Newbury Park Romps, 41-8, in Marmonte League Opener

Standout quarterback Keith Smith completed 14 of 23 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns in leading Newbury Park High to a 41-8 blowout victory over Camarillo in a Marmonte League opener Friday night.

Smith needs 282 yards to break the all-time Ventura County passing record of 7,272 yards set by former Santa Clara standout and current San Diego State quarterback Tim Gutierrez. Panther receiver Leodes Van Buren had eight receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. He needs nine catches and 55 yards to break J.K. McKay’s all-time Southern Section records of 207 and 3,389.

The Panthers held a 41-0 advantage when Scorpion quarterback Jay Nirenberg (nine of 28, 101 yards, one touchdown and one interception) teamed with receiver Bennett Wutkee on a 15-yard touchdown play with 3 minutes 47 seconds left. Nirenberg then hit Bret Whitmeyer for a two-point conversion to close the scoring.

“I’m really pleased with our defense,” Panther Coach George Hurley said. “They are a good team and we played good defense all game long. (Linebacker) Justin Simo and (defensive back) Albert Reddick had super games.”

The Panthers (4-0)--ranked first in The Times’ regional and Southern Section Division III polls--put the game out of reach with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter on a one-yard plunge by Rich Adams.

It capped a seven-play, 52-yard drive. The extra point by Adams, who later ran a yard for another touchdown, gave Newbury Park a 35-0 lead.

Camarillo (2-2) advanced inside the Newbury Park 20 three times. Scorpion tailback Robert Smith, who entered the game with 449 yards rushing, gained a game-high 133 yards in 15 carries.

Senior receiver Jason Tucker, also the Panthers’ backup quarterback, relieved Smith as Hurley began removing starters from the game.

Newbury Park held a 28-0 advantage at halftime. Smith was typically spectacular, completing 11 of 18 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns. His lone interception came on a tip.

Van Buren caught five passes for 87 yards and one touchdown before halftime.

Smith was Camarillo’s offense during the game’s first 24 minutes, gaining 99 yards in 12 carries. Nirenberg was four of 11 for 27 yards and one interception.

The Panthers opened the scoring with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter when Smith found receiver Trevor Coville for a 10-yard touchdown.

Newbury Park closed the half’s scoring on a 64-yard interception return by defensive lineman Chris Hill. Nirenberg was being sacked when he threw a pass that Hill picked off.