The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week
Moorpark Musketeers (5-3) at Newbury Park Panthers (8-0) Friday, 7 p.m.
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers WORKHORSE- NPHS junior running back Chris Brown leads the Marmonte League with 1,210 rushing yards and 19 scores.

The Panthers are ready for a dogfight.

With their backs to the wall, the Moorpark Musketeers promise to be a formidable opponent for undefeated Newbury Park in the Panthers' final regular-season home game Friday night.

While NPHS holds a onegame cushion over Westlake for first place in the Marmonte League with two games to play, Moorpark finds itself in a threeway tie for third, along with Agoura and Thousand Oaks, all of whom are 3-2 in league.

Only four teams from the Marmonte will make the CIFSouthern Section Northern Division playoffs- putting the Musketeers in, essentially, a must-win situation.

Moorpark "hasn't had the season they wanted to have," Panthers head coach George Hurley said. "This is a chance for them to make amends; they could step up and knock somebody out of a league championship. That would make their season much more successful."

Newbury Park is looking to add another honor to its outstanding regular-season resume.

A victory in either of their last two games guarantees the Panthers a share of the league championship. Newbury Park hasn't won a Marmonte crown since 1998. Two wins- or a combination of other league outcomes- gives NPHS the title outright.

The Panthers faced a similar situation during the 2005 regular season when they entered Week 8 undefeated in league but lost two of their final three games and wound up tied for second place. Ironically, Moorpark won the Marmonte title that year.

Hurley and his coaching staff want to see this year's squad complete the job.

"We've talked about playing well so far and what a shame it would be to spoil it by not finishing off strong," Hurley said. "I think the kids are listening."

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the 2007 Panthers has been the team's balance.

The offense is averaging 28.7 points per game, with quarterback Colby Cameron and running back Chris Brown leading the way.

Five Newbury Park players have at least 18 receptions, and the team's offensive line has been dominant since the preseason when they captured the Ventura County Hogs title.

Considering the program's prolific offensive past, the fact that NPHS is scoring points shouldn't surprise anyone. What's been somewhat unexpected has been the Panthers' defense, a unit that's allowing only 14.1 points per game.

During the offseason, NPHS assistant head coach Doug Dagan and defensive coordinator Jack Willard, with help from Rio Mesa assistant coach George Contreras, implemented a 3-5-3 system- three down linemen, five linebackers and three defensive backs.

"When I first heard we were doing it I was shocked," NPHS inside linebacker Brandon Born said. "I knew Rio Mesa used to play it, but we'd torched them, and that made me a little skeptical. I didn't know how we would stop the run, but it's blown me away with how well it's worked."

If the defense can slow down MHS running back Austin Edmonson and limit quarterback Adam Barry, this collection of Panther players and coaches could cement their own legacy.

"We haven't had a title around here in a long time," inside linebacker Ron Tatham said. "We're hoping to change that very soon."