Rio Mesa Freshmen Beat Agoura

Rio Mesa (2-0)

at Agoura (0-2)

Game 3 of the season saw us hit the road for the 30 minute bus ride south to Agoura. It was predicted that it would be hot and the temperature at our 4:00 p.m. kickoff was indeed 99 degrees Fahrenheit! 

Agoura High School's air conditioned multi-purpose room 

The Charger's were great hosts and let us into this very comfortable room for our one hour wait before we would take the field. 

We told the team to pre-hydrate themselves for at least the last 24 hours before kickoff. For once they followed directions only perhaps a little too well. When I asked them if any of them had to use the restroom, the response was the best pursuit drill we have had all season!

In order to insure against any shenanigans, I went to the entryway of the restroom to monitor their behavior. After 3 or 4 minutes of nobody leaving the restroom and with 15 players waiting outside, I went inside to see what was holding things up. As it turned out there was one toilet stall and 3 urinals at our disposal. Everyone was waiting for the toilet! After informing them of the purpose of the urinals, they reluctantly started to use them.

The joys of coaching 14 year-olds for the first time NEVER ceases to amaze me! 

KICKOFF!

Let the game begin!

Fullback/Falcon Tanner Wrout

Tanner had a GREAT game! His blocking was a throwback to the Golden Days of two back offenses. He had a 35 yard TD run, caught a 2 point PAT,  forced a fumble and had 2 tackles for losses totaling -9 yards.

Tailback Brandon Chong

Quick and tough, he had 4 carries for 67 yards.

Defensive End Ben Dixon

Ben has been our leading tackler all season. Here he is rumbling to his first high school touchdown on a 23 yard scoop and score of a Charger fumble.

SACK!

We had 4 of them and a lot of pressure on their QB all game long.

Free Safety Darren Gales

Darren had 5 tackles and was a very positive force in the secondary.

Quarterback Trent Thornton

3 for 6 passing for 46 yards and 2 rushes for 29 yards and a TD.

Cornerback/Tailback Jaylen Stewart

Groin issues limited his playing time but he still ran the ball 4 times for 63 yards and a TD. On defense he intercepted a pass and is seen here returning it 80 yards for his second TD of the game.

Kicker Jason Ah Sue

After a poor showing in our season opener that led us to go for two in our second game, Jason has worked very hard to improve his craft. His form and efficiency were great in this game.

In the end, we were able to improve our record to 3-0 with a 41-20 victory. We were up 34-0 after the first drive of the second half and started to substitute liberally.

Offensively, nine different players carried the ball a total of 27 times for 271 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Defensively, our statistics sheet showed that THIRTY-TWO different players were in on at least one tackle! We recovered two fumbles, had an interception, made 3 tackles for losses and recorded 4 QB sacks. Of course, we also scored the two defensive touchdowns that I mentioned earlier.

Up next is our toughest test to date, St. Francis H.S. who is also 3-0. We'll play them on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at home.

The Emancipation Proclamation

Air Force One

A TRIP TO

THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Simi Valley, California is the home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library which is about 20 minutes from Casa Contreras. This weekend was the beginning of the Library's exhibit of the actual Emanicipation Proclamation which for my Sicilian friends is one of the most important documents in United States history.

Our son Mike and I, two history buffs, had to go see it Saturday.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of bloody civil war. Most people believe that this document freed all the slaves but this is not accurate. It actually freed all the slaves still living in areas in rebellion to the United States on that date. Thus, for example, it lists 13 parishes in Louisiana as exceptions to this Proclamation because U.S. armed forces now controlled them.

These singers greeted us as we walked into the Library's Main Courtyard

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States

serving from 1981 to 1989.

President Reagans Statue

Nancy Reagan eerily seen here was the Nation's First Lady.

"Rosie" the Spy

To tie in with the Emancipation Proclamation's Civil war theme, The Library had several Civil War re-enactors on duty to add a little authenticity of the day. "Rosie" was a widow and a spy for the Confederacy who would get sent to jail twice. Eventually she would drown when her boat capsized as she was wearing a dress with a considerable amount of gold sown into it.

The American Civil War started in 1861 and ended in 1865.

Nancy Reagan was known as a VERY classy dresser.

This dress is made out a popular Tartan plaid. 

The couch in our computer room shows that we must have GREAT taste too!

The Library's re-creation of the President's Oval Office has this sign as you enter.

President John Adams must be disappointed by the last 8 years.  

The Gipper

Ronald Reagan's most famous acting role may have been as Notre Dame's All-American running back George Gipp.

Mike's reflection in the glass case protecting George Gipp's actual Notre Dame letterman sweater.

I'm actually smaller that this representation of the U.S. Federal Budget!

But this statue was made before the recent government bail-outs.

LENINADE? For sale in the Reagan Pub? Incredible!

A piece of the Berlin Wall

President Reagan's Grave

A Civil War Re-Enactor... COOL BEARD!

A Civil War Surgeon

De-Briefing

After three hours viewing all the displays, including Air Force One, we had to sit down and discuss what we had just witnessed by going to the nearby, world famous eatery, The Hat. 

Mike Digs In!

What makes The Hat so good? FRENCH DIPPED PASTRAMI SANDWICHES!!! Pass the HOT mustard please!

Calcio Catania!

When we got home, we found Calcio Catania battling Atalanta in Catania! We were glued to the TVset the rest of the afternnon!

I didn't see anybody I knew in the crowd shots.

An injured Catania calcio player... how is that possible?

Catania eventually won by a final score of, are you ready for this, 1-nil!

Incredible!!!

Rio Mesa Freshmen Win Their Home Opener

NEWBURY PARK (1-0)

at RIO MESA (1-0)

Our home opener was played on Thursday, September 18th at 4:00 p.m. against the Newbury Park Panthers.

"Captains Out!"

#56 OG Kody Herman, #9 TB/CB Jaylen Stewart,

#91 DE Ben Dixon and #11 FB/Falcon Tanner Wrout

Tanner Wrout rumbling up the middle!

Tanner picked up some tough yardage against a very good Panther defense. His totals were 15 carries for 83 yards and 1 pass reception for 13 yards.

WR/CB Blake Selig

Blake did not play in our first game due to injury. He has great speed and is seen here on a WR reverse.

Workhorse Jaylen Stewart

Jaylen probably plays too much in our games. He had 27 carries for 94 yards, a TD and a 2 point PAT. He also was in on 5 tackles and broke up a pass from his cornerback position.

Pass Completion!

#7 Trenton Thornton to #1 Blake Selig

Two Ancients pondering their futures!

NG #45 Zach Saldana

Zach played REALLY well in what turned into a defensive battle. He had 7 tackles including a 9 yard QB sack, 3 tackles for losses totaling 6 yards and he recovered a Panther fumble.

DE James Turner forcing a fumble down low as fellow DE Ben Dixon gives chase. 

Jaylen Stewart battling in the secondary.

"RUN TO THE FOOTBALL!"

DE Ben Dixon recovering a Newbury Park fumble.

The extremely hard hitting, defensive game ended with Rio Mesa improving their record to 2-0 after hanging on to defeat Newbury Park 8-0!

The Spartans had 215 yards of total offense on 55 plays but lost 3 fumbles.

The Panthers were held to 41 plays and 179 yards of total offense but turned the ball over 4 times on 3 lost fumbles and an interception. We were able to hold them to only 6 completions in 20 passing attempts. Losing their starting QB on the second series of the game was an obvious turning point in the momentum of the game.

THE "5th QUARTER"

After the game was officially over, we had a "5th Quarter" consisting of 10 offensive and 10 defensive plays each to give the athletes who did not get into the game a chance to compete.

It was GREAT to see these kids out there who work so hard in practice!

#12 Richard "Slick" Vasquez at QB

#15 TB Roderick White exploded for two TD's in the extra period.

Defensive Swarm led by #60 Marcos Vega

Willamatte Plays at Cal Lutheran

The Football Weekend Continues

Our son Mike and his fiancee, Vanessa, are both graduate students at California Lutheran University in nearby Thousand Oaks, California. The 0-0 CLU Kingsmen opened their 2008 season Saturday against the 1-0 Willamette University Bearcats from Salem, Oregon.

Mike and I went to the game our FIRST EVER CLU game together primarily to watch Catania Elephant Brandon Bennett coach his alma mater's offensive line. Because Saturdays are always such a HUGE work day as a Varsity coach, I have just never had time to go to a 1:00 p.m. kickoff of a CLU game. I don't know Mike's excuse for never going to one of these shindigs.

One of the positive side effects of Freshman football coaching is indeed MUCH more free time on the weekends!

Brandon, in the maroon shirt, strides onto the field for pre-game warm-ups.

Re-United in Ventura County

I REALLY enjoyed Brandon in Catania, just a GREAT GUY!

Watching him at work in Sicily convinced me that he has all the makings of a GREAT coach as well as being the excellent lineman we thought he would be.

#42 Fernado Raigoza

Because I was in Sicily last spring, I lost sight of the fact that Fernando, who graduated from Rio Mesa in June, was playing for CLU. It was a great surprise to see him at the game!

Fernando making a tackle in a pre-game tackling drill.

Fernando was the epitome of hard work in high school. Due to his size he is now a defensive back at CLU after being a stellar linebacker at Rio Mesa.

I was surprised when Brandon's linemen did not run laps before the game.

NCAA Division III Football

College football at it's purest!

Coach Bennett about to make game time adjustments.

The Bearcats Smell Victory in the Hazy Air!

Willamette improved their record to 2-0 on the season with a 31-17 victory at Mt. Clef Stadium.

The Wildcats were down 3-7 at the half but stormed back in the last two stanzas to ensure a pleasant trip back to Oregon. Offensively, Brandon's very well coached linemen helped Willamette to 350 yards of total offense on only 52 plays for a very solid 6.7 yards per snap average.

The Bearcats will return to Southern California on Saturday, September 27 for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at La Verne University. Because we are hosting a dinner party that evening for soon to be "in the closet" University of Washington fans if our football team doesn't win soon, I probably will not be able to attend Brandon's game. If I did go, Laurie would undoubtedly kill me!

Rio Mesa Varsity Losses a Heartbreaker

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!

On Friday night the Rio Mesa H.S. Spartans Varsity team travelled up to San Marcos to open their season.

The San Marcos Royals sporting their new red jerseys in pre-game warm-ups.

Here come the Spartans!!!

Win the Line-of-Scrimmage and You Should Win the Game!

In a tough, hard fought, defensive battle, the Spartans tasted the bitter pill of defeat, losing 8-10. The Royals kicked the winning 32 yards field goal with only 21 seconds left in the game.

The Spartans have very quick, hard hitting defense that only gave up 157 total yards. Up next for the Varsity Spartans is a 1-0 Newbury Park H.S. team that defeated Camarillo 14-7 behind it's strong defense that only Camarillo only 89 total yards!