Trio Show How to Win by the Numbers : Honorees: Nordhoff’s Farrar, Camarillo’s Campbell and Newbury Park’s Van Buren made their marks.

Watch the most jovial of football coaches become downright ornery when statistics are used as performance yardsticks.

They contend one can neither judge the success nor ability of a player or team by numbers alone--that yardage and touchdowns do not tell the story.

However, there are statistics coaches cannot ignore, such as the 1992 totals of several Ventura County players.

For the first time, a county quarterback passed for at least 3,000 yards--two (Newbury Park’s Keith Smith and Simi Valley’s Eric Bennett) accomplished the feat--and a running back topped 2,000 yards rushing.

Numbers that coaches do respect are victories. Nordhoff High’s Cliff Farrar led his squad to more wins than any other county coach and he has been selected The Times’ Ventura County coach of the year.

Behind Farrar, the Rangers enjoyed their most successful season. Nordhoff finished 11-2, won its second consecutive Frontier League title and advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section Division IX playoffs.

In six seasons, Farrar, 44, has transformed the Rangers from a perennial also-ran to a league and division force. He is 29-35 in his tenure at the school but 18-6 the past two seasons.

In 1991, Nordhoff went undefeated in league play en route to the Frontier title.

The Rangers again won all of their league games in 1992, running their league winning streak to nine over three seasons.

Such a successful campaign was somewhat of a surprise. Nordhoff looked anything but dominating after being blown away by St. Bonaventure, 41-13, during the third week of the season.

But that would be the Rangers’ last defeat until the Division IX semifinals. Nordhoff was in the game early but lost, 35-7, to eventual divisional champion Montclair Prep.

No other county coach led his team to a league title and a semifinal divisional playoff berth.

The Rangers were represented on The Times’ All-Ventura first team by defensive end Ryan Cuthbert. The senior finished with a team-high 16 sacks.

But 1992 was “The Year of the Offense” in the county. The Marmonte League produced yardage at a dizzying pace--and The Times’ Ventura back (Camarillo tailback Fahali Campbell) and lineman (Newbury Park split end Leodes Van Buren) of the year.

Campbell, a senior, became the first county running back to gain 2,000 yards rushing. He carried 371 times for 2,285 yards (a 6.2 average) and scored 21 touchdowns. Despite defenses designed to stop him, Campbell ran around, through and over them.

Campbell rushed for 200 or more yards in a game six times. For his efforts, league coaches voted him the Marmonte’s co-offensive player of the year.

And Campbell did not slow down when the regular season ended. His legs propelled the Scorpions to a surprising berth in the semifinals of the Division III playoffs.

As usual, the county again had its share of dominating linemen. However, Van Buren is more comfortable running under long passes than he is running into centers, tackles and guards.

Van Buren regularly faced double and triple coverage, but the junior still dominated games. In doing so, he helped the Panthers win their first league title in 11 years.

Van Buren was an integral part of one of the state’s most explosive offenses.

He finished one reception behind teammate Jason Toohey--who tied for the state lead with 80--and led the team with 1,331 yards and 14 touchdown catches.

Van Buren averaged 16.8 yards a reception. He should be among the county’s most highly recruited players next season.

BACK OF THE YEAR

Fahali Campbell, Camarillo: The county’s first 2,000-yard rusher gained 2,285 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. He rushed for 200 or more yards in a game six times.

LINEMAN OF THE YEAR

Leodes Van Buren, Newbury Park: The state’s second-leading receiver with 79 receptions, Van Buren led area pass catchers with 1,331 yards.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Cliff Farrar, Nordhoff: Farrar led Nordhoff to an 11-2 record, the best mark in school history.

1992 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS

Name: Lee Ciuffitelli Position: Kicker School: Camarillo Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Year: Senior OFFENSE

Name: George Keiaho Position: Running Back School: Buena Height: 5-8 Weight: 200 Year: Junior

Name: Keith Smith Position: Quarterback School: Newbury Park Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 Year: Junior

Name: Fahali Campbell Position: Running Back School: Camarillo Height: 5-10 Weight: 175 Year: Senior

Name: Eric Bennett Position: Quarterback School: Simi Valley Height: 6-3 Weight: 185 Year: Senior

Name: Bryan Kalbfus Position: Wide Receiver School: Simi Valley Height: 5-8 Weight: 150 Year: Senior

Name: Jason Toohey Position: Wide Receiver School: Newbury Park Height: 5-10 Weight: 175 Year: Senior

Name: Leodes Van Buren Position: Wide Receiver School: Newbury Park Height: 6-1 Weight: 180 Year: Junior

Name: Stuart Ae Position: Lineman School: Royal Height: 6-3 Weight: 245 Year: Senior

Name: Raymond Gacasan Position: Lineman School: St. Bonaventure Height: 6-4 Weight: 260 Year: Senior

Name: Blake Johnson Position: Lineman School: Ventura Height: 6-5 Weight: 310 Year: Senior

Name: Eric Benson Position: Lineman School: Thousand Oaks Height: 6-3 Weight: 265 Year: Senior

DEFENSE

Name: Ryan Cuthbert Position: Lineman School: Nordhoff Height: 6-2 Weight: 200 Year: Senior

Name: John Freedman Position: Lineman School: Camarillo Height: 6-3 Weight: 205 Year: Senior

Name: Jason Sandel Position: Lineman School: Camarillo Height: 6-1 Weight: 210 Year: Senior

Name: Manfred Wagner Position: Linebacker School: Thousand Oaks Height: 6-0 Weight: 225 Year: Senior

Name: Tim Bruce Position: Linebacker School: Simi Valley Height: 5-10 Weight: 190 Year: Senior

Name: Colby Keener Position: Linebacker School: Camarillo Height: 5-10 Weight: 190 Year: Senior

Name: Derek Newcomb Position: Back School: Royal Height: 6-2 Weight: 195 Year: Senior

Name: Rommel Butler Position: Back School: Royal Height: 6-0 Weight: 180 Year: Junior

Name: Larry Bumpus Position: Back School: Oxnard Height: 6-0 Weight: 180 Year: Senior

Name: Derek Swafford Position: Back School: Ventura Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Year: Senior

Name: Devon Passno Position: Back School: Ventura Height: 5-11 Weight: 195 Year: Senior