Friday, September 5, 2025
Son Michael joined me at tonight's latest edition of our Friday Night Lights adventures, my ninth football game of the season.
It was billed as the biggest Ventura County non-league game of season and given the star power and recent strength of the two teams, it was probably true.
Our combatants tonight were . . .
Newbury Park H.S. Panthers
1 Win - 1 Loss
2024 C.I.F.-Southern Section DII Champions
at
Pacifica H.S. Tritons
2 Wins - 0 Losses
2024 C.I.F.-Southern Section DIV Champions
Seen in the Pacifica H.S. parking lot
I kind of like just watching games in my old age.
Once inside the stadium, we ran into several good friends.
With former NPHS Head Coach
Jason Klein
Jason played on the Washington State team that played in the 1998 Rose Bowl, a 20-16 loss to Michigan.
As a Husky, I try to not let this flaw in Jason's character interfere with our friendship.
With sportswriter Joe Curley
Joe has worked tirelessly for years now for the Ventura County Star newspaper.
He is an honorable man whose journalism and work ethic on behalf of the local athletes playing high school sports in the area is greatly appreciated at least by one old coach.
Joe's note pad is almost like trying to
decipher a WWII Enigma machine missive
Two of Newbury Park's storied QBs
On the left is the current Panthers QB, Brady Smigiel. He is a Senior this year and a four year starter for the Black and Gold. Brady is committed to continuing his career at the University of Michigan in the near future.
On the right is former Panthers QB and the current NPHS Offensive Coordinator, Cam Rising. He led the University of Utah to two PAC-12 Championships in 2021 and 2022 and spots in consecutive Rose Bowls. Unfortunately, for both Utah and Cam, he was severely injured and unable to finish either of those Rose Bowl games which the Utes lost, 48-45 to Ohio State in 2022 and 35-21 to Penn State in 2023.
Michael with former Rio Mesa H.S.
standout OT Jess Ortiz
It was wonderful to catch up with big Jess after not seeing him for a few years.
Game Time!
Pacifica scored first and OFTEN!
The Panthers PAT was good
The Tritons moved the ball easily
on the ground throughout the game
HALFTIME SCORE
Pacifica - 35
Newbury Park - 21
Doing what they do best, NPHS
takes to the air again
A great play by this Triton DB
saved a TD on this play
There was absolutely FURIOUS
action in The Pit tonight!
A rare Panthers running play
As good as Smigiel's passing was
tonight, it was just not enough
The combination of Pacifica's excellent, balanced Offense, including a Ventura County single game record tying SEVEN TD passes by Tritons QB Taylor Lee with the Panthers' porous Defense proved lethal for Newbury Park on this lovely Friday night.
FINAL SCORE
Pacifica (3-0) - 56
Newbury Park (1-2) - 35
Meanwhile, back at the IFAF European Youth Flag Football Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, it was Finals day after a couple of days of Group play.
Italy's Mixed U15 club was
swamped in the Semifinals by Germany
This loss to Team Spain placed
the Azzurri in Fourth Place
for the tournament
A disappointing day to be sure for Team Italy's Mixed U15 squad that finished with a 5-2 record in the IFAF competition.
The Azzurri edged Team Finland
in their U17 Girls Semifinal
Team Italy, the Azzurri, are the
CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!
The U17 Girls team finished their tournament with a perfect 5-0 slate.
A good start for the Azzurri
U17 Boys today over the Germans
With the win by Team Austria,
this Azzurri squad finished in
Sixth Place in the European Championships
The Italian U17 Boys were 4-3 in these games.
Overall, these three Italian teams finished a combined and respectable 14-5 in the IFAF European Championships.
It was a good night of American football. Now we all look forward to Jacob's Pop Warner game on Saturday evening at Camarillo H.S.
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