he Acorn’s 2005 Marmonte League Preview

Westlake Warriors Last season’s results: (Tied for 3rd in Marmonte, 5-5 overall). Failed to qualify for playoffs. A roller coaster season in 2004 saw the Warriors miss out on the postseason for the first time since 1992 despite defeating Marmonte League champion Royal and Div. IV semifinalist Agoura along the way. Beset by injuries to key members of the team—namely sophomore starting quarterback Ryan Campbell (knee)—Westlake head coach Jim Benkert was forced to start players out of position, a factor that likely played a role in crushing lateseason defeats to Newbury Park ,29-30, and Moorpark ,14-19. Never really overcame the lack of varsity experience that resulted after the graduation of nearly ever starter from 2003’s undefeated CIF championship team. Notable returnees: Jeff Miller, sr., DE/TE (16 receptions); Jeff Rapoport, sr., RB/DB (1,586 yards rushing, 1,791 total yards, 19 TDs); Erik Schneider, sr., WR (11 receptions); Marlon Bills, sr., WR/DB (23 receptions, 205 yards, 5 TDs); Brock White, sr. LB/DL; Scott Matheson, sr., OL. Impact newcomer: Tyrone Duncan, jr., OL/DL Who they play: The Warriors once again kick off their fall with the league’s toughest preseason schedule, one that includes away dates against Div. II Hart (Sept. 16) and defending Div. III champion, 14-0, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks—two teams that made short work of Westlake in 2004. They hope that experience will get them prepared for a Marmonte League schedule that starts with away games against defending champs Royal and an improved Simi Valley team. Mark games against Thousand Oaks (Oct. 7) and Agoura (Oct. 21) on your calendar. Overview: The Warriors hope to benefit greatly from all the game experience gained last season by underclassmen—and return more firepower than any team in Marmonte aside from Thousand Oaks. If Campbell can rebound from a tough 2004 season and prove he’s a capable passer, he’ll have the help around him to succeed. Established star Rapoport and the lengthy Schneider lead a group that’s deep at receiver and huge on front line. Defensively, ends Miller and Schneider anchor a front seven that may be the league’s best—especially with the addition of 300-pound transfer Duncan on the line. Senior defender Brian Mungo returns from injury to aid first-team All-Marmonte linebacker White and a defense that gave up 26-plus points in six games last season. Don’t expect a repeat of that this year. The Warrior secondary, which struggled mightly last season against Marmonte rivals Agoura, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park, is still largely unproven. Top corner Bills says the group must perform better if Westlake is to succeed. In a nutshell: If the Warriors can stay healthy and avoid costly turnovers, there’s no reason why Benkert’s bunch can’t contend for another league title. The defense is loaded and the line is scary—the biggest question remains whether or not Campbell can live up to the billing. Watch his progression closely.

Agoura Chargers Last season’s results: (2nd in Marmonte, 9-4 overall). Lost to Ventura, 10-9, in the Div. IV semifinals. Oh, what could have been for the Chargers in 2004. After stumbling out of the starting blocks with back-toback gut-wrenching league losses to Royal, 21-34, and Westlake, 27-30— don’t say it, Agoura bounced back to win six in a row and advance all the way to semfinals for the third time in five years. If not for an ill-timed fumble late in the loss to Ventura, there’s a good chance the Chargers would have given Div. IV champion St. Bonaventure a run for its money. Notable returnees: J.T. Wright, sr., WR (66 receptions, 1,074 yards); Todd Dilando, sr., WR/DB; Greg Sharron, sr., WR/DB; Julian Sweedler, sr., OL/DL Impact newcomer: Dominick Huerta, sr., QB Who they play: Agoura stays local, but very competitive, with its non-league schedule, traveling to play Pacific View League champion Rio Mesa (11-1) and a highly regarded group from Camarillo. In Marmonte, the Chargers’ three biggest games come in three consecutive weeks—all on the road—taking on Royal (Oct. 14), Westlake (Oct. 21) and Thousand Oaks (Oct. 28). This year’s date against the Warriors is sure to be charged, both on the field and off it. Overview: No team in Marmonte was hit harder by graduation than Agoura. The Chargers return just three starters on defense and two on offense— luckily one of those is Wright, the Marmonte’s most dangerous receiving threat and likely its best place-kicker. Only T.O.’s Luft returns having gained more yards from the wideout position than Wright. He’ll be fun to watch. This year’s anoited starter is Huerta, a local boy expected to be just another in a long line of talented Charger quarterbacks. Head coach Charlie Wegher said Huerta’s sweet passing touch and ability to gain yards with his feet make him a perfect fit for Agoura’s spread-the-field offensive system. Lacking one real force in the backfield—senior Kevin Clifford and junior Josh Irvin will split time—the Chargers will rely heavily on a young offensive line to give Huerta enough time to locate another skilled corps of receivers. After two consecutive seasons as one of Marmonte’s most dominant defenses, Agoura is facing a season of uncertainty when it comes to stopping the ball. Only Dilando, a cornerback, and Sweedler, a nose tackle, return as proven everyday starters. The biggest question is in the middle, where newcomers Clifford, Michael Leon and a player-to-be-named-later will try to replace the talented linebacking trio of Joey Desiderio, Andy Bradley and Corey Mowery. With help from Dilando, Sharron, Wright and newcomer Austen Jesse, the secondary should be solid. In a nutshell: Huerta and Wright will ensure that Agoura’s offense remains among the league’s best—but is this destined to be a down-year for the defense? If it is, then the chances of returning to another semifinal game are slim.

Moorpark Musketeers Last Season’s Results: (Tiedfor 3rd in Marmonte, 5-6 overall). Lost 29-14 to eventual champion St. Bonaventure in the opening round of the Div. IV playoffs. Moorpark actually led the Seraphs, 6-0, through the first quarter before St. Bonaventure scored 29 unanswered points to take control of the game and end the Musketeers’ season. Despite allowing 343 points while scoring just 260 and having a .500 record, the Musketeers earned a wild card postseason berth by defeating Westlake at home in the regular-season finale. Notable Returnees: Dan Moran, sr., RB (636 rushing yards, 6 TDs); Daniel Vass-Goosby, sr., LB; Daniel Estandia, sr., TE (19.8 yards per catch); Austin Olinyk, sr., WR; David Johnson, sr., OL; Brandon Sofley, sr., OL; Justin Joyce, sr., DL; Tom Mouwen, jr., S Impact Newcomer: Darrell Scott, soph., RB Who They Play: After a tough road opener against Hart Sept. 9, the Musketeers have three straight home games vs. Ventura (Sept. 16), Hueneme (Sept. 23) and Thousand Oaks (Sept. 30). Moorpark then plays four of its remaining six league games on the road, including difficult matchups against Agoura (Oct. 7), Simi Valley (Oct. 28) and Westlake (Nov. 11). Overview: Position battles are aplenty for the Musketeers’ offense, a unit that must replace last year’s leading rusher Daniel Wolverton (1,277 yards, 11 TDs), starting QB Kyle Blum (88-of-176, 1,444 yards, 13 TDs, 10 INTs), the majority of the wide receiving corps and 60 percent of the offensive line. Junior QB David Prickett steps in for the departed Blum. Prickett will rely heavily on Moran, who was impressive filling in for an injured Wolverton at the midway point last year. Keep an eye on Scott. The coaching staff loves his potential and won’t be afraid to utilize the sophomore tailback early on. Defense should be a strength for the 2005 Musketeers. Seniors Joyce, Andres Arambula, Carlos Tamayo and junior John Martinez will provide the bulk along the defensive line. At linebacker, Vass-Goosby and senior Roger Gomez will patrol the middle, with juniors Zach Trotter and Nick Sarrocco expected to work the outside in the team’s 4-4 defensive package. Seniors Ryne Intlekofer, Robbie Simons and David Mendez, along with juniors Dakota Holland and Mouwen, will patrol the secondary. In a Nutshell: Defense must carry the Musketeers early in the season while the offensive line and Prickett find their comfort levels. Expect opposing defenses to stack the line to try and limit Moran and Scott until the young quarterback proves he can make teams pay for overplaying the ground game. As always, the coaching staff will study tons of video and have this group well prepared for each opponent.

Thousand Oaks Lancers Last season’s results: (Tied for 3rd in Marmonte, 8-4 overall). Lost to Ventura, 35-14, in the Div. IV quarterfinals. Statistically, 2004 was a good year for the Lancers, and if not for a couple lastsecond defeats to Simi Valley ,40-42, and Agoura, 21-24, T.O. might have nabbed a piece of the Marmonte crown. Led by the league’s second-leading offense, the Lancers scored 30 or more points six times last year and racked up plenty of yards. Notable returnees: Ryan Cloney, jr., QB (211 completions, 2,964 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs); Matt Luft, sr., WR/S (73 receptions, 3 TDs, 6 INTs); Tony D’Ascenzo, sr., LB/RB (116 tackles); Taylor Malm, jr., RB/WR (967 all-purpose yards) Impact newcomer: Mark Brown, sr., WR Who they play: Thousand Oaks hopes to replicate its 3-0 start to the 2004 season with non-league games against Crescenta Valley, Buena and Camarillo, all teams T.O. defeated last year. Away dates against tough defenses from Royal (Oct. 7) and Westlake (Oct. 14) will put the offense to the test early in league. The season finale against rival Newbury Park should be another thriller as the league’s top big-play offenses do battle once again, possibly for playoff position. Overview: Loaded with returners on both sides of the ball, Thousand Oaks has earned the often unwelcome title of Marmonte League favorite. Headlining the Lancers bevy of returning talent is All-CIF defensive back and top returning Marmonte League wideout Luft. The 6-foot-5 senior catches any ball that’s near him, and will again be the No. 1 target for returning starter Cloney—who showed uncanny pose and leadership last season as a sophomore. Throw in speedsters Malm and Brown, and there’s no reason why Cloney can’t improve his already impressive numbers from a year ago. Malm, Scotti and newcomer Sean Debeikis will split time in the backfield trying to replace the production of departed running back Jack Boger. Returning starters abound on the T.O. defense, but none more highly regarded than D’Ascenzo—a hard-nosed linebacker who’s led the Lancers in tackles the past two seasons. If he can refine his leadership abilities and combine forces with fellow backers Robert Fielding and Billy Delucchio—watch out. The secondary, which was very young last season and struggled at times, should be much improved. Corners Christian and John Wilder return to help Luft, who led the Marmonte in interceptions in 2004. In a nutshell: Head coach Mike Sanders knows he’s got a special bunch, but he’s been around too long to take anything for granted. If the offensive line gives Cloney time to throw and the defense keeps opponents around 20 points, then T.O. will be a force, not only in league, but in Division IV.

Simi Valley

Pioneers Last season’s Results: (7th in Marmonte, 4-6 overall). Failed to make the playoffs. After starting strong in 2004 with wins over Pacifica and Highland, the Pioneers dropped five of six games to fall out of the Marmonte title chase. The low point of the year may have been the regular-season finale, in which Simi was manhandled by eventual league champion Royal, 45-7. Notable Returnees: Devin Kelley, sr., RB (1,232 yards rushing, 312 yards receiving); Lorne Bell, sr., S/WR (39 receptions, 528 yards); Bryan Randolph, sr., QB; Nick Shaver, sr., PK/P; Mike Danheiser, sr., OL/DE Impact Newcomer: Langston Jackson, soph., FB/S Who They Play: Simi’s early-season schedule consists of matchups against a well-coached Pacifica squad (Sept. 9) and Canyon of Canyon Country (Sept. 23), a team that went 10-2 last year before losing in the second round of the Div. II playoffs. Home games vs. Westlake (Oct. 7) and Royal (Nov. 10) and road contests against Thousand Oaks (Oct. 21) and Agoura (Nov. 4) highlight Simi’s league schedule. Overview: First-year head coach Todd Borowski, who takes over for the departed Karl Zierhut, has loads of offensive talent on his roster, most notably Kelley and Bell. Kelley, a 6-foot, 180-pound running back is an explosive ball carrier who is capable of putting up monster numbers. Outside of Westlake running back Jeff Rapoport, Kelley is easily the league’s most polished back. Expect a big season from the senior. Bell will serve as the No. 1 wideout. Known for his jarring, neck-snapping tackles, Bell has moved to safety after playing outside linebacker last season and will be the man in charge of the Simi secondary. Jackson, the sophomore, will start alongside Bell in the defensive backfield. Randolph will take control behind center for the departed Robbie Fierro. Much of the Pioneers’ success will depend on Randolph’s development. If 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior tight end Colin Franklin can establish himself as a legitimate target in the middle of the field, the offense could be unstoppable. Borowski has switched to a 3-4 defensive scheme with the hopes reviving a unit that allowed 20 or more points in every game last year, including four games of allowing 40-plus points. In a Nutshell: Simi has too much talent at the skill positions not to qualify for the postseason, something the school hasn’t done in over a decade. The only thing holding Simi back is a defense that allowed 33.8 points per game in 2004. The unit must get better for the Pioneers to reach the playoffs.

Royal Highlanders Last season’s Results: (1st in Marmonte, 8-4 overall)Last year, the Highlanders captured their first league championship since 1991 and advanced to the second round of the Division IV playoffs before losing to San Luis Obispo, who would lose to eventual division champion St. Bonaventure the following week. Royal’s first-round playoff victory over San Marcos ended when the Highlanders were successful on a 2-point conversion with less than a minute to play in the game. Notable Returnees: Kevin Harrington, sr., QB; Cody Uebelhardt, sr., WR; Jon Sanders, sr., C/LB; Tonio Celotto, sr., DL; Steven Flandez, sr., LB Impact Newcomer: Thomas McCormick, jr., WR Who They Play: Following a trio of non-conference games to start the year— Chaminade (Sept. 9), Channel Islands (Sept. 16) and Ventura (Sept. 23)—Royal’s season may very well come down to its first three games of league play, matchups against Westlake (Sept. 30), Thousand Oaks (Oct. 7) and Agoura (Oct. 14). All three of the aforementioned league games will be played at Royal. And, of course, there is the annual backyard brawl against Simi Valley Nov. 10. Overview: The incumbent Marmonte champions graduated seven all-league defensive players, the league’s leading rusher Daniel Mosier (2,289 rushing yards, 31 total TDs), and stud tight end Lance Bordeleau, who is now playing at Utah. Yet, despite the departures, the Highlanders’ cupboard isn’t bare and the team still appears to have the talent to make a run at back-to-back Marmonte titles. The strength of the 2005 Highlanders lies in its offensive line, a unit that returns four senior starters—tackle Tim Brown, left guard Alex Ponce, center Sanders and right guard Tony Evans. The big guys in the trenches will be counted on to provide ample protection for Harrington and open up big holes for senior running back Curtis Marsh and junior running back Kevin Redmond. Anchoring the defense will be Celotto, Flandez and Sanders. Flandez led the team in tackles last year; Sanders was All-CIF; and head coach Gene Uebelhardt says there isn’t a better defensive lineman in Ventura County than the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Celotto. In a Nutshell: Every team in the Marmonte will be gunning for the defending champs, but after making the playoffs in three of the past five seasons, the Highlanders say they will be ready for the challenge. Harrington’s right arm, a group of speedy wideouts, power on both lines, and defense are the key ingredients to take Royal back to the Promised Land.

Calabasas

Coyotes Last season’s results: (8th in Marmonte, 0-10 overall). Failed to make the playoffs. Another winless season in 2004 stretched the Coyotes losing streak to 21 games. For the second-straight year ranked last in Marmonte in both points scored (124) and points allowed (385). Narrowest margin of defeat in the league season came in a 14-34 loss to Thousand Oaks. Notable returnees: Kevin May, jr., QB/LB (665 yards passing, 7 TDs, 8 INTs); Peter Epstein, sr., RB/LB (323 yards, 6.6 yards per carry); Matt La Terza, sr., DB; Adam Bernstein, sr., FB/DL; Matt Field, jr., WR/DB; Andrew Greenfeld, sr., OL Impact newcomer: Kevin Kaveh, sr., RB Who they play: Think the first game of the non-league schedule is unimportant? Don’t tell the Coyotes. Calabasas knows its Week One matchup at home against El Camino Real may be the best chance it has all season to snap its agonizing string of losses, so expect second-year head coach Wayne Quigley to hold nothing back. Week Two features a second annual game against the Oak Park Eagles, a team that beat the Coyotes 28-0 last season. For all intents and purposes, if Calabasas doesn’t have a win by Oct. 28, they probably aren’t going to get one. The Coyotes finish with three road games against Westlake, Thousand Oaks and Agoura. Overview: Though it might still be a few years away from regaining status as a Marmonte League contender, Calabasas will be improved in 2005. Have no doubts, the Coyotes bring back a slew of promising juniors, including May at quarterback and Field and Spatz at the wideouts, both of whom played big minutes in ‘04. The return of Epstein, who put up 236 yards in one game last season against Moorpark, softens the blow of the graduation of running back Alex Henderson—the team’s top offensive weapon last season. If Epstein can get some blocking and prove his performance against the Musketeers was no fluke, the Coyotes may have some balance. If not, May will be forced to put up the ball 25 to 30 times a game. The offensive line is still a bit undersized, a factor the team hopes to nullify with senior leadership and execution. Greenfeld and Darryl Dadon are returning starters while junior center Alex Cohen has shown good potential. Depth will be a major concern again for the Calabasas defense, which in the past couple seasons has been all but helpless against Marmonte League offenses. Returning All-Marmonte safety La Terza and defensive end Mike Maffe, who is out at least the first month with a broken ankle, will try to close the flood gates. Several players, including May and Epstein, will be asked to help the defense by starting on both sides of the ball. Any progress defensively is a step in the right direction, but things won’t be any easier this year. In a nutshell: A Week One win against El Camino Real could go a long way in giving Calabasas the confidence it needs to be able to pull off an upset later in Marmonte play. If not, the pressure to end the streak might be too much to bear for the still young Coyotes.

Newbury Park

Panthers Last season’s results: (5th in Marmonte, 5-5 overall). Failed to make playoffs. Although 2004 was another disappointing year for the Panthers, one can’t deny the team had some bright moments—defeating Westlake, 30-29, and nearly pulling off what would have been an incredible win against rival Thousand Oaks, losing in an offensive shootout, 44-38. Defense was again the Achilles’ heel as Newbury gave up almost 27 points per game in Marmonte League play. Missed out on postseason action for the fifth straight season. Notable returnees: Jordan LaSecla, sr., QB (196 completions, 2,247 yards passing,14 TDs, 15 INTs); Jordan Cameron, sr., WR/DB (10 receptions, 3 TDs); Travis Dickey, sr., LB/FB; Josh Baker, sr., WR (34 receptions, 15.6 yards per catch); Mike Williams, sr., OL/DL; Luis Soria, sr., OL/DL Impact newcomer: Taylor Hardman, sr., RB Who they play: The Panthers’ new-look, non-league schedule includes very winnable matchups against two Div. XI opponents (Verbum Dei and Oak Park). Although Oak Park is never an easy game, Newbury’s toughest preseason matchup is most likely a Sept. 16 home game vs. Rio Mesa. Loaded at the front and back, the Panthers’ league schedule begins against Agoura (Sept. 30) and ends on the road against the Lancers (Nov. 11) in game with potential playoff implications. Overview: The time is now for third-year starter LaSecla, a prototypical pocket passer who’s yet to prove he’s the kind of quarterback head coach George Hurley believes he can be. Though he put up big numbers in 2004 in the Panthers’ air-it-out offense, he still threw more interceptions than touchdowns, something he hopes to avoid as a senior. With the offense expected to be as pass-happy as ever, LeSecla is poised for a huge year—but whether or not big-time passing stats will lead to wins is yet to be seen. Newbury Park has just two other returning contributors at the skill positions, Cameron and Baker, but they’re two good ones. The other wideouts are unproven, but very athletic. Hardman, Michael Pruitt and Miles Minton are competing for time in a backfield that will be looked upon to pass-block more than anything. Williams and fellow returning starter Soria will anchor an offensive line that is the team’s biggest uncertainty. Several players are competing for starting jobs in a lineup that is strong, but undersized. The inability to stop opponents from scoring is again the obstacle standing between the Panthers and their first trip to the postseason since 1999. Hurley, in his 18th season at NPHS, needs his defense to be good—not great. In a nutshell: The upbeat Panthers come into the season riding a wave of confidence thanks to a very productive summer and an ever-growing roster of capable athletes. Whispers around the league say Newbury Park could be the dark horse—avoiding turnovers and playing D could make that happen.