RIO MESA FINDS A WAY WITH LEWIS STRUGGLING, LIAINA PICKS UP SLACK TO KEY WIN RIO MESA 24, NEWBURY PARK 13.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

Rio Mesa usually puts the ball in Malachi Lewis' hands and rides its top prospect to victory.

That wasn't working Friday against Newbury Park.

Nearly every time Lewis took a handoff in the first half, there were a couple of Panthers defenders waiting in the backfield to wrap him up.

Midway through the third quarter, Lewis, who is being recruited by USC, UCLA and most other Pac-10 colleges, had minus-10 yards on 17 carries.

Lewis' teammates accepted the challenge, keeping the team in the game and wearing Newbury Park down until Lewis found room to break through for two touchdowns in the final 13 minutes to give Rio Mesa a 24-13 victory over the visiting Panthers.

``This was a great chance for our young kids to get in a battle and respond,'' said Rio Mesa coach Bob Gregorchuk. ``They took a big step forward in this game. Now they know they can win without Malachi at his best.''

With Newbury Park keying on Lewis, fullback Ina Liaina got his opportunity to shine.

Liaina rushed for 148 yards on 12 carries. His biggest run came with a little more than three minutes remaining with Rio Mesa (2-0) facing third-and-5 from its own 9-yard line and clinging to a 17-13 lead.

Instead of giving Newbury Park (1-1) one last chance with good field position, Liaina broke free for a 72-yard run that set up Lewis' 19-yard touchdown that put the game away.

``We had to make a big play,'' Liaina said. ``They were focused on Malachi, so we changed it up a little.''

Lewis scored on an 8-yard run with a minute left in the third quarter to give Rio Mesa its first lead of the game at 17-13, erasing an early 10-0 deficit.

Newbury Park drove to the Rio Mesa 13 with less than four minutes left in the game trying to take the lead back. But Spartans defensive back Jerrell Thomas made a great read and quick move to dive in front of Newbury Park receiver Scott Takeguma and intercept a well-thrown ball from Colby Cameron.

``I had seen that play on game film during the week,'' Thomas said. ``I knew I had the interception from the moment he threw it.''

Lewis finished with 56 yards on 31 carries. Rio Mesa quarterback Shane Austin rebounded from throwing two interceptions in his first three passes to complete 11 of 18 for 126 yards.

Last year, Newbury Park gave Rio Mesa fits with its air attack in a 54-13 blowout, but that was with seniors at quarterback and receiver. Cameron, a sophomore, started out completing six of his first eight passes, but missed on 13 of his next 14 as the Spartans adjusted.

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Rio Mesa's Malachi Lewis breaks away from the Newbury Park defense Friday.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box:

ARMY NOMINEES