Simi Valley Wins Battle of Blunders : Defeats Newbury Park, 10-7, for First Time in Seven Years

It was billed as a football game, one that pitted two of the hottest teams in the Marmonte League.

It turned out to be an exercise in futility.

Newbury Park High and Simi Valley combined for a game that was so inoffensive it was offensive.

In the second half, Simi Valley (4-1) managed to gain its composure, as well as maintain control of the ball, and went on to post a 10-7 upset victory. Newbury Park (3-2) entered the game ranked ninth in the Coastal Conference.

Simi Valley improved its league record to 2-0, while Newbury Park fell to 1-1.

The win was the Pioneers’ first over the Panthers since 1978.

Pioneer Coach Dave Murphy couldn’t have been happier.

“I feel just great,” he said. “Both teams were really pumped up for this one and when you’re pumped up, you sometimes make mistakes. I think we just came around quicker in the second half.”

Newbury Park committed four first-half turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions), while Simi Valley turned the ball over twice on fumbles.

Neither team could capitalize on the mistakes, however, and the score remained tied, 0-0, at the intermission. Pioneer kicker Steve Cuillard’s 32-yard field goal with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter broke the Panthers’ streak of 10 consecutive scoreless quarters and looked as if it might be the only offensive showing from either team for the night.

Throughout the game, the absence of running back M. J. Nelson from the Simi Valley offense was quite apparent.

Sure, he was in the game, but the Panther defense keyed on him for most of the first half, limiting him to 40 yards. Nelson came alive in the second half and finished the game with 131 yards on 16 carries.

His 67-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter increased the Pioneers’ lead to 10-0. It was the 21st touchdown of the senior’s career. Fourteen have measured 50 yards or longer.

Nelson was also responsible for one of Newbury Park’s turnovers, intercepting a Jayson Merrill pass in the second quarter.

Newbury Park closed the margin to 10-7 with 3:13 left in the game when running back Eric Craig scored from two yards out.

The Panthers then attempted an on-side kick, but the ball did not travel 10 yards before it was touched by a Newbury Park player and the ball was awarded to Simi Valley.