Simi Valley Rallies in Final Quarter to Beat Camarillo

The crowd that swarmed the field attracted the attention of Carl Thompson, the Camarillo High coach who was searching for answers to his football team’s troubles.

Simi Valley’s hooting and hollering echoed into the grandstands at Camarillo High where the near-capacity crowd headed toward the exits.

There was no exit for the Scorpions, who lost a 17-8 decision to Simi Valley, once the Marmonte League’s most walked-upon doormat, in a league game Friday night.

The Pioneers, who entered the game with more overall losses (267) than any team in league history, continued to celebrate in one end zone.

“They are one of the most fired-up teams we’ve seen,” Thompson said. “They gave us a lot of trouble, and they’re going to give some other people some problems. You’d better take (Simi Valley) seriously.”

Simi Valley, which entered the season with only one victory in 30 contests, suddenly is on the verge of its first winning season since 1985. The Pioneers (4-1 overall, 2-0 in league play) turned two critical Camarillo mistakes into scores and came up with perhaps its finest defensive effort of the season, limiting Camarillo to 188 yards.

And it seemed fitting against Camarillo (3-2, 1-1), which had beaten the Pioneers in 24 of 32 meetings between the schools in a rivalry that began in 1958.

“I told the kids that this game is the turning point in our program, and they responded well,” second-year Simi Valley Coach Stan Quina said.

Simi Valley, which had come from behind in the fourth quarter twice already this season, had trouble moving the ball most of the game and finished with only 157 yards. But the Pioneers came up with the two scoring drives they needed, and the result was a win.

Camarillo took an 8-7 lead on Fahali Campbell’s 25-yard run and Tag Johnson’s conversion run with 7 minutes 28 seconds left in the third quarter.

Simi Valley assembled a 74-yard drive that ended with a 32-yard field goal by Jeff Jagard with 7:53 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The key play of the drive was a 21-yard completion from Eric Bennett (eight of 20 for 91 yards) to Bryan Kalbfus that gave Simi Valley a first down at the 11-yard line.

On the ensuing drive, Camarillo’s Johnson fumbled and Simi Valley’s Doug Varner recovered at Camarillo’s 42 with 6:03 left. On fourth and one, Simi Valley running back Jevon Markarian appeared to be short of a first down, but Camarillo was penalized for a late hit that gave the Pioneers a first down at the four.

Two plays later, Ryan Azlein scored from three yards and Jagard’s conversion gave Simi Valley a 17-8 lead with 2:54 left.

That deficit proved too large for Camarillo, a run-oriented team that has completed only 11 passes all season. Simi Valley’s defense was geared to stop the Scorpion running attack and it did, limiting Camarillo to 164 rushing yards in 42 carries. Campbell finished with 157 in 28 carries.

“When they stack 11 guys within seven yards of the ball, you have got to be able to throw the ball and get them out of it,” Thompson said.

Camarillo sophomore quarterback Jim Hansen couldn’t, completing only two of six for 13 yards. Simi Valley sacked Hansen five times for 23 yards.