The Preps Box

I just got back from the Morro Bay at Nipomo football game, which the Pirates won 34-0. For much of the night it was all Morro Bay and I was impressed by their ability to stop the Titans offense. Here are some thoughts on tonight’s game:

- There were a lot of penalties, about eight for each team, and that really slowed down each team’s rhythm. Hopefully for both teams, as Los Padres League continues, the penalties especially the personal fouls — each team had a couple — will stop.

- Nipomo is a young team and it showed. They have a strong-armed quarterback in junior Josh Correia, but this the first year for both him and his five offensive lineman. This game was the first time Correia threw deep with any regularity and although he did not complete those passes, he proved he had the arm to make those throws. He just needs some seasoning at the varsity level.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Morro Bay has been working in sophomore Sam Crizer. I’ve seen him play his past two games and  what really stood out was his ability to run. Crizer is able to find holes and he is both fast and able to break tackles. Pirates  head coach John Andree hasn’t asked Crizer to attempt a pass in either of those games, but the young QB is getting valuable varsity experience.

- Injuries held back Nipomo. The Titans lost junior wide receiver Kevin Britt in the first half to an ankle sprain — the same injury against the same team that sideline him most of last season. Edwards joked after the game that he might not let Britt play against Morro Bay next year. Nipomo needs Britt to get back onto the field fast because he is a deep threat and he needs to get on the same page with Correia during this re-building season.
The other  troubling injury was  to  running back/linebacker Duane Hanna, who went down with a shoulder injury. Hanna, also a junior, is a strong runner and on defense he is the Titans second leading tackler.  I’ll try and get an injury update on these two players during the middle of next week.