Cardinals defeat Channel Islands 28-27

October 18, 2000
Sports
Santa Paula 28, Channel Islands 27The Santa Paula Cardinals scored first and last in a game that could have gone either way. It was anybody’s victory until the final minutes of a white knuckle contest when Santa Paula pulled out a 28-27 win over hosting Channel Islands in a non-league game on Friday. Back-to-back fumbles with 4:17 on the clock first by Channel Islands, then Santa Paula, and finally by CI and recovered by Cardinal John Wadkowski set up the Cardinals final scoring drive.Xavier Ramirez made Channel Islands sit up and take notice with a 57-yard touchdown run with 7:34 on the clock. A good Jacob Macias kick gave Santa Paula a 7-0 edge. Four minutes later Channel Islands made Santa Paula take notice answering with a three-yard run by Raider Tommy Menga. A good Adelfo Robles kick tied the score 7-7.During early play in the second quarter the game remained in the defensive teams hands, but with 4:58 on the clock Menga ran the ball in from the five, a good Robles kick gave the lead to the Raiders. Santa Paula scored again to tie the game 14-14 when Aaron Sanchez returned the ball to Santa Paula’s 23. Two completed passes from Matt Martinez to Mark Rabago and a pass to Ramirez netted a 13-yard run. From the 13, Macias ran the ball to CI’s six, but a fumble turned the ball loose. A recovery by Martinez ran who ran through a perfect hole to score. A good kick again tied the game. With only 25 seconds remaining in the half Ramirez took the ball in from the four to leave Channel Islands trailing at the half 21-14.It was all Channel Islands in the third with Augie Castaneda long running touchdowns. The first Castaneda score came on a 26-yard run at 6:05, and a good Robles kick, followed at 2:19 with an 80-yard run. The PAT was blocked leaving room if Santa Paula could score a TD with a PAT.
The 2000 Cardinal team has a habit of coming through the last few minutes of their games and Friday was no different. With 2:33 left to play in the game, a short drive after Wadkowski came through with the fumble recovery on the 40 ending the play on the 31. Martinez hit Wadkowski, and then Ramirez followed with a 22-yard touchdown run to tie the game 27-27. A good Macias kick put another notch in the record book.Santa Paula will celebrate Homecoming when they open their Frontier League season with Malibu at 7 p.m. on Friday.



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