HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Newbury Park Spells It Out for St. Francis

From A to Z, from linemen Chris Adams to Nick Zentil and a bunch of lettermen in between, the Newbury Park High defense manhandled St. Francis on Friday night in a Southern Section Division III playoff opener.

Newbury Park won, 43-10, to remain unbeaten behind a defense that allowed only 120 yards and a meaningless field goal.

When a team’s best offensive play is a 24-yard gain on a fumblerooski, that team is facing a dynamite defense. Such was St. Francis’ predicament.

“They played aggressively and laid on some hits,” St. Francis Coach Bill Redell said. “And those two linebackers, they are something.”

That would be identical twins Brock and Brant Diediker, Panther seniors who completely stuffed the running game. St. Francis (7-4) rushed for 14 yards in 20 attempts besides the fumblerooski run by Scott Traver.

“Every opportunity I had to hit someone, I took it,” said Brant Diediker, who recovered a fumble, one of five St. Francis turnovers.

The Diedikers and several other Panther defenders also play offense, where more fun was to be had. Newbury Park (11-0) rolled up 506 yards.

Chris Czernek, the state’s leading passer with 3,593 yards, threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns to give him 37 for the season. His only misplay was a fumble on a first-quarter sack that was returned 10 yards by Robert Eland for a St. Francis touchdown. The play tied the score, 7-7, but Czernek proceeded to lead Newbury Park to three second-quarter touchdowns and a 28-7 halftime lead.

Brock Diediker, a fullback who rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries, capped a 10-play, 76-yard drive that followed the St. Francis score. The Golden Knights punted on their next possession--one of their six punts in the half--and Newbury Park needed only two plays to score. A 16-yard run by Diediker was followed by a 40-yard pass play from Czernek to Patrick Reddick.

Newbury Park, the Marmonte League champion, increased its lead to 28-7 with 4 minutes 34 seconds to play in the half on a 22-yard fade pass to DaJuan Hawkins.

Czernek opened the scoring on Newbury Park’s first possession with a 47-yard pass play to Eddie Patterson.

Chrissy Sanford made her first field goal of the season in the third quarter, a 35-yard boot, to give Newbury Park a 31-10 lead.

Brock Diediker and Garrett Hobba each scored on runs in the fourth quarter.

While Redell complimented the Newbury Park defense after the game, St. Francis offensive coordinator Jim Bonds, a former UCLA and Hart High quarterback, lauded the Panther offense.

“They are very impressive with those four great wide receivers who can go up and get the ball,” Bonds said. “And Czernek puts the ball where he wants to.”

Justin Vint had seven receptions for 116 yards, Reddick had six for 132, Patterson had four for 91 yards and Hawkins had three for 40.

Czernek completed 21 of 37 passes.

St. Francis quarterback John Carnevali completed 11 of 24 for 84 yards with two interceptions--both by Reddick.

Carnevali’s receivers were repeatedly decked, regardless of whether they caught the ball. “We stepped it up a notch,” said Doug Dagan, Newbury Park’s defensive coordinator. “We were very physical.”