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Emotional conclusion to Thousand Oaks' season
As the Thousand Oaks football team gathered on the field last Friday night at College of the Canyons following its 41-19 loss to Hart of Newhall in the first round of the CIFSouthern Section Northern Division playoffs, Lancer players, coaches, fans and friends were swept up in the emotion of a season-ending defeat. Young men who pride themselves on toughness embraced each other, some with tears in their eyes, while others gazed off in disbelief or chatted with family members. Countless pictures were taken and numerous handshakes were shared. This was the last stop for 2006 Thousand Oaks football team and its 28 seniors. "It's really sad," senior defensive/offensive lineman Dejuan Yates said. "I've seen seniors pass and I've told myself, 'I've got another year.' But there's not another year left now, and I'm really sad to see high school football go." Senior quarterback Ryan Cloney, who'll leave TOHS with a handful of school passing records to his credit, said he'll always remember the friendships he made as a Lancer. "Taylor Malm and Dejuan Yates and Justin Acerboni, those guys were the best guys to ever be around," Cloney said. "They were always with me. "The coaches have been great-both of the Vereses, Coach Sanders, everyone. It's been a blast and I'll never forget these guys." Working with Cloney, a threeyear starter, was a pleasure, Sanders said. "Ryan has been great from the start," Sanders said. "He's coachable. He's done everything we asked him to do. He's a leader. He steps up. He's vocal. He sacrificed his body. He's smart. "He works and works from the standpoint of studying film and he never backed off from that. You don't throw for 7,700 yards in your career without doing something right," he said. Against Hart, Thousand Oaks could do little right. Although TOHS (7-4) entered the matchup riding a wave of momentum thanks to a three-game winning streak, the Lancers found themselves trailing 28-0 before eight minutes had expired on the game clock. Thousand Oaks' offense couldn't move the ball and the Lancer defense had no answer for Hart running back Delano Howell, who rushed for a school-record 271 yards and five touchdowns. "The game got out of control really quick and we weren't able to stop it," Cloney said. "We were kind of drowning under water and we couldn't get up. We were stuck and we couldn't get anything going until the final six minutes of the game." TOHS trailed 35-0 at halftime and Hart (7-4) stretched its lead to 41-0 through three quarters. Midway through the final quarter, Thousand Oaks finally discovered its offense. Cloney connected with senior wideout Albert Sheehan from 10 yards out to give Thousand Oaks its first score of the contest at the 7:44 mark of the fourth quarter. After recovering an onside kick, Cloney's 26yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back John Lister made the score 41-13 in favor of Hart. Thousand Oaks got the ball back once more late in the game. On his final pass as a Lancer, Cloney found Sheehan open in the end zone from 12 yards out. With the game out of reach and the clock expired, TOHS didn't attempt an extra point. "I didn't really think about the last touchdown," Sheehan said. "None of that really mattered to me. It was a catch that should have been made, and I caught it. "I wasn't thinking about making a final catch. I was just looking up at the scoreboard and thinking about that." Sanders said he was surprised the game spiraled out of control so rapidly. "Momentum is a huge thing in football and in high school football," Sanders said. "They got it, and we couldn't get it slowed down and couldn't get it back. "The way we played was not indicative of our ability," he said. "But I'm forever proud of the kids. They've worked hard since January and have done everything we could ask." Although next season's preparation will begin soon, Sanders' job with the '06 team wasn't totally finished. "I still have to get us on the bus and get us home," he said. |
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