Friday, October 23, 2026
After yesterday's precursor to the El Niñ0 weather phenomenon, we awoke to a crisp Fall day.
It was a BEAUTIFUL day for a
Cross Country Meet
It was not just any Cross Country Meet, it was the Ventura County Middle School Cross Country Championship Meet.
We were running at scenic
Camino Real Park in Ventura
Camino Real's cool tribute
to the local owl population
Mary would be competing for the Las Colinas Middle School Mustangs in the first race of the day at 3:00 p.m., the Girls J.V. Final.
The Mustangs were off to the races!
Santa Paula's Isbell M.S. Condors
had a "V for Vendetta" tribute runner
She looked both suspicious and dangerous to me.
#847, Mary Contreras,
Las Colinas M.S. Mustangs
Mary coming by us on her first
lap around the park's course
Mary on her second and final lap
Finish STRONG, Mary!
She would pass this runner as they
approached the Finish Line
So incredibly proud of this youngster
Mary driving for the Finish Line
Mary getting a post-race ride from her Dad
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Why is Mary so happy, you ask?
Probably because her time today was a vastly improved 17:13.50, her best time of the season by a whopping 4:09.33!
Of the 93 sixth, seventh and eighth grade girls in the race today, she finished 53rd, again, her best finish of the year. Her best finish was 64th in the race two weeks ago
Versus only the other sixth grade girls, Mary crossed the finish line 8th out of 20 girls. Again, this was an improvement, her best previous finish was 12th in her grade in her race two weeks ago.
It was a GREAT way to finish her first year running Cross Country for your Las Colinas Middle School Mustangs.
CONGRATULATIONS, MARY!
With the middle school Cross Country season now officially behind us, I joined the usual suspects to watch a high school football game.
But first we needed a substantial
pre-game meal at Toppers Pizza
Place in Oxnard
Properly nourished, we just had to cross the street, Gonzalez Road, to get to our game tonight, my 28th American football game of the 2026 season.
It would be a crucial heavyweight battle in our area's best circuit, the Marmonte League.
St. Bonaventure H.S. Seraphs
6 Wins - 2 Losses, Overall
3 Wins - 0 Losses, Marmonte League
at
Pacifica H.S. Tritons
6 Wins - 2 Losses, Overall
2 Wins - 1 Loss, Marmonte League
The view from our Field Level seats
There was a ton of speed on the field
The three amigos reveling in
the lap of luxury yet again
The game was a tough one for the
referees to control as there was a lot
of malarkey and shenanigans on display
Halftime Score
Pacifica - 21
St. Bonaventure - 7
The Second Half was played with
a bit more decorum thankfully
Referee John DuBose
John was a fine coach with us a Rio Mesa H.S. back in the day. Now he is an excellent referee, no surprise to any of us who know him.
The game was a good one, glad
that we attended
Final Score
Pacifica (7-2, 3-1 ML) - 24
St. Bonaventure (6-3, 3-1 ML) - 14
This result combined with Oaks Christian's (2-7, 2-2 ML) stunning 14-6 upset over Newbury Park (6-3, 3-1 ML) tonight creates a three way tie for First Place at 3-1 in the Marmonte League between Newbury Park, Pacifica and St. Bonaventure with but one week left in the regular season.
The Marmonte League's complete slate next weekend is:
Newbury Park (6-3, 3-1 ML) at
St. Bonaventure (6-3, 3-1 ML)
The winner of this NP-St.B game earning at least a share of the 2026 Marmonte League title.
Simi Valley (5-4, 1-3 ML) at
Pacifica (7-2, 3-1 ML)
Pacifica faces a dangerous Simi Valley eleven who they must beat in order to earn a share of the 2026 Marmonte League crown with the winner of the Newbury Park-St. Bonaventure game.
Bishop Diego (2-7, 0-4 ML) at
Oaks Christian (2-7, 2-2 ML)
Ho-hum.
The complete weekend results of our
Ventura County area high school games
News from the IFL . . .
The Monza Daemons will be
joining Italy's top league this
coming Spring
With the announcement yesterday of an as of yet unnamed expansion team based in Milan joining the IFL for the 2027 season, I believe that there will now be ten teams in the hunt for spots in Italian Bowl XLVI.
It was another remarkable day with family, I was happy to be alive.
In a prevue of tomorrow's doings, Michael and I are heading to exotic Trona, CA on the edge of Death Valley to watch a non-league, 8-man football game between the Frazier Mountain Falcon (2-5) and the Trona Tornadoes (4-3).
Why drive three hours to see this, my 29th game of the year?
To see the famed Trona H.S. football field, a.k.a., The Pit, of course, check it out:
The Pit is unique and pristine sand
field like no other in the USA
For more on The Pit, click on this link:
Stay tuned, the Adventure continues . . .
