Friday Night Lights With the Sabolićs

Friday, September 4, 2026

We had a wide variety of games to pick from for tonight's edition of our latest Friday Night Lights experience.

Our final decision was simple, join Joanne and Paul Sabolić for a pre-game meal before watching their son Jason's game at Simi Valley H.S.

Jason is the Pioneers' Wide Receiver Coach.

For once it was not yours truly picking our dining spot, Joanne had an insight into the fine dining scene in Simi Valley.

This spot in the heart of Simi Valley

was FANTASTICO!

It was a new spot for us that we thoroughly enjoyed, we'll revisit Elvira's again in the future to be sure.

Fully sated, we were off to . . .

. . . the Home of the Pioneers

for our game tonight

The Knights were (0-2) coming

into the contest

Bishop Montgomery was coming off of a troubled 2025 campaign that saw their program shut down to a recruiting scandal.

I'm not sure what that means anymore in today's Wild West high school transfer world that saw Buena H.S. and Newbury Park H.S. each get a new transfer Varsity QB this week.

The Pioneers (1-1) were riding high

on a one game winning streak

It was a BEAUTIFUL day for

American football!

Can you name two Simi Valley H.S. female

students that are NOT cheerleaders?

The Pioneers Kickoff Return to start

the game set the tone for the night

I was disappointed to see the sparse crowd on the Bishop Montgomery side that made the trip from the beach city of Torrance.

We had a few problem issues watching the game.

First, the PA system was on FULL BLAST all game long.

Second, the PA announcer was also FULL BLAST in his delivery.

Finally, piped in, FULL BLAST rock music between every play and often during plays when Bishop Montgomery had the ball.

The net effect was the inability to converse with our friends due to the mind numbing volume.

Not Fun!

Catch the ball . . .

. . . throw the ball to the

WIDE OPEN receiver

That was the the ongoing theme for the night.

At the end of the First Quarter, Simi Valley was having their way with the Knights, 35-0. The Pioneers were already mercifully pulling their starters,

The non-competitive nature of the game combined with obnoxious PA situation begged the question, "Why were we still at the game?"

After sober reflection, and with the Pioneers ahead 49-6 midway through the Second Quarter, Laurie and I headed home.

A wise choice as soon after we left, the coaches agreed to invoke the Mercy Rule and play with a running clock the rest of the game.

Final Score

Simi Valley (2-1) - 56

Bishop Montgomery (0-3) - 6

Thank goodness for our time with Joanne and Paul!

GAME DAY: Pacifica at Camarillo Frosh Football

Thursday, September 3, 2026

It was Thursday, a third Game Day for our Camarillo Frosh football team.

Their Home Opener to boot!

Nice team photo

Should you be interested, here is the link to Camarillo H.S.'s 2026 Media Guide that is chock full of all sorts of Scorpions tidbits:

https://ae80e97d-95ec-434d-bde3-0b67f5982069.filesusr.com/ugd/5af633_676c1665e7764345b1101ba33105bb64.pdf

As for today's Frosh contest . . .

Pacifica H.S. Tritons (0-0)

at

Camarillo H.S. Scorpions (1-1)

Here come the Scorpions!

Grandson Jacob blocking on

the Kickoff Return team

Good gain for the Scorpions QB

Jacob giving me a thumbs up on

his first of many Punt long snaps

The Tritons QB was a good one

Camarillo Defense rallying to the ball

Keep on Trucking

Battle for improved field position

End of the First quarter with

Pacifica in the lead

Interesting stance by the

Triton's Right Tackle . . .

. . . but he did spring into action nicely

Triton QB loose again

Scorpions Kickoff Return

This does NOT look good for Camarillo

A well covered Pacifica aerial

SURROUND HIM!

This ball was tipped by two Scorpions

but landed in this receiver's arms

for another Tritons TD

I like the looks of Pacifica's Center

The Scorpion Defense trying to

stop the bleeding

The Halftime Score with Pacifica

in full control of the game

Camarillo Kicking Off to

start the Third Quarter

Jacob getting a piece of that

Kickoff's tackle

He could go . . .

. . . all the way!

Pacifica's QB raced 73 yards to pay dirt on the first play after the Kickoff.

Scorpions take to the air

 

More trouble for the Scorps

Another Camarillo Kickoff Return

Jacob at DE coming off the edge

Pursuing

More trouble for Camarillo

Elusive

Heisman Trophy pose?

End of the Third Quarter led

to the invocation of The Mercy Rule

The Fourth Quarter would be played with a running clock and the Tritons would do all in their power to not score again.

Jacob racing down field to cover

a Punt after his long snap

Jacob with a Special Teams tackle

Pacifica ran the ball well today

PURSUE THE BALL!

Pacifica continued to pound the rock

Jacob was targeted on this pass . . .

. . . but the Triton DB broke it up

Final Score

Pacifica (1-0) - 48

Camarillo (1-2) - 0

Next up for the Frosh Scorpions is a game at home against the Ventura H.S. Cougars (0-0) next Thursday.

Our choices for Varsity games on

Friday are plentiful

We've decided to join the Sabolić Clan to watch the Bishop Montgomery (0-2) at Simi Valley (1-1) game.

Their son, Jason, is Simi Valley's WR Coach.

Flashback to 1924

Truth be told, USC (9-2 overall, 2-1 PCC), no logo depicted here, was also a part of the 1924 PCC. The conference champions that year were the Stanford Indians (7-1-1 overall, 3-0-1 PCC).

In 1924, the Trojans defeated mighty Cal Tech 78-6 in their opening game and then had victories over Pomona, Whittier, Arizona, Oregon Agricultural (Oregon State today), Nevada, Idaho, Syracuse and Missouri. USC's two losses were to St. Mary's and California. 

If not in the PCC, where was UCLA football in 1924, you ask?

Why, they were playing in the Southern California Conference (SCC), the precursor to todays NCAA DIII Southern California Interscholastic Athletic Conference (SCIAC).

UCLA, known simply as Southern Branch Grizzlies in 1924, had a record of 0-5-3 overall, 0-4-1 in SCC play including a 6-0 loss to the mighty Cal Tech Beavers 102 seasons ago. The Grizzlies other losses in 1924 were to La Verne, Whittier, Occidental and Pomona. Their three ties that season came against Loyola, Redlands and San Diego State. 

Crazy game this football.