Newbury Park Ends Royal’s Season, 21-14

Royal High’s strange and, at times, miraculous season ended 7 points short of the playoffs Friday night.

The Highlanders, who were not expected to win much this year--at game time found themselves a victory away from their first postseason berth since 1983. But 2 interceptions stifled a fourth-quarter rally and Royal lost to Newbury Park, 21-14, at Simi Valley High.

The Royal loss clinched the Marmonte League’s third-place berth in the Southern Section Division II playoffs for Camarillo (4-6, 3-3 in league).

After Friday’s game, Royal Coach Gene Uebelhardt offered praise for Newbury Park quarterback Wayne Cook, who completed 10 of 13 passes for 127 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

“We knew we’d have our hands full with Wayne Cook,” Uebelhardt said. “And he showed us.”

Uebelhardt and his players had reached this point of the season thanks to last week’s upset of league rival Channel Islands. In that game, quarterback Pat Ledesma threw a last-second touchdown pass for a 13-12 win.

Against Newbury Park, Ledesma ran out of miracles. He completed 8 of 19 for 121 yards and a touchdown, but the interceptions ended Royal’s season.

Royal finished 4-6, 3-3 in league play. Newbury Park ended up 3-6-1, 3-3.

The first time the Highlanders touched the ball, they looked like a team that was determined to win. Working the option skillfully, Ledesma drove Royal 69 yards in 8 plays. Jason Jones carried for 17 and 39 yards--he ran 9 times for 128 yards by evening’s end. Ledesma dove from the 1 for a 7-0 lead.

The Panthers’ first play from scrimmage was a 59-yard flea flicker that was called back because of an ineligible receiver downfield. After that, Newbury Park resorted to more conventional warfare--primarily the running of Kelly Carmack (21 carries for 105 yards) and occasional passes from Cook to tight end Danny Madsen.

This mix worked well as the Panthers put together touchdown drives of 58 and 80 yards to lead at halftime, 14-7.

They added to that lead on the first possession of the third quarter. Cook hit Eric Greene on passes of 21 and 19 yards, then threw a 1-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass to Madsen.

Royal rallied at the end of the third quarter, closing the score to 21-14 with Ledesma’s 9-yard touchdown pass to James Jones.