Thousand Oaks Again Favorite in League of Standouts

Each year, the Thousand Oaks High football team’s hard-hitting defense knocks the Marmonte League on its back, and the offense plugs in another speedy tailback who dashes for 1,000 yards.

Add to that the Lancers’ strong fundamental approach and a recipe emerges that has soured the league’s taste buds since 1985.

Thousand Oaks has won at least a share of five of the previous six league titles, including the past three. When a league title eluded them in 1987, the Lancers instead amused themselves with the Southern Section Coastal Conference championship.

Expect similar results this season.

Thousand Oaks has reloaded and a Southern Section Division II title might be in range. “I don’t see how anybody can stop them,” Channel Islands Coach Joel Gershon said.

The Lancers’ blue-collar approach typifies a league that often lacks blue-chip players. The teams are highly respected throughout the region, but their players seldom gain the attention of NCAA Division I recruiters.

Last season, only Westlake quarterback Todd Preston, who accepted an offer from California, and Royal safety Tim Ross (Colorado) attracted significant preseason interest from Division I programs. Thousand Oaks quarterback Scott Peterson (New Mexico) and Agoura quarterback Sean Fitzgerald (Idaho State) signed letters of intent at season’s end.

This season, however, recruiters already are pounding on doors throughout the league--from Agoura, which played at the Division VIII level just two years ago, to Simi Valley.

Yes, Simi Valley.

The Pioneers, 1-29 in the past three seasons, will suit up a 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive tackle. Kirk Robertson is one Pioneer who won’t be pushed around.

“You can actually name players (in the league), rather than just say there’s a kid over here, and there’s a kid over there,” Newbury Park Coach George Hurley said.

The league is loaded with speedy players such as Westlake receiver Erik Holcomb, who runs the 100 meters in 10.7 seconds and averaged a touchdown a game last season.

It has size in players such as Camarillo tackle Eric Bateman, who is 6-7 and 265 pounds.

It has talented skill-position players such as Royal quarterback Ryan Fien, a two-year starter who can throw a football 70 yards.

“I recruited this league for nine seasons while I was at Cal Lutheran, and I can’t ever remember there being as much talent as there is out there this year,” said Gene Uebelhardt, who is beginning his fourth year as Royal coach.

The league has at least seven linemen who are considered legitimate Division I recruits.

“I can remember when the Marmonte League had very few players over 200 pounds,” Thousand Oaks Coach Bob Richards said. “But I know we’re as big as we’ve ever been, and Camarillo and Royal are probably bigger than us.

“Also, the big kids are athletes, and (the league) hasn’t had that in a while,” he said. “The Marmonte League has a reputation for being a real physical league with smaller linemen. But that no longer is the case.”

The notion has changed because of players such as Bateman, who has become one of the most recruited offensive linemen in the state despite having only one year of football experience. Bateman, a two-time league heavyweight wrestling champion, is considered the 15th best prospect in the Far West by Super Prep magazine.

“He is absolute raw talent,” one recruiter said. “I don’t know of any (program) that doesn’t want him.”

Thousand Oaks tight end Shane Graham (6-6, 228) is rated the ninth-best college prospect in the Far West by Super Prep. He also is the center on the school’s basketball team.

Agoura senior Steve Hochman (6-4, 235), a returning starter at defensive end and offensive tackle, bench-presses 385 pounds and has been timed in 4.85 seconds in the 40-yard sprint.

Thousand Oaks tackle Paul Yerman (6-4, 236) could be the league’s sleeper. “He has good size and he’s going to know how to play because of Thousand Oaks’ system,” one recruiter said.

Royal senior Jason Evans (6-1, 255) was an All-Division II defensive lineman last season who also will play linebacker this year. He has been timed in 4.8 in the 40 and can dunk a basketball.

Royal offensive tackle Jason Wendland’s numbers have lured nearly every recruiter from the Pacific 10 Conference. Wendland is 6-5, 255 pounds, bench-presses 325 pounds and has scored 1,250 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

“He has a body that ought to be on the front of a Wheaties box,” Uebelhardt said.

Robertson, a senior, has brought recruiters to Simi Valley for the first time since 1988 when Eric Hale accepted a scholarship from Oregon State.

Fien (6-4, 200), the Royal quarterback who has thrown for 2,882 yards and 32 touchdowns in two seasons, is the most sought-after skill-position player in the league. He has a 3.12 grade-point average and has triple-jumped 42 feet.

Holcomb, who caught 32 passes for 682 yards last season, had a region-best time of 48.42 seconds in the 400 meters last spring. Holcomb and teammate Vince Bruno (6-3, 215), an inside linebacker and tight end, were among Cal-Hi Sports magazine’s top 100 players in the state.

“Bruno is going to be big-time,” one league coach said.

The league isn’t entirely given over to hulking brutes. Thousand Oaks has two of the league’s most exciting players, but each might lack the size demanded by major colleges.

Senior tailback Cory Bowen--who at 5-9 and 190 pounds resembles a fire hydrant with a helmet--was an All-Ventura County selection after rushing for 1,257 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Despite possessing exceptional balance and a 4.55-second time in the 40, he might be overlooked because of his height.

Lancer safety Dan Fitzgerald, also an All-Ventura County selection, is one of the region’s most talented defensive backs. Fitzgerald, who is only 6-0 and 170 pounds, seems to fit the league’s usual mold.

“This year might just be an exception,” said Richards, whose team might start as many as 10 players who weigh more than 200 pounds.

“Heck, we might be back to 145-pound tackles next season.”

MARMONTE LEAGUE

FINAL 1990 STANDINGS PROJECTED FINISH Thousand Oaks 7-2-2, 5-0-2 Thousand Oaks Royal 8-2-1, 5-1-1 Royal Westlake 8-2-1, 5-1-1 Camarillo Camarillo 8-4, 5-2 Newbury Park Agoura 5-5, 2-5 Westlake Channel Islands 5-5, 2-5 Agoura Newbury Park 3-7, 2-5 Channel Islands Simi Valley 0-10, 0-7 Simi Valley

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Player School Pos. Ht Wt Class Eric Bateman Camarillo OL 6-7 265 Sr. Cory Bowen Thousand Oaks RB 5-9 190 Sr. Vince Bruno Westlake LB/TE 6-3 215 Sr. Jason Evans Royal DL 6-1 255 Sr. Ryan Fien Royal QB 6-4 200 Sr. Shane Graham Thousand Oaks TE 6-6 228 Sr. Steve Hochman Agoura OL 6-4 235 Sr. Erik Holcomb Westlake WR 6-0 165 Sr. Kirk Robertson Simi Valley OL 6-4 280 Sr. Jason Wendland Royal OL 6-5 255 Sr.