stop by the Santa Barbara defense, the offensive unit kept rolling as the game turned from the third to the fourth quarter. This drive was highlighted by a pair of catches that combined for 45 yards to Mault.
Mault was a target vacuum all night long for Renteria, collecting 14 catches for 117 yards.
“Just give [Mault] the ball and he’ll do special things,” Renteria said. “We talk on the side how he can get open and how we can get him the ball because he just makes plays.”
However, that drive was stifled after the Yellow Jackets forced another fumble inside the red zone yet again.
Yet again the Dons’ defense had the offense’s back, forcing a turnover on downs to set Renteria and his arsenal up at midfield.
This time, the offense cashed in thanks to a deep ball from Renteria to Holdren for 37 yards to get down to the 5-yard line. Holdren was the deep threat on Thursday, hauling in four catches for 96 yards.
“We saw they were playing man press on two of our best receivers and we took that personal and said ‘If you’re going to do that we’re going to throw it on top of your heads,” Renteria said.
From there, Renteria barrelled his way into the endzone for his third rushing touchdown of the night, putting his team up 21-0 with three minutes left in the game.
The Oxnard offense didn’t let up, as on the very next drive they took advantage of a pair of penalties by the Santa Barbara defense, ripped off a 32-yard pitch and catch and punched in their first score of the game as senior Jose Hernandez ran it in from five yards out.
“Third and long and we give them an after-the-play penalty and an automatic first, that hurts,” Mendoza said. “Should’ve been two (shutouts) in a row, but that’s what you get when you’re undisciplined.
“But, it’s pretty good when you can play undisciplined football and get a win.”
With the score at 21-7 with just under two minutes left, the Dons offense ran out the clock to secure their second Channel League victory over the season.
Renteria did it all in the win, completing 31-of-40 passes for 330 yards while adding his three rushing touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the defense held the Yellow Jackets to just 154 yards of offense, 99 through the air and 55 on the ground. In the past two games, the Dons have allowed just seven points.
“Just a great effort from the defense and great coaching,” Mendoza said. “Effort, passion and assignment football is what we preach and the boys are doing it and putting the work in.
“Really proud of the defense, they kept us in it.”
The Dons (3-2, 2-1 Channel League) will now be on the road for four weeks in a row, beginning with Ventura (4-1, 3-0 Channel League) next Friday.
“I know from being at DP and playing at Lompoc that [Ventura] is a disciplined team that is well-coached and always comes ready to play,” Mendoza said. “They play well at home, so we’re going to have our hands full next week and it’s going to be a good battle.”