www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/vcpreps/article/0,1375,VCS_136_5030136,00.html
Marmonte looks loaded again
League, which begins its schedule tonight, figure to be a tight struggle
By Loren Ledin, lledin@VenturaCountyStar.com September 29, 2006
Five Marmonte League football teams, led by No. 1 Moorpark High, are ranked among the top 10 in the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division.
Two Marmonte squads are 3-0 — and that doesn't include the defending champion Musketeers. Four more schools enter Week 4 of the high school season at 2-1.
As the Marmonte circuit begins its league season with four games tonight, it appears to be business as usual. The road to the playoffs looms as a six-week-long survival course and free-for-all.
"With the possible exception of Moorpark, which has great players who are well coached, I think the rest of us are going to be beating on each other," said Royal coach Gene Uebelhardt. "It will be just like last year, where we took turns beating everybody else. I've always thought ours is the best league in Ventura County, and nothing has changed this year."
Moorpark, led by running back Darrell Scott and a powerful offensive line, is regarded by rivals as the prohibitive league favorite. Calabasas, battling to snap a state-high 35-game losing streak, appears destined for the eighth spot. Every other place, including three playoff berths, would seem to be up for grabs.
"It appears to be as wide open as we've seen in awhile," said Agoura coach Charlie Wegher. "Moorpark certainly looks like the team to beat. But everything else is going to depend upon who plays the best over the rest of the regular season."
Moorpark (2-1), whose lone loss came in the season opener to highly regarded Canyon, begins its quest for a second consecutive league crown at Royal (2-1), beginning at 7 p.m. Also tonight, Agoura (3-0) visits Simi Valley (2-1), Newbury Park (1-2) ventures to Westlake (3-0) and Thousand Oaks (2-1) is at Calabasas (0-3).
Agoura and Westlake bring momentum into the league chase with impressive victories last week. The Chargers hammered Rio Mesa 26-7, while the Warriors stopped perennial strongboy Hart 28-27. Agoura, operating with a physical offensive line, settled on Matt Bradley last week as the starting running back. Doug Shumway, taking over the starting quarterback job with the suspension of Jordan Arias, has been strong and steady.
Simi Valley's Langston Jackson trails only Scott among the league's rushing leaders. With his 231-yard outburst last week against Burbank, Jackson has 408 yards, four TDs and is averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Simi Valley coach Todd Borowski isn't tempted to call his game with Agoura a pivotal matchup in the league race. "You know what? They're all pivotal," he said. "Every week, we'll be playing a game we have to win."
Other local football matchups Agoura (3-0) at Simi Valley (2-1)
Outlook: Before the season started, Agoura head coach Charlie Wegher said his squad would be balanced on offense. So far, so good for the Chargers, who've rushed the ball 101 times and passed it on 71 occasions during victories over Ventura, Camarillo and Rio Mesa.
AHS quarterback Doug Shumway has connected on 68 percent of his passes since taking over for Jordan Arias. The Charger ground game has been lead by Matt Bradley, who's averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
Against Simi Valley, Agoura's defense will need to key on Pioneer running back Langston Jackson, Simi's junior ball carrier posted 231 yards in Week 3.
New gunslinger in town Simi Valley quarterback Brandon Fricke transferred from Chico and is now starting for the Pioneers By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com
"It's been great having him this year," Borowski said. "He's got a strong arm and is very accurate, and has picked up the offense really quick. The one thing he's getting used to is the speed of the game, which is faster down here than it was where he played up at Pleasant Valley."
So far, Fricke's completion percentage has gone up every week for the 2-1 Pioneers. He's 19-for-39 passing for 213 yards on the year with only one in- terception. With Simi Valley having an outstanding running back in junior Langston Jackson, Fricke's had more time to survey the field and throw the ball.
MARMONTE LEAGUE
Moorpark's Darrell Scott is the premier running back in the league and arguably the best in the area. However, Simi Valley's Langston Jackson and Agoura's Matt Bradley are doing their best to make sure it isn't a one-horse race for the league's rushing title. Jackson and Bradley figure to be key tonight when the the Chargers travel to Simi Valley for a league opener at Simi Valley, and both are coming off breakout games in Week 3. Jackson gained 231 yards on 33 carries with three touchdowns in a 19-10 nonleague victory over Burbank.
Copyright © 2006 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Press Prediction:Agoura 30, Simi Valley 18: Say, wasn't this supposed to be a rebuilding year for Agoura? Chargers defense has been solid. It needs to be against Simi Valley RB Langston Jackson, who has rushed for 329 yards in his last two games.
Agoura wins opener
BY LEE BARNATHAN, Special to the Daily News
SIMI VALLEY - Doug Shumway and the Agoura football team quickly discovered Friday night that the Marmonte League is a place where the statistics aren't so padded and the opposition is tougher.
Say goodbye to the first three weeks' accomplishments. Now is when you secure hard-fought wins and, quite possibly, reputations.
Against this backdrop came Shumway, a junior making his first league start and only his fourth varsity start, having taken over after Jordan Arias was suspended for violating school district policy.
Shumway marched the Chargers 70 yards in 13 plays for the decisive touchdown with nine minutes to play, giving Agoura (4-0) a 28-19 victory at Simi Valley in a league opener for both teams.
Shumway's actions came on the drive that followed Simi Valley's third touchdown, an 8-yard run by Pioneers quarterback Brandon Fricke. Shumway completed 6 of 7 passes for 46 yards on the drive, including an 8-yard touchdown pass to Matt Bradley.
"(Simi Valley) put seven (defenders) in the box, which makes it tough to run, especially when we're a four-wide passing team," Shumway said. "I changed to some quick passes and some screens." Shumway's heroics were needed, because Agoura was unable to move the ball very well. Except for a second-quarter scoring burst of two touchdowns in 21 seconds and a third score 3:02 later, Simi Valley (2-2) stopped Bradley from running freely, making Shumway the focal point. Simi Valley outgained the Chargers but was hurt by two lost fumbles and an interception.
Bradley, who ran for 198 yards and four touchdowns last week against Rio Mesa, ran for just 61 on 18 carries Friday, with two touchdowns.
Shumway, who completed 13 of 16 passes for 174 yards last week, completed 14 against the Pioneers but needed 24 attempts to do it. Still, he threw three scores, also hitting Parsa Moshiri for 21 yards and Daniel Shuman for a 34-yard score and a 14-0 lead.
Agoura's defense also stifled running back Langston Jackson. Jackson gained 60 yards Friday with a 13-yard touchdown - 171 fewer yards than last week.
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/vcpreps_football/article/0,1375,VCS_638_5033270,00.html
Marmonte looks loaded again
League, which begins its schedule tonight, figure to be a tight struggle
By Loren Ledin, lledin@VenturaCountyStar.com September 29, 2006
Five Marmonte League football teams, led by No. 1 Moorpark High, are ranked among the top 10 in the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division.Two Marmonte squads are 3-0 — and that doesn't include the defending champion Musketeers. Four more schools enter Week 4 of the high school season at 2-1.
As the Marmonte circuit begins its league season with four games tonight, it appears to be business as usual. The road to the playoffs looms as a six-week-long survival course and free-for-all.
"With the possible exception of Moorpark, which has great players who are well coached, I think the rest of us are going to be beating on each other," said Royal coach Gene Uebelhardt. "It will be just like last year, where we took turns beating everybody else. I've always thought ours is the best league in Ventura County, and nothing has changed this year."Moorpark, led by running back Darrell Scott and a powerful offensive line, is regarded by rivals as the prohibitive league favorite. Calabasas, battling to snap a state-high 35-game losing streak, appears destined for the eighth spot. Every other place, including three playoff berths, would seem to be up for grabs.
"It appears to be as wide open as we've seen in awhile," said Agoura coach Charlie Wegher. "Moorpark certainly looks like the team to beat. But everything else is going to depend upon who plays the best over the rest of the regular season."
Moorpark (2-1), whose lone loss came in the season opener to highly regarded Canyon, begins its quest for a second consecutive league crown at Royal (2-1), beginning at 7 p.m. Also tonight, Agoura (3-0) visits Simi Valley (2-1), Newbury Park (1-2) ventures to Westlake (3-0) and Thousand Oaks (2-1) is at Calabasas (0-3).
Agoura and Westlake bring momentum into the league chase with impressive victories last week. The Chargers hammered Rio Mesa 26-7, while the Warriors stopped perennial strongboy Hart 28-27. Agoura, operating with a physical offensive line, settled on Matt Bradley last week as the starting running back. Doug Shumway, taking over the starting quarterback job with the suspension of Jordan Arias, has been strong and steady.
Simi Valley's Langston Jackson trails only Scott among the league's rushing leaders. With his 231-yard outburst last week against Burbank, Jackson has 408 yards, four TDs and is averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Simi Valley coach Todd Borowski isn't tempted to call his game with Agoura a pivotal matchup in the league race. "You know what? They're all pivotal," he said. "Every week, we'll be playing a game we have to win."
Other local football matchups Agoura (3-0) at Simi Valley (2-1)
Outlook: Before the season started, Agoura head coach Charlie Wegher said his squad would be balanced on offense. So far, so good for the Chargers, who've rushed the ball 101 times and passed it on 71 occasions during victories over Ventura, Camarillo and Rio Mesa.
AHS quarterback Doug Shumway has connected on 68 percent of his passes since taking over for Jordan Arias. The Charger ground game has been lead by Matt Bradley, who's averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
Against Simi Valley, Agoura's defense will need to key on Pioneer running back Langston Jackson, Simi's junior ball carrier posted 231 yards in Week 3.
New gunslinger in town Simi Valley quarterback Brandon Fricke transferred from Chico and is now starting for the Pioneers By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com
"It's been great having him this year," Borowski said. "He's got a strong arm and is very accurate, and has picked up the offense really quick. The one thing he's getting used to is the speed of the game, which is faster down here than it was where he played up at Pleasant Valley."
So far, Fricke's completion percentage has gone up every week for the 2-1 Pioneers. He's 19-for-39 passing for 213 yards on the year with only one in- terception. With Simi Valley having an outstanding running back in junior Langston Jackson, Fricke's had more time to survey the field and throw the ball.
MARMONTE LEAGUE
Moorpark's Darrell Scott is the premier running back in the league and arguably the best in the area. However, Simi Valley's Langston Jackson and Agoura's Matt Bradley are doing their best to make sure it isn't a one-horse race for the league's rushing title. Jackson and Bradley figure to be key tonight when the the Chargers travel to Simi Valley for a league opener at Simi Valley, and both are coming off breakout games in Week 3. Jackson gained 231 yards on 33 carries with three touchdowns in a 19-10 nonleague victory over Burbank.
Copyright © 2006 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Press Prediction:Agoura 30, Simi Valley 18: Say, wasn't this supposed to be a rebuilding year for Agoura? Chargers defense has been solid. It needs to be against Simi Valley RB Langston Jackson, who has rushed for 329 yards in his last two games.
Agoura wins opener
BY LEE BARNATHAN, Special to the Daily News
SIMI VALLEY - Doug Shumway and the Agoura football team quickly discovered Friday night that the Marmonte League is a place where the statistics aren't so padded and the opposition is tougher.
Say goodbye to the first three weeks' accomplishments. Now is when you secure hard-fought wins and, quite possibly, reputations.
Against this backdrop came Shumway, a junior making his first league start and only his fourth varsity start, having taken over after Jordan Arias was suspended for violating school district policy.
Shumway marched the Chargers 70 yards in 13 plays for the decisive touchdown with nine minutes to play, giving Agoura (4-0) a 28-19 victory at Simi Valley in a league opener for both teams.
Shumway's actions came on the drive that followed Simi Valley's third touchdown, an 8-yard run by Pioneers quarterback Brandon Fricke. Shumway completed 6 of 7 passes for 46 yards on the drive, including an 8-yard touchdown pass to Matt Bradley.
"(Simi Valley) put seven (defenders) in the box, which makes it tough to run, especially when we're a four-wide passing team," Shumway said. "I changed to some quick passes and some screens." Shumway's heroics were needed, because Agoura was unable to move the ball very well. Except for a second-quarter scoring burst of two touchdowns in 21 seconds and a third score 3:02 later, Simi Valley (2-2) stopped Bradley from running freely, making Shumway the focal point. Simi Valley outgained the Chargers but was hurt by two lost fumbles and an interception.
Bradley, who ran for 198 yards and four touchdowns last week against Rio Mesa, ran for just 61 on 18 carries Friday, with two touchdowns.
Shumway, who completed 13 of 16 passes for 174 yards last week, completed 14 against the Pioneers but needed 24 attempts to do it. Still, he threw three scores, also hitting Parsa Moshiri for 21 yards and Daniel Shuman for a 34-yard score and a 14-0 lead.
Agoura's defense also stifled running back Langston Jackson. Jackson gained 60 yards Friday with a 13-yard touchdown - 171 fewer yards than last week.
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/vcpreps_football/article/0,1375,VCS_638_5033270,00.html
Shumway leads Agoura past Simi
By Lance O'Fallon, Correspondent September 30, 2006
Quarterback Doug Shumway threw three touchdown passes, including two in a 28-second span, leading Agoura High to a 28-19 victory over host Simi Valley in the Marmonte league opener for both teams on Friday night. Shumway, who completed 14 of 24 passes for 155 yards, had scoring strikes of 21 and 43 yards in the second quarter and his 8-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter sealed the victory.
Following a scoreless first quarter, Agoura (4-0, 1-0) went up 7-0 when Shumway threw a 21-yard TD pass to Parsa Moshiri with 9:39 remaining in the second quarter. After a fumble recovery by Eric Wells on Simi Valley's next possession, Shumway teamed with Daniel Shuman on a 43-yard touchdown pass with 9:11 left for a 14-0 lead.
Agoura increased its lead to 21-0 when Matt Bradley scored on an 8-yard run with six remaining before halftime. Matt McGinnis' intercetpion and 47-yard return set up the score.
Simi Valley (3-2, 0-1) only score of the first half came with 4:26 remaining. Quarterback Brandon Frickie threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Sammy Scherr to cap a six-play, 80-yard drive, cutting the deficit to 21-6.
Simi Valley came roaring back in the third quarter, out-scoring Agoura 13-0. After forcing Agoura to punt on its opening possession of the third quarter, the Pioneers marched down the field before Langston Jackson ended the drive with 13-yard TD run. During the drive, Frickie completed a 16-yard pass to Scherr on third-and-14.
Simi Valley trim the deficit to 21-19 when Fricke, breaking two tackles, scored on an 8-yard run with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter. Fricke's 3-yard sneak on fourth down kept the drive alive.
Agoura put the game out of reach on its next possession. Using over six minutes on the clock, the Chargers went 70 yards in 13 plays with Shumway throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Bradley to complete the drive.
Shumway has completions to six different receivers, with Shuman grabbing three catches for 54 yards. Bradley had 61 yards on 18 carries.
Adam Fish had three sacks and Robert Mc Intosh had a fumble recovery for Agoura. Fricke completed 16 of 27 passes for 194 yards for Simi Valley. Jesse Swayze had four receptions for 76 yards and Jackson gained 66 yards on 17 carries. Copyright 2006, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved.
By Lance O'Fallon, Correspondent September 30, 2006
Quarterback Doug Shumway threw three touchdown passes, including two in a 28-second span, leading Agoura High to a 28-19 victory over host Simi Valley in the Marmonte league opener for both teams on Friday night. Shumway, who completed 14 of 24 passes for 155 yards, had scoring strikes of 21 and 43 yards in the second quarter and his 8-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter sealed the victory.
Following a scoreless first quarter, Agoura (4-0, 1-0) went up 7-0 when Shumway threw a 21-yard TD pass to Parsa Moshiri with 9:39 remaining in the second quarter. After a fumble recovery by Eric Wells on Simi Valley's next possession, Shumway teamed with Daniel Shuman on a 43-yard touchdown pass with 9:11 left for a 14-0 lead.
Agoura increased its lead to 21-0 when Matt Bradley scored on an 8-yard run with six remaining before halftime. Matt McGinnis' intercetpion and 47-yard return set up the score.
Simi Valley (3-2, 0-1) only score of the first half came with 4:26 remaining. Quarterback Brandon Frickie threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Sammy Scherr to cap a six-play, 80-yard drive, cutting the deficit to 21-6.
Simi Valley came roaring back in the third quarter, out-scoring Agoura 13-0. After forcing Agoura to punt on its opening possession of the third quarter, the Pioneers marched down the field before Langston Jackson ended the drive with 13-yard TD run. During the drive, Frickie completed a 16-yard pass to Scherr on third-and-14.
Simi Valley trim the deficit to 21-19 when Fricke, breaking two tackles, scored on an 8-yard run with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter. Fricke's 3-yard sneak on fourth down kept the drive alive.
Agoura put the game out of reach on its next possession. Using over six minutes on the clock, the Chargers went 70 yards in 13 plays with Shumway throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Bradley to complete the drive.Shumway has completions to six different receivers, with Shuman grabbing three catches for 54 yards. Bradley had 61 yards on 18 carries.
Adam Fish had three sacks and Robert Mc Intosh had a fumble recovery for Agoura. Fricke completed 16 of 27 passes for 194 yards for Simi Valley. Jesse Swayze had four receptions for 76 yards and Jackson gained 66 yards on 17 carries. Copyright 2006, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved.
