Friday, October 3, 2025
After two successive exotic and highly entertaining editions of Friday Night Lights, first in Boron and then at the California School for the Deaf-Riverside, we opted to stay much closer to home tonight.
We decided to attend a local game that was a Marmonte League opener, the area's strongest circuit, being played at Camarillo H.S.
We joined friends Joanne and Paul Sabolić for our shared pre-game nosh that consisted of garlic bread sticks, salad, pretzels, a Margarita pizza, beer and one lone diet Coke at the Institution Ale Co. located only about a mile from the Camarillo H.S. stadium.
Not sure how that salad got into our otherwise carb overload diet.
After the usual fun loving banter and some truly good food, we all packed into the Blueberry II for the quick ride to Camarillo H.S.'s upper parking lot so that we could enter the stadium from the top thus saving all of us the tortuous climbing of the stadium's steep steps.
Good career move in my opinion.
We were now safely ensconced in the stadium's comfortable blue seats to watch the Sabolić's son, Jason, coach the Wide Receivers who play for Simi Valley H.S.
Let the game begin . . .
Simi Valley H.S. Pioneers
Season Results
2 Wins - 3 Losses
vs. Spanish Springs (6-0) - Lost 41-21
at Valencia (5-1) - Lost 28-7
at Shadow Ridge (5-1) - Lost 41-40
vs. Cathedral (1-4) - Won 56-54
vs. Thousand Oaks (4-1) - Won 48-28
vs.
St. Bonaventure H.S. Seraphs
Season Results
2 Wins - 3 Losses
at St. Francis (0-5) - Won 19-7
at Birmingham (2-3) - Lost 41-9
at Inglewood (2-3) - Lost 18-16
vs. Central Catholic (2-4) - Lost 15-14
vs. Oak Hills (3-2) - Lost 16-14
Due to construction surrounding Ventura College where the Seraphs normally play their home games, this contest was moved to Camarillo H.S.
Seemingly Simi Valley played a tougher schedule with their five opponents having an aggregate record of 21-7, while St. Bonaventure's opponents only sported a combined slate of 9-17.
The Pioneers entered this key Marmonte League opener on a two game win streak while the Seraphs came into the game on a tough three game losing streak that saw them lose those games by just a combined five points.
The added twist in the game story dynamics tonight would be the potential addition of key transfers to the team's rosters.
Under C.I.F. rules, if a student transfers without changing their home address, they must then sit out the first five games of the season. This was Game Six for both squads.
Our local newspaper, the Ventura County Star, had published an article earlier today alluding to the 67 transfer athletes who would be eligible to impact, for the first time tonight, the games of the areas's 18 high school teams.
The Seraphs, according to the article, had at least one of these big name transfers, a 6-foot-4, 270 pound Sophomore defensive tackle by the name of Caleb Pasina.
The article did not mention any new players bolstering the Pioneers tonight.
As always, it was a
BEAUTIFUL
night for American football!
The wondrous view from our seats from high above Camarillo High School's Carl Thompson Field.
The four of us were ready to
root Jason's club on to victory
We had to be careful though, we were sitting on the much more easily accessible home side with the St. Bonaventure fans.
Simi Valley returned the opening
Kickoff 95 yards for a TD
At the end of the First Quarter, Simi Valley led 13-7.
The Seraphs unleashed a potent,
balanced Offense at the Pioneers
By Halftime, the Seraphs were starting to control the pace of the game and led 17-13.
During the intermission, the fans in attendance were treated to an amazing display of skill and endurance as I ambled down those steep steps to fetch some beverages at the snack stand and then, with two full cups of hot chocolate, conquered the dangerous steps back up to our seats without spilling a drop!
Homeric!
By the time I got my breath back and my heart rate to normal, the Third Quarter was done and the Seraphs were asserting their will on the Pioneers. St. Bonaventure was cruising with a 31-13 lead.
The Seraphs consistently took these
short routes that Simi Valley gave them
In the Fourth Quarter, Simi Valley made it interesting again but on this cool Friday night, the Seraphs were simply the better team.
FINAL SCORE
St. Bonaventure (3-3, 1-0 ML) - 41
Simi Valley (2-4, 0-1 ML) - 26
As we were strolling back to the Blueberry II, the Alpha male of the group, not me, remembered that Camarillo has a great, late night donut shop that he and his wife love to hit on their visits to our humble village.
What the hell, you only live once . . .
That said at the bottom of the
bag kind of summed up our mood
Two of the four happy customers
in line to bolster their waist lines
Choices
"One blueberry crumb, one glazed twist, one maple bar and two glazed donuts, por favor."
Wait, five donuts and only four patrons. Who got the extra donut, one wonders?
Not 100% sure but I can attest that Joanne, Laurie and I only had one each.
That would only leave, hmmm . . .
Washington (3-1) visits Maryland (4-0)
in an important Big-10 game tomorrow
I like this
Now it's on to Jacob's Pop Warner game on Saturday at Pacifica H.S. against the Oxnard Panthers.
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