SOUTHERN SECTION ROUNDUP : Thousand Oaks Retains Marmonte League Title, 41-10

Thousand Oaks High clinched its fifth Marmonte League championship in the past six years with an inspired second-half performance, defeating Agoura, 41-10, Friday night at Thousand Oaks High.

Trailing, 10-7, at halftime, the defending league champion Lancers took advantage of excellent field position to storm back and score in their next five possessions.

“The coaches told us at halftime, if you want to win this game, you have to pick up your intensity,” Lancer defensive end Trent Martin said.

The Lancers began their second-half scoring marches from their own 47-, 44- and 41-yard lines and from Agoura’s 45 and 43. Thousand Oaks (7-1-2, 5-0-2 in league play) rushed for 356 yards, 283 in the second half.

Lancer quarterback Scott Peterson scored on a three-yard run with 7 minutes 39 seconds left in the third quarter to put Thousand Oaks ahead to stay, 14-10.

Fullback Greg Buchanan rushed for a game-high 130 yards in 16 carries and scored on runs of one and 25 yards. Junior tailback Cory Bowen, who entered the game with 1,100 yards, gained 121 yards in 15 carries and scored a touchdown.

“The game plan was to establish the run and have the pass available if we needed it,” Bowen said.

The Lancers gained just one completion in six Peterson attempts. It was a big one, however, Peterson connecting with wide receiver Jeff Watts for 73 yards, and was the quarterback’s 15th touchdown pass of the season.

Sean Fitzgerald completed 16 of 33 passes for 161 yards for Agoura (5-5, 2-5) and scored the Chargers’ only touchdown on a four-yard run 22 seconds before halftime.