Newbury Park Feels Like Home for Thousand Oaks

The Thousand Oaks football team is badly in need of some manners.

The Lancers, the fourth-ranked team in the Coastal Conference, traveled to Newbury Park on Friday night for the first time in the history of the series that dates back to 1970. Maybe the Lancers were ticked off because the clock kept malfunctioning throughout the first half. Maybe they were antsy because the new stadium was still under construction and the Thousand Oaks fans didn’t have the benefit of the new snack bar.

Whatever, the Lancers kicked off their shoes, put them up on the table and made themselves feel right at home in a 24-6 Marmonte League victory over the Panthers.

“We had heard a lot of comments about what they were going to do to us on their new field,” Thousand Oaks Coach Bob Richards said. “I think it motivated some of our kids.”

Perhaps the most inspired Lancer was quarterback Robb McKinnon, who was making his first appearance since dislocating his shoulder in the second game of the season against Buena. McKinnon, a 6-2, 185-pound senior, replaced starter Steve Sisco on the Lancers’ third possession, and finished the game with six completions in eight attempts for 48 yards and two touchdowns.

“I was nervous when I first came in because it had been a while since I last played,” said McKinnon, who connected with Mike Hutten on a five-yard scoring pass in the second quarter and with Chris Wilt on a 22-yard touchdown with 4:03 left in the game.

“I think Newbury Park was really hyped up playing at home,” McKinnon added. “But a football field is a football field for us.”

Thousand Oaks running back Marc Monestime was the leading rusher for the Lancers with 82 yards on 13 carries. Monestime, a 5-10, 178-pound junior running back, also teamed up with McKinnon and wide receiver Jason Schlimgen on a hook-and-ladder play in the second period that helped the Lancers overcome a 3-0 deficit and take a lead they would not relinquish.

On first down from the Thousand Oaks 48, McKinnon hit Schlimgen on a five-yard pass down the left sideline. As Newbury Park defenders converged on the receiver, he pitched the ball to Monestime, who raced down to the 17-yard line to set up McKinnon’s touchdown pass to Hutten.

“We’ve practiced that play all year, but it never seemed to work,” Richards said. “We don’t even run it right in practice.”

Newbury Park quarterback Jayson Merrill completed 12 of 35 passes for 149 yards, but the only points the Panthers could manage were a pair of field goals by sophomore placekicker Jeremy Dewey.