Defense of Thousand Oaks Zeroes In

As difficult a chore as it might have seemed, the Thousand Oaks High defense has exceeded expectations through its first two games.

The Lancers have eight starters back from a unit that was among the Valley area’s best last season. And now, another year older, another year stronger and another year wiser, the defense is even more ferocious than expected.

After a pair of 27-0 victories, the Lancers have allowed 87 total yards and just 16.5 yards per game rushing. Only one rushing play has been longer than 10 yards, and in 21 of 43 rushing plays, the ballcarrier has been either stopped for no gain or thrown for a loss.

In 71 offensive plays, only two netted as many as 10 yards. And with the two shutouts, Thousand Oaks already has matched last season’s total, as well as that of 1987 when it was the Southern Section Coastal Conference champion.

Offense: Canyon can’t seem to run the ball, but the Cowboys sure can pass it. After two games, Canyon (0-2) has passed for 493 yards, more than any Valley team. But the Cowboys have rushed for only 74 yards, including a whopping two yards last Friday against Bakersfield.

In two games, Notre Dame tailback Errol Small has averaged 9.6 yards a carry and has rushed for four touchdowns. His numbers would be even more impressive had not three touchdown runs been nullified by penalties. Small has been reeled back on scoring runs of 75, 64 and 27 yards.

Before the season, Alemany sophomores Terry Barnum and Brian Brison were expected to form one of the better backfields in the Valley. But the running game has yet to kick in; the pair have combined for just 131 yards and a touchdown.

Defense: Crespi gave up 238 yards rushing but just 12 yards passing in its 17-7 opening loss to Redlands. In their 21-13 win over Hart, the Celts allowed 13 yards rushing and 199 yards in the air.

Miscellaneous: The Marmonte League is a less-than-impressive 4-5-1 against Channel League opponents, 0-5-1 if wins by Thousand Oaks and Channel Islands are excluded. Westlake and Camarillo each have lost twice. . . . Three Marmonte teams rank among the Valley area’s top 10 defenses. Thousand Oaks is No. 1, Newbury Park is No. 3 and Royal is No. 7. Westlake, which has surrendered 859 yards in two games, ranks last.

Last week’s 16-0 loss to La Canada did little to bolster Glendale’s ailing numbers. The Dynamiters managed five yards passing and 61 yards on the ground. They have 65 yards rushing and 195 yards passing in two games.

FOOTBALL TOP 10 Selected by Times staff writers

Last Rk Wk Team League Record 1 1 Granada Hills North Valley 1-0 2 3 Thousand Oaks Marmonte 2-0 3 5 Notre Dame S.F. Valley 2-0 4 2 San Fernando North Valley 0-1 5 7 Channel Islands Marmonte 2-0 6 NR Quartz Hill Golden 2-0 7 8 Montclair Prep Alpha 2-0 8 NR Crespi Del Rey 1-1 9 4 Hart Foothill 1-1 10 NR Saugus Golden 2-0

NR--Not ranked.