Camino League Opener vs. the Camarillo Scorpions

On Friday night, the Panthers finally opened Camino League action.

Camarillo Scorpions
(4-3, 0-0)
at
Newbury Park Panthers
(5-2, 0-0)

Opening Night at last!

After several seasons operating in Ventura County's uber-league, the ten team Marmonte League of 2014 called for a new league set up.

The Marmonte Football Association (MFA) was made up of the Marmonte's former teams, i.e., Agoura, Calabasas, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oaks Christian, Royal, Simi Valley, St. Bonaventure,  Thousand Oaks and Westlake, as well as newcomers and perennial powers from the Pacific View and Tri-Valley Leagues, Camarillo and Oak Park respectively.

The MFA then, after much heated discussion, broke up into three new four-team leagues.

The upper league (Marmonte) is composed of Moorpark, Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure and Westlake.

The mid-level league (Camino) is made up of Camarillo, Newbury Park, Royal and Thousand Oaks.

The lower league (Canyon) is Agoura, Calabasas, Oak Park and Simi Valley.

Only playing three league games leaves little room for error!

Captains Out

#53 is Vince Carreon

#75 is Spencer Thompson

#50 is Alex Urias

#22 is Kaiden Raduziner

Luke Smith with the BIG HAMMER

Due to a serious set of injuries sustained last year, this was the first game that Luke has been able to suit up. 

FIRST QUARTER:

Austin Matney's Kickoff Return

PANTHER BALL:

Austin Matney returned the opening kickoff to the 50 yard line, a great start! Unfortunately, we wasted our good field position by committing three drive killing penalties and allowing an 11 yard QB sack that took us out of field goal range before turning the ball over on downs.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 11 plays, 45 yards

Kalani Sanchez trucks
a Scorpion defender

SCORPION BALL:

The Scorpions went to the air from the start of the game but the the Panthers were in a bend but don't break mode on this fine autumn afternoon. After making a first down, the Panthers pressured the Scorpions into a 23 yard net punt.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 6 plays, 34 yards 

Tyler Hwang in action

PANTHER BALL: 

With good field position, the Panthers put together a drive reeling off nine plays as the first quarter came to an end.

One of Ryan Matlock  five receptions

Vince Carreon protecting Tyler Hwang

Very Colorful

One on One Tackle

Tyler Hwang on the loose

At the end of the First Quarter

Panthers 0 - Scorpions 0

SECOND QUARTER:

HANG ON!!!

PANTHER BALL: 

The Panther drive that ended the First Quarter had one more play in it to start the Second Quarter, a 34 yard field goal by Dario Longhetto, Panthers 3 - Scorpions 0.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 9 plays, 32 yards 

Running low to the ground

Ryan Schmidt #63 and Alex Urias #50
dragging down a hard running Scorpion

SCORPION BALL:

Hard fought defense continued to rule the day. Camarillo got off a fine 41 yard punt that pinned the Panthers back to our own three yard line.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 8 plays, 27 yards 

JUMP, it's a punt

Andrew Noble Sweep

PANTHER BALL: 

The Panthers had minimal success before throwing an interception.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 5 plays, 24 yards 

Joe Willie Namath was IN THE HOUSE!

SCORPION BALL:

The Camarillo offense struck quickly with a 21 yard pass on first down but the Panther defense stiffened and forced the Scorpions into a 32 yard field goal attempt. Panther DE Jack Walsh knifed through to block the kick and also recover the ball 25 yards behind the original line of scrimmage after a wild melee for the ball.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 4 plays, 21 yards 

Reviewing the Field Goal Block Scheme

Jack Walsh's FG Block . . .

. . . the Wild Melee . . .

. . . and WE RECOVRED IT!!!

PANTHER BALL: 

The First Half was drawing to a quick close so we attempted to take advantage of the momentum swing that the field goal block provided. Unfortunately we threw another interception to end the Second Quarter.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 3 plays, 15 yards

AT THE HALF

Newbury Park 3 - Camarillo 0 

The half time stats reflected the defensive nature of the game.

Camarillo had 18 plays for only 82 yards while Newbury Park had 28 plays for a mere 116 yards.

THIRD QUARTER:

We need to pick up the pace!

SCORPION BALL:

After a Dario Longhetto touchback on the kickoff, the Panthers' defense enjoyed a Three and Out, Punt! Add another poor punt by the Scorpions that only covered 15 yards and things were looking good.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 3 plays, 3 yards 

Good Hitting by Both Teams

PANTHER BALL: 

NPHS wasted another golden opportunity as we were once again turned away deep in Camarillo territory on downs.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 4 plays, 7 yards

Big Camarillo Pass Play

SCORPION BALL:

On their first play, Camarillo hit a big 39 yard pass but on their next play, Ryan Matlock intercepted a Camarillo pass in the end zone.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 2 plays, 39 yards 

Ryan Matlock Interception

Kaiden Raduziner
4 catches, 50 yards on the day

PANTHER BALL: 

Three and Out, Punt, but Tavis Valenzuela exploded a 52 yard punt down to the Camarillo 21 yard line.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 3 plays, 7 yards

Nathan Zager's Dying Cockroach
block to spring Nicolas Cellona

Tavis Valenzuela's 52 yard Punt

UH-OH
He Could Go All the Way

SCORPION BALL:

He did. This Scorpion RB gashed us on a 79 yard TD run. The PAT was good and the Scorpions led 7-3.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 1 play, 79 yards 

 But Not For Long . . .

Andrew Noble Kickoff Return . . .

. . . TO THE HOUSE!!!

PANTHER BALL: 

Not a drive but an EXPLOSION!!! Andrew Noble, with the aid of two key blocks by Trevor Martin and Nicolas Cellona, took the kickoff 85 yards to pay dirt. Dario Longhetto kicked the PAT through the uprights and it was now Newbury Park 10 - Camarillo 7.

SURROUND HIM!

Daniel McCoy breaking up a key
Third Down pass play

SCORPION BALL:

The Panthers recorded their second Three and Out, Punt of the game!! Great pressure again forced a 15 yard Camarillo punt and the Panthers would set up shop at the 50 yard line.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 3 plays, 5 yards 

Breathing Room for Kalani Sanchez

Good Pad Level by Trevor Martens

Clutch Catch by Kaiden Raduziner

PANTHER BALL: 

A run oriented drive saw the Panthers score again, this time on a one yard Tyler Hwang Wedge play. Dario Longhetto was true again on his PAT and the score was now Newbury Park 17 - Camarillo 7.

DRIVE SUMMARY: 6 plays, 50 yards 

WEDGE!!!

Dario Longhetto's PAT was GOOD!

SMUSH!!!

SCORPION BALL:

After Dario Longhetto's second kickoff touchback of the day, Camarillo was driving as the Third Quarter came to a conclusion.

After 36 Minutes of Play
Newbury Park 17 - Camarillo 7

FOURTH QUARTER:

QB Pressure by Alex Urias

SCORPION BALL:

Camarillo's Third Quarter ending drive continued for one more play before they were forced to punt.
DRIVE SUMMARY: 5 plays, 27 yards 

We needed all the help

we could get!

PANTHER BALL: 
Penalties again ruined a Panther drive but a 40 yard Tavis Valenzuela punt aided greatly. A Three and Out, Punt at this point was not what we needed to say the least.
DRIVE SUMMARY: 3 plays, -3 yards 

Camarillo kept battling

SCORPION BALL:

The Scorpions were stymied by an interception by Andrew Noble deep in Panther territory.
DRIVE SUMMARY: 5 plays, 15 yards 

Andrew Noble's Interception

PANTHER BALL: 
We needed a good drive NOW! Instead we got a Three and Out, Punt. And not a very good punt at that.
DRIVE SUMMARY: 3 plays, -1 yard 

Goal Line Collision

Scorps' First and Goal at the One

Big Tackle by Austin Matney

The Pit

SCORPION BALL:

The Scorpions started this drive on our 23 yard line, NOT GOOD! The were able to score on a one yard run and their PAT was good. With 2:07 left in the game, it was Newbury Park 17 - Camarillo 14.
DRIVE SUMMARY: 7 plays, 23 yards 

The Camarillo Onside Kick

was near perfect . . .

. . . Wild Scramble . . .

. . . but Andrew Noble recovered

it to SAVE THE DAY!!!

PANTHER BALL: 
We had to get a First Down and make Camarillo use their timeouts to win the game. On Third Down, RB Kalani Sanchez made an incredibly great, gutsy run breaking several tackles along the way to make the needed First Down. Three Victory Formation kneel down plays ended the contest.
DRIVE SUMMARY: 6 plays, 7 yards 

The Start of Kalani's BIG Run

Kalani Sanchez Doing His Best

Impression of a Whirling Dervish!

It was finally over!

Final Score

Newbury Park (6-2, 1-0 CL) 17

Camarillo (4-4), 0-1 CL) 14

Post-Game Respect

GREAT WIN BOYS!!!

Our poor offensive showing was of great concern but we won and that was the important thing.

Final offensive stats for the two teams make you wonder how we won the game:

Camarillo had 44 plays for 273 yards.

Newbury Park had 53 plays for only 183 yards.

The key was great Special Teams play that included two touchback kickoffs, a field goal, two PATs, two great punts, one good kickoff return, one GREAT kickoff return for a TD, the recovery of Camarillo's onside kick attempt, blocking a Camarillo field goal attempt and forcing several bad Camarillo punts.

Post Game Revelry

With a Happy Grandson Jacob

Jacob in Fumble a Recovery Drill

Styling!!!

Because of the hot weather all of this season, this was my first opportunity to break out my new Victory Vest!

Andrew, Jenn and grandson Kevin gave it to me as a birthday present last July.

It highlights my features.

NEXT GAME

Royal (3-5, 1-0 CL)

at

Newbury Park (6-2, 1-0 CL)

Next up for the Panthers is the team that we are tied with atop the Camino League standings, the Royal Highlanders.

Although only 3-5 on the season, they have won their last two games convincingly and won their Camino League opener on the road at ThousandOaks H.S. last Friday.

We will play them at home on Thursday, October 30th at 4:00 p.m.

To date the Highlanders haven in order:

Lost to Buena 7-21

Lost to Golden Valley 13-24

Beaten Channel Islands 14-8

Lost to Santa Barbara 18-37

Lost to Moorpark 7-35

Lost to Simi Valley 14-41

Beaten Oak Park 42-13

Beaten Thousand Oaks 31-14

The winner of this game will be 2-0 in league play and in first place in the Camino League with only one game left to play.

BIG GAME!!!

Adventure Reading

Reading Is FUNdamental

An Ancient Warrior

An Incredible Treasure

A Lethal Enemy

Worked for me! 

Another solid suggestion from Andrew Contreras.

Westlake Game

After a bye week and two solid weeks of practice, it was time to hit the field again for our final non-league game of the season.

Newbury Park Panthers (5-1)

at

Westlake Warriors (3-3)

It was a Homecoming of sorts 

After all, I had been the Head Varsity Football Coach at Westlake H.S. for 11 seasons from 1978-1988.

During my tenure, the Warriors did not have an on campus stadium like they do now. Instead, all of our "home" games were played at Thousand Oaks H.S.

Game Captains

Scout Team: #19 Tanner Coolidge

Special Teams: #23 Andrew Noble

Defense: #50 Alex Urias

Offense: #7 Tyler Hwang

Ryan Matlock leading us out

with the BIG HAMMER

Dario Longhetto with

nice Pre-Game Hops

The game looked to be a close one as Westlake was much better than their record indicated with their three losses coming at the hands of powerhouse programs Red Mountain (Arizona), Long Beach Poly and Mater Dei.

FIRST QUARTER:

Dario's First Kickoff

was a Touchback!

Westlake Ball: The Warriors ten play drive covered 36 yards and ended when they went for it on Fourth Down but LB Austin Matney came up with a -11 yard QB sack to stop the threat.

Tavis Valenzuela on the tackle

Newbury Park Ball: The Panthers' six play drive only covered 14 yards but Tavis Valenzuela's 31 yard punt was downed by Alex Urias at the Warriors' 11 yard line.

Tavis Valenzuela Punting

Alex Urias Downing the Punt

Westlake ran the ball quite well

Westlake Ball: Westlake picked up another 35 yards on another six plays before punting.

Swarming to the Ball

Newbury Park Ball: The Panthers ran two plays as the First Quarter came to a close all knotted up at Panthers 0 - Warriors 0.

SECOND QUARTER:

Tyler Hwang throwing through

a forest of Warrior arms

Newbury Park Ball: The drive that ended the First Quarter continued with another nine plays ending in a two yard TD run by Kalani Sanchez. Dario Longhetto add the PAT and the Panthers led 7-0. In total, this drive covered 73 yards on 11 plays with the key being a Fourth Down fake punt. That play covered ten yards on a pass from Tyler Hwang to Andrew Noble.

Kalani Sanchez on the loose

Westlake Ball: The Warriors countered with a six play, 65 yard scoring drive. Their TD was a 32 yard pass, the PAT was good and we were tied up again at 7-7.

Newbury Park Ball: The Panthers only gained 13 yards and threw an interception on the eighth play of the drive.

Shawn Gocke driving on

the Westlake Receiver

An Open Andrew Noble

A Big Run by Tyler Hwang

Westlake Ball: The Warriors wasted no time in cashing in on the Panther turnover. After a 41 yard run on their first play, they hit an eight yard TD pass on their second play. The PAT was good again and the Warriors led 14-7.

Goal Line Offense

TD Kalani Sanchez

#6 Jack Ensey flying over a great

block by Austin Matney

Newbury Park Ball: A seven play, 63 yard drive ended on downs.

Ryan Matlock

on a 32 yard scamper

Matlock again,

this time for 14 yards

Westlake Ball: The Warriors ended the First Half with a harmless three play, 17 yard drive as time expired.

The Half Time score was Westlake 14 - Newbury Park 7.

THIRD QUARTER:

BIG Play by Mike Estandian

recovering a surprise onside kick

to start the Second Half

Ryan Matlock's Miracle Catch was

called back due to a holding penalty

Newbury Park Ball: Needing to cash in on the great field position that Mike Estandian's recovery of the Westlake surprise onside kick, NP drove eight plays and 35 yards before turning the ball over on downs again.

Ryan Matlock on a 26 yard run

Nice Double-Team Block by

Vincent Carreon and Kalani Sanchez

Westlake Ball: The Warriors enjoyed an efficient 12 play, 72 yard scoring drive that ended with a perfect six yard TD pass in the back corner of the end zone with a one handed catch. The PAT was good as Westlake extended their lead to 21-7.

Westlake TD Pass

I don't think that our DB could have played it much better than this.

Newbury Park Ball: Time was running out and NP had to get things done in a hurry! Unfortunately, we only came up with 39 yards on seven plays as the drive ended with our second interception of the game. 

Great Grab by Kaiden Raduziner

Westlake Ball: Westlake was driving as the Third Quarter ended. They had covered 36 yards on four plays up to that point. The Third Quarter ended with the score being Westlake 21- Newbury 7.

FOURTH QUARTER:

Westlake Ball: The Warriors continued their drive for two more plays that covered only six yards before punting.

Newbury Park Ball: Time to start a furious comeback! Six plays and 89 yards later, the drive ended with a 17 yard strike from Tyler Hwang to Ryan Matlock. Longhetto's PAT was good again and the Westlake lead was cut to 21-14. 

Ryan Matlock's TD

Westlake Ball: After a great Kickoff tackle by Austin Matney and Jack Walsh, Westlake had the ball at their own seven yard line. The Warriors would fumble a handoff exchange on their third play of an eight yard drive and Nicolas Cellona would recover it deep in Westlake territory!

Warrior FUMBLE!

Cellona Recovers

Newbury Park Ball: In only three plays, the Panthers were able to drive the necessary 20 yards to pay dirt! Big catches by Kaiden Raduziner and Ryan Matlock led to a one yard QB Mathieu Paredes-like QB Wedge for the TD.

Now, to go for the win or the tie? Never in doubt -- go for the win! Our two-point pass play was knocked away on a good effort by a Westlake LB. Westlake still led 21-20. 

Another fine Kaiden Raduziner catch

Ryan Matlock came down

at the one yard line

WEDGE for SIX!!!

Two-Point Pass

Our Defense had to come up BIG!

Westlake Ball: On the third play of the Westlake drive that had covered only 5 yards, SS Tyler Hwang broke up a Warrior pass that ricocheted into the waiting arms of FS Kaiden Raduziner. We had the break that we needed!

Tyler Hwang breaks it up and . . .

. . . Kaiden Raduziner intercepts it!!!

Kalani Sanchez on a 20 yard pick up

Newbury Park Ball: After this nice 20 yard gain by Sanchez on the first play of the drive, we could only muster an incomplete pass followed by our third interception of the day.

Westlake Ball: The Warriors were satisfied to turn the ball over on downs after consuming a lot of the remaining game time via a seven play, 36 yard drive.

Newbury Park Ball: The Panthers last chance ended meekly gaining only eight yards on four plays.

Westlake Ball: The Warrriors took a knee three times and the game was over. The Final Score was Westlake 21 - Newbury Park 20.

Westlake is now 4-3 and opens their Marmonte League season next Friday against Moorpark.

Newbury Park drops to 5-2 and opens our Camino League season at home against the 4-3 Camarillo Scorpions.

Camarillo will be another tough game for us. So far, their non-league season results in order are:

Beat Rio Mesa 16-6

Lost to Paso Robles 19-21

Beat Simi Valley 35-14

Beat Ventura 16-6

Lost to Saugus 0-9

Lost to St. Bonaventure 14-17

Beat Calabasas 34-20

Time to Re-Group

Visitors from Sweden

One of the fun things about having coached American football for five seasons in Europe has been meeting wonderful people in each and every country that we have lived.

Sarah, Aston and Lucas Grip

While we can still stay in contact via e-mails and Facebook, but there is nothing like face-to-face contact.

Tonight we were excited to see two of our Swedish friends from our season coaching the Hässleholm Hurricanes back in 2010.

Lucas Grip was a tough minded offensive guard for the Hurricanes. His two brothers Jonas (The Godfather) and Rasmus were also stalwarts of our team that year. Jonas was a big, physical defensive lineman while Rasmus was a very quick outside linebacker.

Lucas and his wife Sarah are here on vacation and as an added bonus, we were introduced to their new baby boy Aston. He is so cute!

Accompanied by some coffee and fika, we had a delightful evening catching up on old times.

The City of Camarillo also wants to thank the Grips for spending the day shopping at the City's Outlet Mall all day long.

GREAT people.