The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers WIDE OPEN—Curtis Dempster is the go-to guy in the Thousand Oaks High passing attack. He has 21 catches for 339 yards. November 5, 2004.

It's been almost four years— make that four long years— since the Thousand Oaks High football team defeated rival Moorpark.

Since that crisp fall evening many moons ago, Moorpark has won by scores of 50-28 in 2005, 38-24 in 2006, and last season's 40-17 Musketeer romp at MHS.

Now Moorpark (5-1, 3-0 in the Marmonte League) comes into Thousand Oaks' (6-0, 3-0) house for a matchup between the second- and third-ranked teams—T.O. is No. 2—in the latest CIF-Southern Section Northern Division coaches' poll.

Pride, payback and a potential league championship are at stake. No extra motivation will be required when these two teams step on the gridiron Friday night.

"If you're a football player and you can't get up for this game," said TOHS head coach Mike Leibin, "then you shouldn't be playing football."

There will be intriguing matchups all over the field.

Atop the list sits the pending duel between the Lancers' offensive line and Moorpark's defensive front.

The Musketeer line, led by tackles Corey Sandoval and Taylor Ramsey, as well as ends Cameron Phillips and Quen Kantaris, are relentless in their pursuit of opposing signal-callers.

Linebackers Marc Palacios and Brenden Daley are plugs in the middle, and hybrid safety/ linebacker Derrious Johnson provides speed on the edge.

The Musketeers are tough, well-coached and, with eight starters back from last year's unit, very experienced.

"Our offensive line is going to be focused on doing their jobs and giving me some time," TOHS senior quarterback Ian Shultis said. "I have to trust them and stay in the pocket, and I think that's how we can be successful."

Shultis has thrown for 746 yards and six touchdowns. He's completing 56.8 percent of his passes and has one interception.

Senior running back John Lister is the Lancers' workhorse.

Lister enters the contest with 1,149 yards on 120 rushes, good for 9.5 yards per clip. He's scored 15 touchdowns.

"This is going to be our biggest challenge so far this season in terms of stopping the running game," Sandoval said. "Lister is a powerful back. I've played against him several times, and he's a powerful guy. It's going to come down to who plays harder and who wants it more."

The Lancer defense can get the job done, too. Like Moorpark, TOHS is an experienced group with eight returning starters.

Josh Bounds, Dereck Jester and Colin Nakos anchor the defensive line, with Mitchell Korey, Garrett Malone and Tyler Rauch all playing well at linebacker.

Thousand Oaks may be tested against MHS junior running back Austin Edmonson, who burned the Lancers for 118 yards and three scores in '07. Edmonson, however, is questionable because of an upper-body injury.

Moorpark senior wideout Tim Vizzi is a Wes Welkertype receiver who runs precise patterns, has good hands and is deceptively quick. He's the Musketeers' leader in receptions and receiving yards.

"We expect T.O. to come out playing hard," Vizzi said. "We want to win. They want to win. It's going to be a tough battle for sure."

MHS quarterback Brian Blechen broke his right hand and will miss six-to-eight weeks, said head coach Tim Lins. Brody Rohach will start in his place.
Players to Watch
Moorpark TOHS
WR Tim Vizzi
RB Austin Edmonson
QB Ian Shultis
RB John Lister
LB Brenden Daley LB Mitchell Korey
DL Corey Sandoval
LB Garrett Malone

Outlook This is—hands-downs, without a doubt—the biggest game of the local high school football season to date. It's strength vs. strength as both teams feature skilled running backs, savvy offensive linemen and hard-hitting defenses. We say quarterback play will decide the outcome.