Neff Enough for Fillmore in Key Win

If the Fillmore High football team is not considered the perennial doormat of the Tri-Valley League, it is only because fellow members Moorpark and Bishop Diego have similar histories of haplessness. Bunk beds are usually required to accommodate the cellar-dwellers in this league.

But under first-year Coach Curtis Garner, Fillmore is making a spirited dash out of the basement into playoff contention after stomping St. Bonaventure, 31-3, last Friday to improve to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the league.

Garner has made football fun at Fillmore, implementing a diverse attack that features multiple sets and unpredictable play-calling.

A play drawn up at halftime, in fact, put the game against St. Bonaventure out of reach. Running back Brennon Neff hauled in a 17-yard scoring pass from Chad Van Winkle to give Fillmore a 17-3 lead.

“We specially designed that play in the locker room to isolate Brennon with a linebacker,” Garner said. Neff was instructed to split out a tad wider than normal and Fillmore’s wide receiver was told to run a pattern that sucked the cornerback into the middle of the field.

“I ran right around the linebacker,” said Neff, who also intercepted 3 passes and was honored with the annual Jerry Dann Memorial trophy following the game. Dann was a teacher and coach at both Fillmore and St. Bonaventure.

“The trophy was in the back of everyone’s mind before the game,” Neff admitted.

And Neff, a senior team captain, was on the shoulders of teammates after the game. “They carried him off the field. It was a great scene,” said Garner, who added that Neff is no Flash in the pan.

“He’s been our main man all season on defense and offense,” the coach said. “He acts like a cheerleader out there. The kids respect him and respond to him. And I never have to worry about him.”

Perhaps St. Bonaventure should have been more concerned with Neff--especially when the Seraphs were passing the ball. Each of the Fillmore safety’s interceptions led to a touchdown.

Neff works names of teammates into his description of each interception, confirming Garner’s assertion that he is a leader:

About a minute remained in the first half when Neff stepped in front of a Seraph receiver, picked off the pass, and returned it 21 yards to the 1. Hugo Virto scored on a plunge to send Fillmore into halftime leading, 10-3.

“Defensive end Robert Medina hit their quarterback’s arm and the ball came right to me,” Neff said.

Fillmore led, 17-3, early in the fourth quarter when Neff made his second interception.

“We were getting good pressure from both defensive ends and I was just sitting in the hook zone,” Neff said. “I jumped up, caught the ball and pitched it to my friend, David Sherrill. He ran it back 25 yards but the refs said it was a forward lateral and called back the run.”

No matter, Van Winkle hit Brad Edmonds with a 30-yard scoring pass moments later to give Fillmore a 24-3 lead.

Neff’s last interception came in the waning moments of the game and he took it 25 yards down the sideline for the final touchdown.

“The receiver ran into the flat and the pass actually bounced off his head into my hands,” Neff said. “I got a real good block from Mike Munoz and took it in.”