Royal Controls Ball, Upends Simi Valley

Royal High took control of the clock and the game Friday night, scoring a pair of second-half touchdowns to defeat cross-town rival Simi Valley, 28-17, in a Marmonte League football opener at Moorpark College.

Time of possession told the story.

Royal (2-2) parlayed two lengthy touchdown drives--one a 14-play, 80-yard march that chewed up 8 minutes 42 seconds--to erase a 17-14 Simi Valley halftime lead and give the defending Marmonte champion Highlanders their 10th consecutive league victory.

Simi Valley (2-2) held the ball for only 8:21 in the second half and talented senior quarterback Eric Bennett was limited to three fourth-quarter completions.

Bennett completed 15 of 27 passes for 136 yards but did not throw a touchdown pass. He threw one interception and was sacked twice for minus-10 yards in the second half.

“Eric Bennett is a great quarterback,” Royal linebacker Sheldon Griffith said. “But there was just no way we were going to let him beat us.”

Royal tailback Michael Streeter, who rushed for a game-high 163 yards in 21 carries, sealed the win with his third touchdown, a three-yard run with 8:38 left.

Earlier, on the first play of the fourth quarter, quarterback Chris McGrath capped the Highlanders’ decisive march with a one-yard sneak for a touchdown.

Simi Valley took possession on its 31-yard line after the ensuing kickoff, but Bennett was pressured on first down and had the ball stripped by safety Bryan Fernandez. Royal recovered to set up the game-clinching touchdown.

“Our defense just got after ‘em in the second half,” Royal Coach Gene Uebelhardt said.

Streeter, who had rushed for only 17 yards in the past two games, gave Royal a 7-0 lead on the game’s first play from scrimmage with a 62-yard run up the middle.

Simi Valley pulled even on a 45-yard punt return by Bryan Kalbfus with five minutes left in the quarter.

After Kalbfus recovered an onside kick, the Pioneers marched 44 yards in seven plays to take a 14-7 lead on a one-yard plunge by Jevon Markarian.