Thousand Oaks Throws Scare Into Newbury Park

For undefeated Newbury Park High, it was its sloppiest football game of the season.

For winless Thousand Oaks, it was a chance to beat the region’s top-ranked team while possibly redeeming its dismal season.

And for the first time this season, offense-minded Newbury Park had to rely on its defense to survive a season-high six turnovers and edge its cross-town rival, 14-9, Friday night in a Marmonte League game.

The Panthers (7-0, 4-0 in league play) found themselves in an unfamiliar position in the fourth quarter when quarterback Keith Smith threw two interceptions.

Thousand Oaks had already capitalized on two turnovers to keep it close. An upset was looming. Even Newbury Park Coach George Hurley could feel it.

“This is one of those big rivalries,” Hurley said. “A great undefeated team comes in and almost always some winless team knocks them off.”

With Newbury Park holding its precarious 14-9 lead and driving, Greg Aguilar picked off a pass intended for Leodes Van Buren (11 catches, 134 yards) at the Thousand Oaks one-yard line.

But the Panthers forced a punt after three Thousand Oaks runs failed to gain a first down.

Two plays later, Smith threw another interception, this one grabbed by Rick Coletta at the Newbury Park 46 with 4:15 remaining.

But Thousand Oaks quarterback Jason Brown crumbled under the intense Newbury Park pass rush and failed to connect on three attempts.

The Lancers (0-6-1, 0-3-1) punted with 3:44 left and Newbury Park maintained possession, running out the clock.

The opening kickoff set the theme for the night. Thousand Oaks recovered a fumbled kickoff return and turned it into a 23-yard field goal by Andy Carpiac for a short-lived 3-0 lead.

Smith, who completed his first six passes and 10 of his first 12, then set up a four-yard touchdown run by Albert Reddick with four passes for 46 yards and a 22-yard scramble.

But the Panthers, who had previously outscored three Marmonte League opponents, 118-8, did not score again until their first possession of the second half.

Smith (23 of 33, 277 yards) connected with Van Buren for a 38-yard touchdown and Reddick’s conversion run gave the Panthers a 14-3 lead.