Rio Mesa High coach Bob Gregorchuk believes in the importance of special teams.

In Friday night's game against Hueneme, his belief was justified.

On a night where its offense was floundering, Rio Mesa's special teams came to the rescue to keep the team's playoff hopes alive, getting a 91-yard punt return touchdown from Jordyn Aupiu and recovering a blocked punt in the end zone to score a 22-14 victory over visiting Hueneme.

Rio Mesa (3-5, 1-2 Pacific View League) got back on track after suffering losses to Pacifica and Oxnard to open league play, and kept itself in the hunt for a playoff berth.

But it was not easy against upset-minded Hueneme (3-5, 0-3).

Rio Mesa did not come close to smelling pay dirt until Aupiu took matters into his own hands in the third quarter. The senior fielded a booming punt off a bounce at his own 9-yard line, and proceeded to weave his way through a series of defenders on his way to his 91-yard score, making it 7-0 at the 3:04 mark.

Aupiu almost had a repeat performance on his next return, this time taking a return 71 yards to the Hueneme 21, setting up a 9-yard touchdown run by Jerell Thomas three plays into the fourth quarter.

The special teams masterpiece didn't stop there, as kicker Jamie Jordan pinned Hueneme on its own 2-yard line on the ensuing kickoff by bouncing a kick over the head of Hueneme's Andre Austin. Hueneme was forced to punt on fourth down, but Rio Mesa's Randall Holt blocked the kick and Aldo Macias recovered in the end zone to make the score 22-0 with 8:11 to play.

"We emphasize special teams all the time," said Gregorchuk. "Our defense and special teams kept us alive tonight."

"Our defense did everything they could to win the game tonight, but they killed us on special teams," said Hueneme coach Steven Ruedaflores. "Not practicing two days this week really hurt us in that area."

The defense didn't seem to be affected, though. Hueneme had defenders in Rio Mesa's backfield the entire first half, limiting Rio Mesa quarterback Chase Perham to 4-of-11 passing for 8 yards with an interception by Travaun Nixon.

Four of Rio Mesa's six first downs came on Hueneme penalties, and things got so desperate Rio Mesa tried two fake punt passes in its own territory on fourth-and-long situations to try and jump start its offense.

Further proof was Rio Mesa's Thomas being held to 28 yards on 23 carries. The senior was stopped for a loss nine times.

But Hueneme did its part as well to make the first half an offensive nightmare. Its first drive was ended when quarterback Philip Robles was intercepted by Aupiu, and Robles was then sacked by James Lopez for a 12-yard loss to end the following drive. The second quarter witnessed two punts, and Hueneme gained only two first downs while being hamstrung by an injury to running back Randall Oden in the first quarter.

But Hueneme finally responded in the fourth quarter by opening up its passing game. After his first seven pass attempts fell incomplete, Robles heated up and hit Nixon on a 31-yard touchdown pass with 6:50 to play. He then directed another drive with his arm, polishing it off with a 13-yard touchdown run as time expired to provide the final margin.

"It really hurt us when he (Oden) twisted his ankle," said Ruedaflores. "We probably should have went to the passing game earlier, and it's disappointing we didn't recognize that."

Rio Mesa 22, Hueneme 14

Pacific View League

Hueneme 0 0 0 14—14

Rio Mesa 0 0 7 15—22

Third quarter

RM — Aupiu 91 punt return (Jordan kick), 3:04.

Fourth quarter

RM — Thomas 9 run (Jordan kick), 10:36.

RM — Macias fumble recovery in end zone (Hall pass from Perham), 8:11.

Hue — Nixon 31 pass from Robles (Salazar kick), 6:50.

Hue — Robles 13 run (Salazar kick), 0:00.

@FB Teams Stats: Hue RM

First downs 8 9

Rushes-yards 35-77 34-79

Passing yards 62 35

Comp-Att-Int 5-13-1 6-13-1

Sacks-yards lost 2-22 1-5

Punts-avg. 5-41 3-27

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 4-80 8-60

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Hueneme: Austin 19-38, Robles 10-23, Oden 3-16, Shackel 2-0, Nixon 1-0. Rio Mesa: Raigoza 7-37, Thomas 23-28, Greenlaw 3-19. Perham 1-(—5).

PASSING — Hueneme: Robles 5-13-1-62. Rio Mesa: Perham 6-13-5.

RECEIVING — Hueneme: Lisman 4-31, Nixon 1. Rio Mesa: Lopez 2-27, Cline 1-6, Alvarez 1-6, Thomas 1-0, Thomas 1-(—4).

MISSED FIELD GOALS — None.

TEAM RECORDS — Hueneme 3-5, 0-3; Rio Mesa 3-5, 1-2.