Camarillo Tailbacks Find Friend in Muller

As unrelenting as a snowplow, Mike Muller clears the way.

Those who follow him change with the seasons, but Muller is the constant, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound pathfinder whose favorite phrase is “follow me.”

Muller is Camarillo High’s senior fullback, in his third year at the position. He is quick to point out that he also plays inside linebacker and earned All-Marmonte League honors last season on defense.

But for Roth Valencia, Robert Smith and Fahali Campbell, Muller has provided elements crucial to the livelihood of a tailback: direction and protection.

Valencia, this year’s tailback, rushed for 237 yards and three touchdowns in 38 carries Friday night, and every number was needed in a 30-27 squeaker over Rio Mesa.

With 367 yards in 60 carries in two games, he appears a cinch to become Camarillo’s third consecutive 1,000-yard rusher, following Campbell (2,285 in ‘92) and Smith (1,130 in ‘93).

Check that. Valencia follows only Muller. They all have.

“It’s like having another lineman blocking for you,” Valencia said. “He’s a real good blocking fullback.”

The headlines, of course, go to the ballcarriers. On Saturday, Muller stared at more than one that trumpeted Valencia.

“I’ve accepted that,” Muller said. “It’s just the way Camarillo is. It’s a tailback offense.”

Roles are strictly defined: The tailback carries the ball and the fullback leads, blocking a linebacker on a dive or a defensive end on an off-tackle play. In two games this year, Muller has gained 21 yards in four carries with a touchdown, but he enjoys Valencia’s gains as much as the tailback does.

“I always go through the hole first, I always lead,” Muller said. “When we find a weakness, we run a play over and over and over again.”

Simple, and simply effective.

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Sticking it out: Westlake is the fifth high school for quarterback Brian Shubin, a senior who has come to regard change as the only valid currency.

That may change, however. Despite watching most of Westlake’s 52-26 victory over Ventura from the bench, Shubin is not gazing at greener fields, his father insisted Saturday while Brian was at practice.

“If it turns out he is the backup quarterback, he accepted that possibility when he decided to go to Westlake,” Steve Shubin said. “He likes the kids there and as far as transferring again so that he can play, I don’t think that will happen.”

Shubin began high school at Camarillo, played at Thousand Oaks as a sophomore and split last season between Canyon and Taft. It seemed that whenever pressured, he fled the pocket.

“Initially it was a divorce, then I moved my business, things like that caused the moves,” Steve Shubin said.

“Unfortunately, Brian has had to endure the rap of being the kid who went to all the schools. But he has kept his grades up and shown dramatic improvement as a quarterback.”

After sharing equal playing time with Scott Spruill and Steve Aylsworth in Westlake’s opener, Shubin did not play until midway through the fourth quarter against Ventura. He completed five of seven passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Spruill, a 6-foot-2 senior, appears to have won the job after completing 13 of 24 for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

With his son learning to grin and bear it for the first time, Steve Shubin sees a touch of irony.

“If he were at any of the other four high schools he has attended, he would be the starting quarterback,” the father said.

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Remember this name: A pair of City Section tailbacks named Smith combined for 567 yards rushing Friday. And they did it with only 19 carries each.

Di-onte Smith, a 5-11, 185-pound senior, dashed for a Grant school record 352 yards in a victory over Marshall.

Smith ran for 573 yards in five games last season before an injury ended his season. He already has 495 yards in two games this year.

Antwane Smith, a year younger, an inch shorter and 15 pounds lighter than Di-onte, had 215 yards in a victory over Inglewood.

Look for continued improvement from the Kennedy tailback, who enjoys an offensive system that Coach Bob Francola calls “a tailback’s delight.”

Smith gets most of his carries on a pitch play that allows him to run around end, off tackle or cut back across the center before he reaches the line of scrimmage.

Kennedy itself has been a tailback’s delight since Francola arrived in 1986, sending five to Division I schools. Ontiwaun Carter, Arizona’s All-American candidate, is the best known.

The others are Edwin Jones (Iowa State), Ron Hardy (Oregon), Elijah Raphael (Washington State) and Donte Scarbrough (San Jose State).

“All the kids had one ingredient in common: great vision,” Francola said. “Their eyes catch more of a peripheral view; they don’t have tunnel vision. That seems to be a characteristic of a truly good tailback.”

Francola believes that Smith, who developed pass-catching and blocking skills playing receiver last year, will earn that label.

“He is well on his way,” Francola said.

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Roaring start: Following in the sizable paw prints of Panthers Leodes Van Buren and Jason Tucker--the top two receivers in the state last season--has not caused Eric Mahanke to misstep.

He had eight catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns for Newbury Park against San Marcos on Friday and also intercepted two passes, returning one 60 yards for a touchdown.

“It felt good to show everybody the ’94 season is good too, that this team can win and work hard,” he said.

Mahanke especially wanted to impress one onlooker: Keith Smith, the state’s all-time leading passer who led Newbury Park to a 14-0 record last year.

“He was on the sidelines and I played catch with him. That was great,” said Mahanke, a two-year starting linebacker who was a reserve receiver last year.

Newbury Park (2-0) extended its winning streak to a Ventura County record 16. The Panthers, who play Buena this week, have not lost to a Ventura County team since 1991.

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Probably OK: Caleb Smith, Antelope Valley’s standout two-way lineman, is back on solid footing after limping off the field Friday.

His right foot was injured during a pileup, but Coach Brent Newcomb isn’t worried.

“Something tweaked in there, but it’s not swollen,” Newcomb said. “We’ll have the results of X-rays Monday.”

A quick recovery would work well for Antelope Valley, which has not allowed a point in two victories. This week the Antelopes visit Bakersfield, the No. 3-ranked team in the state.