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Titans roll over Eagles

By Paul Bittick/Contributing Writer

Nipomo caught Arroyo Grande with a surprising one-two punch that floored the Eagles in the first-ever meeting of the two rivals on the football field.

Running backs Duane Hanna and Eric Penningroth combined for 277 yards on 32 carries and Hanna had all three scores in the Titans’ (1-1) stunning 24-0 victory over Arroyo Grande (1-1).

“No one expected us to win,” Nipomo Coach Russ Edwards said. “We lost 32-0 to Lompoc last week and Arroyo Grande beat Bishop Diego.” Had there been a point spread on this game, the Titans would have been about a 12-point underdog according to Edwards.

However his Titans didn’t see themselves as the underdog.

“There aren’t words to explain how I feel right now, this is a historical win for our program and it gives us bragging rights for the next year,” a jubilant Hanna said after the game. “The line was the key, they played a great game and really opened the holes for us.”

Penningroth attends two classes each day at Arroyo Grande and said he heard a lot of trash talking when he wore his jersey to school last week. But this week, it was different. “I didn’t wear it at all, just wanted to keep under the radar. I know a lot of the guys on Arroyo Grande and that makes it even better, they really thought they were going to win,’’ Penningroth said.

Edwards expects to use the running back tandem all season, as both players are also starters on defense. “You saw our speed out there tonight with those two guys,” Edwards said.

After the game, Edwards told his players, “This is what we can do when we practice focused and pay attention to detail. Look who is 1-0 in this series.”?

It was all Nipomo in the first half as the Titans scored on its first three possessions to take a 24-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.

Hanna, a 190-pound junior, led the ground attack for the Titans, with 142 yards on 15 carries and capped off a 50-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard run for the game’s first score. Eric Penningroth scored on a run for the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. He finished with 135 yards on 17 carries.

Nipomo’s defense completely shut down Arroyo Grande in the opening quarter forcing the Eagles to go three and out on their first four possessions. And the Titans capitalized on the defensive stops, scoring three of the first four times they had the ball.

Hanna displayed his speed and power, bouncing outside before breaking a tackle just past the line of scrimmage and sprinting 65 yards for his second score of the night. Hanna then caught a pass from Josh Correia for the two-point conversion and a 16-0 lead.

Nipomo’s only miscue of the half came on its third possession when Ken Knudson coughed up the ball after a 14-yard gain to the Arroyo Grande 38. But again it was three and out for the Eagles.

Hanna had some help on the next drive with Penningroth picking up 20 yards on two carries. But Hanna found the end zone for the third time, this time on a 19-yard run. He also had a 14-yard gain on a pass from Correia. Penningroth scored the third two-point conversion of the night for the 24-0 lead.

Edwards said that he expects to go for two all season. “We practiced the two-point all summer and that is our conversion. You saw tonight that we are not a conventional team, look at our kickoffs and punts. We do a lot of unconventional stuff out there,” Edwards said.

After Hanna’s third score, it was the Titan defense that took over the rest of the way. And leading the defense was who else - Hanna and Penningroth.

On three different occasions, Hanna stuffed the Eagles on third down plays, well short of the first down marker from his middle linebacker position. And Penningroth was roaming the secondary, breaking up several deep passes.

A big hit by Hanna on third down ended the night for Eagle quarterback Clark Goosen midway through the third quarter. He left the game completing just six of 16 passes for 37 yards.

“Look at the scoreboard, that is a shutout. Our defense played great last week until the fourth quarter and tonight they were all great, out linebackers, secondary and defensive line were outstanding,” Edwards said.

Nipomo limited Arroyo Grande to just 136 yards in total offense for the game.

“Now we get to have our first home game next week against Carpinteria,” Edwards said. “We have the chance to finish the preseason at 2-1 which is exactly where we hoped we would be.”

And for the next year, the Titans also have bragging rights of the South County.