Campbell Leads Camarillo Past Thousand Oaks

Just like a familiar commercial, Camarillo High’s Fahali Campbell took a licking and kept on ticking Friday night, leading the Scorpions to a 26-21 Marmonte League win over host Thousand Oaks.

The hard-hitting Thousand Oaks defense held Campbell in check for most of the night, but the senior tailback ticked off several big plays to accumulate 200 yards rushing and four touchdowns in 29 carries as Camarillo (7-2, 5-1) clinched a Southern Section playoff berth and retained a share of first place. The loss will keep Thousand Oaks out of the playoffs for the first time since 1983.

Camarillo’s defense also contributed in a big way, forcing the Lancers (3-5-1, 3-3) into four turnovers, including a fumble that set up a 12-yard Campbell score that pulled the Scorpions to within 21-20 with 11 minutes 25 seconds left.

Campbell gave Camarillo the lead with 5:54 to play, capping a six-play, 71-yard march with a 14-yard blast.

Campbell showed his stuff on the Scorpions’ first possession after being crunched on a four-yard loss and another carry of no gain. On third and 14, Campbell bounced off several tacklers at the line of scrimmage, raced toward the sideline and turned toward the end zone for a 68-yard score.

Thousand Oaks stayed close with a ball-control attack paced by Fred Polito with 139 rushing yards.

Camarillo will meet Newbury Park on Friday for the league title, and Coach Carl Thompson is excited by the prospect. “I knew we would have a good team, but you have to have a lot of luck to get this far,” Thompson said.