Camarillo Defense Delivers

With the spotlight focused on quarterback Joe Borchard all season, the Camarillo High defense spent its time in the shadows getting better and better.

And it was the defense that beamed the brightest after the Scorpions’ 20-14 victory over Notre Dame in the Southern Section Division III final before 9,300 Friday night at Camarillo High.

“The improvement of our defense is phenomenal,” said Andy Kroneberger, a senior cornerback who had an interception. “I can’t believe what we did here.”

Not after being torched for 47 points in an early season loss to Rio Mesa and having to outscore several Marmonte League teams in shootouts.

But Camarillo (13-1) stonewalled Notre Dame (12-2) in the first half while building a 17-0 lead, and after allowing two scoring drives, stiffened again on the Knights’ last two possessions.

“We knew they’d play good defense,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “If we would have played in the first half like we did in the second, we would have won.”

Camarillo didn’t exactly throttle Knight tailback Justin Fargas, who came into the game with 2,774 rushing yards. But he was held to 201 yards in 31 carries, averaging 6.6 a carry, far less than the 11 yards he averaged coming in.

Fargas scored on a one-yard run with 10 minutes 48 seconds to play to make the score 20-14, but after Notre Dame drove to the Camarillo 24 on its next possession, the Scorpions gang-tackled him for short gains on second and third down.

On fourth down, Fargas attempted a halfback pass, but Kroneberger blanketed the receiver and the ball fell incomplete.

“I saw [Fargas] take short, choppy steps, so I knew he was going to throw,” Kroneberger said.

Camarillo did not score in the fourth quarter, but runs by tailback John Howe, who rushed for 89 yards in 21 carries, and passes by Borchard enabled the Scorpions to run out the clock.

Borchard was 16 of 28 for 172 yards and one touchdown, and he had several key bootleg runs in the second half.

“All year long, when we needed to make a play, we did it,” Borchard said. “I can’t say enough about our defense, though. They really stepped it up.”

Fumbles on Notre Dame’s first two possessions led to Camarillo touchdowns, and a 13-yard punt late in the second quarter was turned into a 29-yard field goal by Ryan Geisler, giving Camarillo a 17-0 halftime lead.

Fargas fumbled on the Camarillo 42 on Notre Dame’s first possession, and after safety Justin Howe recovered, Camarillo converted on three third downs and one fourth down en route to a touchdown.

Borchard hit a diving Kroneberger on a third-and-five play for the touchdown late in the first quarter.

On Notre Dame’s next offensive play, a fumble on a handoff was recovered by linebacker Eugene Jackson on Notre Dame’s 32. Borchard hit Justin Denham and Justin Howe with passes before John Howe carried twice, the second time a four-yard touchdown run.