Camarillo Grinds Up Thousand Oaks

John Howe, until now a mere footnote on Camarillo High’s trek to its first Marmonte League title since 1984, had a different idea for the pass-happy league.

The Scorpions defeated Thousand Oaks, 28-20, Friday night on Howe’s 122 yards in 21 carries, the first 100-yard rushing performance by a Camarillo back this season.

Howe scored on runs of 22 and 10 yards in the third quarter to erase a 14-7 Thousand Oaks lead. The 5-feet-10, 165-pound junior had a grand total of 255 yards coming into the game.

“I thought this game would be all passing,” he said. “It just sort of happened this way.”

Joe Borchard of Camarillo (7-2, 6-0 in league), who had engineered the team’s previous six consecutive victories, completed only five of 16 passes for 54 yards in the first half, but finished 15 of 32 for 222 yards.

Thousand Oaks (7-1-1, 5-1) sacked Borchard eight times, and the quarterback fumbled after a sack with seven minutes to play. Defensive lineman Chance Redmond scooped up the ball and rambled 73 yards for a touchdown to pull the Lancers to within 21-20.

The second interception of the game by Justin Howe, John’s cousin, with five minutes to play short-circuited a Lancer drive, and Borchard sealed the game with a one-yard touchdown run with three minutes to play.

“It feels great, it’s unbelievable,” Borchard said of winning the championship. “It’s hard to put into words.”

Thousand Oaks lost receiver Barrett Grindle to a neck injury with 10:30 to play. The game was delayed for 15 minutes while Grindle was placed on a stretcher.

Getting his first extensive action this season on defense, he was injured tackling Howe. Grindle had six receptions for 72 yards.

Scott McEwan of Thousand Oaks was 13 of 32 for 152 yards with three interceptions, the most passes he has thrown in a game this season. He gave the Lancers a 7-0 lead with a two-yard touchdown pass to Jud Southwell in the first quarter.

Camarillo came back on a seven-yard pass from Borchard to Justin Denham, but Thousand Oaks retook the lead on a 50-yard run by Eleo Cuadra.