Merrill Passes Newbury Park Past Agoura, 32-7

There was a time when the Newbury Park-Agoura match-up was more than just a football game. But what was once a heated rivalry has cooled down considerably in recent years, and that had Newbury Park High Coach Ken Cook concerned before Friday night’s 1986 season opener at Agoura.

He need not have worried. His Panthers trounced the Chargers, 32-7, before a crowd of 1,500.

“The rivalry is not like it was years ago,” Cook said. “Until Westlake High opened up, there was quite a rivalry here. I kind of thought we were down going into the game. I was worried. They just didn’t seem to have it.”

But they had it, all right, especially tailback Bill Phillips and quarterback Jayson Merrill.

Phillips rushed for 151 yards on 25 carries and scored the Panthers’ first touchdown on a five-yard run just three seconds into the second quarter.

“He ran very, very well tonight,” Cook said. “But I’ll tell you, the kid in front of him (fullback Darrin Jelly) blocked very, very well.”

Merrill riddled the Agoura secondary, completing 11 of 14 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Tight end Scott Davidson caught both scoring passes, the first a 35-yarder that put Newbury Park ahead, 12-0, just before halftime, and the second a six-yarder. He finished with three catches for 54 yards.

The Panthers had 224 rushing yards and finished with 353 total yards.

Agoura moved the football against the Newbury Park defense, but had trouble getting into the end zone.

Agoura trailed, 32-0, before reserve running back Doug Hastings scored on an 11-yard run with 3:22 left in the game, capping an 11-play, 74-yard drive.

Agoura’s Mike Eckel caught three passes for 51 yards and rushed for 38 yards on two carries.

Agoura finished with 256 total yards, but only had 76 in the second half.

Agoura moved to the Newbury Park 4 on an 11-yard pass from Dobrowski to tight end Ladd Elmore on the next play, but was turned away at the 2-yard line when the Panthers upended running back Robb Salfen as time ran out.

Rick Dobrowski completed 5 of 9 passes for 84 yards for Agoura, and backup Scott Heslin was 2-for-6 for 30 yards.