Mata and Metelak gang up
against Fillmore

The fact that Santa Paula and Fillmore ate together at a friendly breakfast sponsored by the Jim Higgy Foundation for the third consecutive year at the Santa Paula Community Center on Tuesday didn't matter when the two teams met on Frank Jones field on Friday night. Moreover,..., by the time the game was over Fillmore was more than likely sorry the combination of Johnny Mata and Chad Metelak did not play for another high school in the 39-20 Cardinal non-league win. Before Santa Paula and Fillmore fans had the chance to get settled into their seats back-to-back touchdowns were on the scoreboard within the first 30 seconds of the 89th game the two schools have played since 1924.Starting off the Homecoming game Cardinal Johnny Mata ran the opening kick-off return 92 yards, blocked by Mark Rabago and Clay Little-Turtle for a 7-0 lead 18 seconds into the game. On the ensuing kickoff Fillmore's Johnny Uribe answered with an 86-yard return 12 seconds later. A failed kick put the Cardinals in the lead 7-6. The two plays brought the sold out stadium crowd to their feet with obstreperous cheers for what proved to be the most exciting game between the Cardinals and Flashes in years.On Santa Paula's next possession Xavier Ramirez returned the kick off to the 47-yard line. From there, nine plays later an eight-yard touchdown pass from Metelak to Mata in the end zone set the Cardinals up for a 14-6 score.Hanging onto possession of the ball going into the second quarter Metelak took the ball in for a touchdown six seconds into the quarter to leave Fillmore trailing 20-6. In a little more than three minutes later a ``double pass'' from Metelak to Mata to Steve Gangl who was all by his lonesome downfield for a 55-yard touchdown play. However, Santa Paula was not finish scoring in the half yet. With 3:09 on the clock and in five plays the ball was taken into the end zone on an eight-yard pass from, you guessed it, Metelak to Mata to give the Cardinals a comfortable 32-6 lead. With only 18 seconds of play left before the half an eight-play, 72-yard drive was capped off by Fillmore's quarterback Kyle McDowell dive in from the one-yard line for the final score going into half-time.Fillmore, now into an unstable situation, continued hitting hard - running hard - playing from their hearts, and refusing to give up. The win gives the Cardinals a winning edge with a series record o 49-33-7.