The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week
Oak Park Eagles (4-2) at Oaks Christian Lions (4-2) Friday, 7:30 p.m.
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers CROSSTOWN RIVALS- Oaks Christian's Ryan Landseadel could have a big impact in Friday night's game vs. Oak Park.

Bill Redell and Dick Billingsley are acting too nice toward each other.

Oh sure, the two veteran high school football coaches, Redell of Oaks Christian and Billingsley of Oak Park, can still get after it via the media, as evidence by these recent over-the-phone examples:

Redell: "Listen, I'd love to vacation with Dick on an island and then leave his (rear end) there."

Billingsley: "Yeah, well, he's a lot older than I am, so there you go."

So much for going for the throat. But the truth is, these are only snippets of interviews in which the opposing coaches otherwise praised each other's teams.

According to Redell, this collection of Oak Park players is the finest he's seen.

The coach, who won a Grey Cup in 1967 in the Canadian Football League and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, sees playmakers on both sides of the ball for the Eagles.

"Oak Park has the best team it's had in the six years we've been playing them," Redell said. "They are a well-coached team and field some fine players. Linebacker Sean Westgate is outstanding. Their quarterback, Kyle Andrus, is a good player. And they have outstanding offensive and defensive lines.

"This should be a good ballgame. I think that they feel this is the year they can beat Oaks Christian, and who knows, it may be."

And that's the real question: Is this Oak Park's year?

After losing key personnel to graduation, the Lions, owners of the longest winning streak in CIF-Southern Section history, saw that 48-game run to glory end against St. Bonaventure earlier this year. One week later they lost to Venice High, and the team's Teflon appeared to have worn a bit thin.

Throw into the mix the fact that Oaks Christian's Stanford-bound wideout, Chris Owusu, is doubtful for the game with a knee injury, and the Lions appear ripe for the picking.

Or not.

"Although Oaks Christian lost 11 Division I kids, they still have about six remaining," Billingsley said. "They may not be as dominant as they have been in the past, but they're still a great football team."

Both teams could easily be 60, rather than 4-2. The Lions nearly came back against St. Bonaventure and let a big lead slip away late at Venice. Oak Park suffered both of its losses after allowing passing touchdowns in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter, at home against Newbury Park in Week 3 and at Camarillo in Week 5.

"Those games, the wins and losses, have prepared us physically and mentally," Billingsley said. "If we can play with the big boys, then we've got a shot this week."

As successful as both coaches have been, the end result will be determined by the players on the field. Here are two important questions to ponder for this one:

1) Can Oak Park contain Oaks Christian quarterback/defensive back/kicker Chris Potter? The Boise Statebound senior has accounted for 17 touchdowns and two interceptions this year.

2) Will Oaks Christian's rush defense limit Oak Park's ground game? The Lions allowed 471 rushing yards in their two losses. The Eagles average 224.5 rushing yards per game.

For the answers to these questions and more, visit Oaks Christian Friday at 7:30 p.m.