Agoura Chargers

Last season's results: (Tied for 4th in Marmonte, 7-4 overall). Agoura's 2005 season was a rollercoaster ride. The Chargers beat Buena, Camarillo and Rio Mesa to start the year, but followed the fast start by losing three of their first four league games. With their backs against the wall and in danger of missing the playoffs, AHS defeated Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Calabasas to qualify for the postseason. In the first round of the playoffs, the Chargers lost a heartbreaker to Camarillo, 16-14, on a last-second field goal.

Notable returnees: Eric Wells, sr., LB/RB (46 tackles, 5 sacks); Scott Beth, sr., OL/DL; Matt Bradley, sr., LB/RB/PK (44 tackles); Aric Duran, sr., WR; Adam Fish, sr., DL; Josh Irvin, sr., WR/SS (313 rushing yards, 5 TDs); Austen Jesse, sr., CB (27 tackles); Jake Rivkin, sr., OT; Matt McGinnis, jr., RB/LB (185 rushing yards, 3 TDs); Brady Smith, sr., OL/DL Impact newcomer: Kevin Graf, soph., OL/DL Who they play: The Chargers open the season on the road against Ventura (Sept. 8). Agoura then gets Camarillo (Sept. 15) and Rio Mesa (Sept. 21) at home in consecutive weeks. If AHS can overcome three straight road games to open the Marmonte schedule-Simi Valley (Sept. 29), Newbury Park (Oct. 6) and Moorpark (Oct. 13)-they should be in good shape heading down the backstretch of the league calendar. On Oct. 27, AHS hosts longtime rival Westlake, a team they haven't beaten since 1995. Get your tickets early for that one.

Overview: Agoura's air-it-out offense of years past will take a backseat this season as head coach Charlie Wegher promises to implement a smashmouth running game and option attack to complement the team's four wide receiver sets.

Taking over for departed quarterback Dominick Huerta will be senior Jordan Arias. While filling in for an injured Huerta last year, Arias completed 5-of-16 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. While his arm strength might not be on par with Huerta, Arias is niftier on his feet.

Agoura's strength is in its offensive and defensive lines, where big bodies are abundant. A trio of starting linebackers-Wells, McGinnis and Bradley- will also share running back duties, with Wells as the likely starter. They'll be a physical bunch of ball carriers.

Bradley has the unenviable task of replacing J.T. Wright as the team's place kicker. The Chargers finished minus seven in turnover differential a year ago. They must reverse that trend to compete for a league championship in '06.

In a nutshell: With 13 starters returning, including seven on defense, and 28 seniors on the roster, Agoura has the look of a team that can advance deep into the postseason. Don't expect to see a lot of shootouts, however, because this team's built to win games in the trenches. Moorpark Musketeers

Last season's results: (Marmonte League champions, 10-4 overall). Lost to St. Bonaventure, 277, in the CIF-SS Division IV title game. After capturing the league title, the Musketeers rolled through San Marcos, Arroyo Grande and Ventura before dropping a heartbreaker to St. Bonnie in a game that was closer than the final score would indicate. The MHS defense allowed a mere 13.2 points a game last season, while the team's offense punished opponents on the ground to the tune of 244.7 rushing yards per contest.

Notable returnees: Darrell Scott, jr., RB (1,988 rushing yards, 19 TDs); Adam Barry, jr., QB (109-of-209 passing, 1,581 yards, 15 TDs, 10 INTs); David Prickett, sr., WR/PK/P (27 receptions, 376 yards, 3 TDs, 8 FGs, 29 PATs); Nick Karam, sr., WR (16 receptions, 8 TDs); Dakota Holland, sr., FS (80 tackles, 8 INTs); Zach Trottier, sr., LB (73 tackles, 1.5 sacks) Impact newcomer: Ryan Murry, jr., WR Who they play: Moorpark's preseason schedule is absolutely loaded. They kick off the year tonight on the road against nationally ranked Canyon, and then host Hart the following week. MHS is back on the road in Week 3 to play Ventura. The Musketeers' Marmonte schedule begins with back-to-back road games against Royal (Sept. 29) and Thousand Oaks (Oct. 6). The regular-season finale at Westlake (Nov. 10) could be a beauty.

Overview: The Musketeer offensive line should be the envy of the league-if not the entire county. MHS has a pair of mammoth bookend tackles in George Halamandaris (6-foot-7, 310 pounds) and Kyle Rainer (6-foot-7, 300 pounds). On the inside, guards John Martinez and Daniel Reinhardt are as solid as it gets. Center Pat Carter is nasty and plays much bigger than his 5-foot-10, 260-pound frame. Those five guys should help the ultra-talented Scott run wild again in '06.

Barry really started to mature near the end of last year and has looked good during offseason workouts. The signal-caller has been hitting the weights hard and is poised for a breakout year. Wideouts Karam and Josh Smith can fly and will make teams pay for stacking the line to stop Scott.

If there's a chink in the champ's armor it's on the defensive side of the ball where MHS lost eight of 11 starters from a year ago. Holland, Trottier and third-year varsity linebacker Tom Mouwen must provide leadership and stability while the unproven newcomers learn the team's 4-4-3 defensive scheme.

In a nutshell: The MHS offense has all the necessary ingredients to dominate, but it'll be the defense that'll likely decide the Musketeers' fate. If the unit comes together, Moorpark could be unstoppable. Consider them the frontrunners.