Thousand Oaks Whips Inglewood in Opener, 62-6

There was some talk around the Marmonte League before the start of the football season. Word was out that the Thousand Oaks High lines were depleted, too young to lead the Lancers to their third straight league title.

But Greg Banks, the only returning starter along the Lancers’ offensive line, knew they were wrong. Dead wrong.

“I felt that we were going to have a good offensive line,” Banks said moments after Thousand Oaks devastated Inglewood, 62-6, in the season opener for both teams Thursday night at Thousand Oaks. “I had confidence.”

That confidence spread quickly among his Lancer teammates, especially to senior running back Marc Monestime, who gained 118 yards on 16 carries and scored twice.

“It felt great running behind those big linemen,” said Monestime, who led the Marmonte League in rushing last season with 1,090 yards. “We just kept on going and the momentum kept getting bigger and bigger.”

And the Sentinels seemed to get smaller and smaller.

Thousand Oaks fullback Mike Moore started the barrage with his two-yard touchdown run a little more than four minutes into the game. The Lancers’ fun didn’t stop until reserve quarterback Mike Knieriem sneaked in from the two with 37 seconds left in the game.

Thousand Oaks gained 268 yards on the ground, and starting quarterback Steve Sisco passed only 7 times, completing 5 for 57 yards.

Meanwhile, Inglewood didn’t record a first down until three minutes were left in the third quarter. The Lancer defense limited the Sentinels to 101 total yards, including Inglewood’s 68-yard scoring play in the fourth quarter.

The talk around the league may just turn to whispers.