Camarillo mixes it up en route to Northern Division championship over Thousand Oaks

There was tasty barbecue aroma and white smoke floating above the bleachers at Camarillo High on Friday night as hamburgers and hot dogs were being grilled nonstop at the snack bar. There were fireworks, pumped-up dance music on the public address system and a sold-out crowd of more than 8,000.

This was a championship football game in a neighborhood setting, and afterward, the unbeaten Scorpions (14-0) left their home fans wanting to party the night away.

Quarterback Jake Constantine passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more and Isaiah Otis rushed for 211 yards and scored three touchdowns in Camarillo’s 55-27 victory over Thousand Oaks in the Northern Division championship game.

“It’s what we’ve wanted to do since freshman year,” Otis said. “It’s an amazing feeling.”

Loaded with seniors who have known each other since elementary school, the Scorpions put together offensive perfection with play-action passes, screens and runs that the Lancers (11-3) could not stop.

“Our offense was really prepared,” Coach Jack Willard said. “They’ve been so good all year. Our kids really executed.”

It was Camarillo’s first championship since 1996, when former major leaguer Joe Borchard was the quarterback.

Camarillo worked its way to a 34-27 halftime lead. Kevin Howell of Thousand Oaks caught three touchdown passes. Constantine had two touchdown runs, including a 40-yard sprint on fourth down in which he faked a handout, then ran a naked bootleg right that left the entire Thousand Oaks defense out of position and unable to catch him.

Constantine completed 16 of 21 passes for 220 yards. He also rushed for 82 yards in seven carries. The offensive line was magnificent in creating holes and opportunities. Tight end Desmond Clancy caught two touchdown passes.

“The blockers were amazing from the linemen to the receivers,” Otis said.

Thousand Oaks quarterback Max Gilliam was dropped 10 times for losses. He passed for 246 yards. Now Camarillo gets another week together and will play in next week’s regional playoffs.

“I love my teammates,” Constantine said. “I love my school.”

Grace Brethren forfeits

The East Valley Division championship game scheduled for Saturday between Simi Valley Grace Brethren and San Juan Capistrano Saddleback Valley Christian was canceled Friday after Grace Brethren forfeited because of an ineligible player, the Southern Section announced.

Saddleback Valley Christian has been declared the champion and will advance to next week’s regional playoffs.

The transfer student had been listed on the Southern Section website since Sept. 22 as being ineligible for varsity competition but Coach Josh Henderson said that information never made it to him.

“Major mistake,” he said.

Grace Brethren was 13-0.

Principal John Hynes, in a letter sent to parents, said he is “launching a full investigation into how this may have occurred.”

Follow Eric Sonheimer on Twitter @LATSondheimer