HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK 8 : Thousand Oaks Names the Tune in Rout of Camarillo

With big-name tailback Brandon Jackson sidelined because of a slightly separated shoulder, somebody needed to step out of obscurity and lift Thousand Oaks High on Friday night.

Not missing a beat was Eleo Cuadra, a 5-foot-8 junior previously best known around town as the bass player in a local punk band, Urban Outrage.

Cuadra ran for 143 yards in 14 carries and scored two long touchdowns within 30 seconds in the third quarter to help Thousand Oaks to a surprisingly easy 48-7 victory over Camarillo in a Marmonte League game.

“Eleo was awesome,” said Jackson, who left the game early in the second quarter after rushing for 56 yards in four carries, including a 34-yard touchdown.

The victory enabled the Lancers (7-1, 5-0 in league play) to take a half-game lead over unbeaten Newbury Park and a two-game lead over Camarillo (4-4, 3-2). Newbury Park plays tonight at Channel Islands. Several curious Panther players were in attendance Friday.

They saw more Lancers than Cuadra make names for themselves.

Aaron Shaw, a senior cornerback, broke open a close game in the second quarter by taking an interception 51 yards for a touchdown and a 20-7 Thousand Oaks halftime lead. The interception interrupted a blazing beginning for Camarillo quarterback Joe Borchard, who completed his first eight passes before Shaw’s theft.

Borchard (14 of 21 for 129 yards) proceeded to throw interceptions to Josh Casillas and Jud Southwell on Camarillo’s next two possessions. The Scorpions finished with seven turnovers, including two fumbles on kickoffs recovered by Lancer Chris Melzer.

Cuadra darted 65 yards for a touchdown on a draw play on the fourth play of the third quarter. After Melzer recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Cuadra immediately dashed 27 yards to give Thousand Oaks a cozy 35-7 lead.

“I was trying to follow my blocks and hold onto the ball,” said Cuadra, who had only two previous carries this season.

Barrett Grindle also made a strong contribution for Thousand Oaks, making five catches for 74 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown. Quarterback Scott McEwan was eight for 15 for 108 yards with no interceptions.

“We wanted to show that this team is more than Brandon Jackson,” Coach Mike Kelly said.

Thousand Oaks rushed for 310 yards and held Camarillo to 15 rushing yards.

Early on, it appeared Camarillo would make a game of it behind Borchard, who had thrown for 641 yards the past two weeks. The 6-foot-4 junior completed five passes in a row on the Scorpions’ first drive, including a 15-yard touchdown to Mike Anger.

But Thousand Oaks came right back, driving 75 yards in eight plays, with Jackson bolting around right end for the final 34.