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FNH Week 0 Game of the Week Preview: Santa Ynez vs Nipomo

Posted at 5:31 PM, Aug 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-05 15:45:05-04

Friday night kicks off the start of the 2018 high school football season, as well as, the first night of Friday Night Highlights. Our Week 0 ‘Game of the Week’ features the Nipomo Titans and the Santa Ynez Pirates.

Let’s start with the home team, Nipomo. The Titans finished last season 4-7 overall and 2-1 in Northern League play.

Nipomo and Santa Ynez matched up last year in Week 3 with the Titans taking the loss on the road, 35-3. The Pirates forced seven Titans turnovers.

With a strong group of starters returning this season, Nipomo has a lot more confidence going up against Santa Ynez this time around.

"Our play-call sheets, everything we’ve got, defensively we have a lot of stuff in for Santa Ynez," Nipomo head coach Tony Dodge said. "Not only for Santa Ynez, but for the entire year. It’s expected that if we can execute and take care of the pigskin, we should be just fine this week."

"Well, we’ve got a year under our belt now. We’ve go more old guys on the team, more seniors," Nipomo senior wide receiver Jayson Davis added. "It’s going to be a good matchup, and I think we’ll do really good this year."

As for the other sideline, Santa Ynez is coming off another impressive season where they finished 8-2 overall for the second straight year.

The Pirates took it to Nipomo with a 32-point victory in 2017, however, they’ve lost some key starters from that game.

Santa Ynez knows it will could be a different matchup this season, but they’re ready for the challenge.

"I think they return their whole stinkin’ team so they should definitely be the favorite in this game because of their veteranship," Santa Ynez head coach Josh McClurg said. "You know, we’re not going to shy away from a battle, so it’s going to be a tough, hard-nose game. We know they’re going to play hard. We know they’re going to hit hard, but we like our chances as well."

"I think it will be a nice game," Santa Ynez senior wide receiver Jasper Kadlec added. "There’s a lot of competition, rallying, and fighting to the end. No team is just going to give up right at the end."

The Pirates and Titans will kickoff at 7 P.M. Friday night at Nipomo High School.