HIGH SCHOOL DIGEST : AROUND THE LEAGUES : Marmonte League Playoff Berths May Be Decided in Two Big Games

The playoff picture in the Marmonte League, perhaps the Valley’s strongest from top to bottom, figures to come into focus this weekend. Friday’s battle between Channel Islands and Thousand Oaks shapes up as the league championship game. Thousand Oaks is 3-0, 6-1 overall, and its only loss was to Canyon. Channel Islands is 2-0-1, 5-1-1 overall. “They have good backs in Ernie Tapua and John Johnson, a tremendous sophomore,” Lancer Coach Bob Richards said. “They are far more balanced than Channel Islands has been in the past. We’ll go with what has gotten us this far.” Meaning Thousand Oaks will rely on running backs Mike Moore and Marc Monestime, who have combined for 1,140 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns this season, and a solid defense led by linebacker Gus Nelinger and tackle Mike Yasenchok.

Westlake and Camarillo, which share third place, play Friday at Thousand Oaks High. “Camarillo is without a doubt the key game for us,” Westlake Coach George Contreras said. “I have to think the winner of this game has an inside track to a playoff spot.” Each team is 2-1 in league, 4-3 overall. Last week, Camarillo crushed Simi Valley, 47-14, and Westlake was routed, 56-12, by Granada Hills in a nonleague game. Once thought to repeat as league champion, Simi Valley (0-4, 3-4 overall) is the league cellar-dweller. In its first three games, Simi Valley outscored its opponents, 69-11. In its last four games--each a league loss--Simi Valley has been outscored 135-66.

Final exams: Burbank Coach Dave Carson said his team will have a battery of tests to pass the final three weeks of Foothill League play after opening with two wins against the weak teams. The Bulldogs must play Schurr (1-1), Hart (2-0) and Burroughs (2-0). “We’ll definitely know how we stand, and how good we are,” Carson said. . . . A fact to consider during Southern Section releaguing meetings this year: The top three teams in the Golden League--Canyon, Antelope Valley and Palmdale--have a combined record of 17-3-1. The bottom three teams--Quartz Hill, Burroughs (R) and Saugus--are 1-19-1. Canyon has won 22 straight league games. . . . No playoff berth will be at stake when Monroe and Van Nuys meet Friday--only pride. Both are 0-6 and 0-2 in the Sunset League, and the loser likely will finish the season winless. So far, both teams have lost big. Van Nuys has been outscored, 161-49, and Monroe, 120-41. “Both teams will certainly be hungry,” Monroe co-Coach Howard Reisbord said. “The teams each consider the other their rival and it’s an opportunity for both teams to get a win.”

Mr. Do-it-all: Had Canoga Park’s Mike Conover made a two-point conversion against Van Nuys on Friday, he would have scored points every way possible on offense. He caught a pass for a touchdown, ran for two more, and kicked a field goal and three extra points. Conover, who starts at tailback and safety, leads the Hunters in rushing, scoring, interceptions and is tied for the lead in receptions. . . . Oak Park quarterback Chris Hall didn’t take long to get back in the groove after missing three games because of a separated shoulder. In his first game back last week, he completed 24 passes for 323 yards--both school single-game records.

Injury report: The status of Chatsworth running back Spence Durham, who suffered a deep thigh bruise last week, will not be known until just before the Chancellors’ game against Canoga Park. . . . Taft quarterback Jon Thompson, who did not play last week because of a leg injury, has lost his starting job to backup Mike Shwartzer. Thompson will still start at linebacker. . . . The football career of Hart’s Jack McKeon could be over. The All-Foothill League offensive lineman/linebacker will have reconstructive surgery after reinjurying his knee last week against Burroughs. “We’re down in the heart about him,” Hart Coach Rick Scott said.

Winning habit: Sylmar’s 12-0 win over ninth-ranked Reseda on Friday may be considered an upset. But beating the Regents has become a habit for Sylmar Coach Tom Richards. The victory was the third straight for Sylmar over its Pac 8 foe. “It’s one of the great Valley rivalries,” Richards said. When Reseda Coach Joel Schaeffer installed an option offense, he figured to get mileage out of the quarterback position. But three quarterbacks later, he may be questioning the move. After starting quarterback Donnie Grant was sidelined with a knee injury in the first quarter against Sylmar, backup Mike Lance was ineffective, fumbling two snaps from center. Sophomore Coley Kyman rushed for minus-61 yards and threw two interceptions. . . . Agoura has won only twice on the field this year but has doubled its total thanks to two forfeit victories. Newbury Park forfeited its season-opening 32-7 win because of an ineligible player, and last week Nordhoff forfeited an 18-13 win for the same reason. At that rate, could Agoura finish the season 10-0? “Well, we seem to win them by hook or by crook.” Agoura Coach Frank Greminger said. “But I think we’ve reached our limit for forfeit wins.”

Playoff two-timers: After a 31-year dry spell, Bell-Jeff (7-0, 4-0 in the Santa Fe League) has clinched its second straight trip to the playoffs. Last season, Bell-Jeff lost to eventual Desert Mountain Conference champion Leuzinger in its first-ever postseason appearance. Bell-Jeff Coach Doug Woodlief attributes much of the success to the strength of past junior varsity teams, which won 17 of 20 games the past two seasons. He also credits work in the summer passing leagues. Quarterback Keith Fitzgerald has passed for 1,069 yards and 12 touchdowns, substantially more than any other Santa Fe League quarterback. Wide receivers Matt Woodlief, the coach’s son, and Bill Brockway each has 22 catches. Woodlief is also the kicker and has three field goals and 11 PATs. . . . Village Christian’s homecoming game against L.A. Baptist on Saturday also will be a homecoming for L.A. Baptist Coach Mike Boshers, who was Village Christian’s defensive coordinator last season. Said Boshers: “L.A. Baptist and Village already have a nice rivalry going. It’s not like we need to add any fuel to the fire.”