Good Omen for Wilford

Before Moorpark High ended The Streak last week, there was almost The Wreck.

In pouring rain, assistant Jeff Dewey was driving with Coach Ron Wilford to pick up a heater to keep the footballs warm during Moorpark’s game against Carpinteria last Friday.

Dewey’s car skidded on the freeway and spun around several times.

“I’m thinking we’re going to get hit by a car or hit by the rail,” Wilford said. “It was like slow motion. My life flashed before my eyes.”

When the car came to a stop, it was facing front again. There was no accident.

“I said to Jeff, ‘There’s no way we’re going to lose that game tonight,’ ” Wilford said.

Moorpark defeated Carpinteria, 33-0, in the Southern Section Division X semifinals, ending a 51-game losing streak against the Warriors.

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Paraclete Coach Steve Hagerty wears a headset during games but he rarely calls offensive plays or defensive formations, leaving those chores to offensive coordinator Jeff Jambretz and defensive coordinator Bryan Wickoren.

Jambretz is in his third season calling plays and Wickoren is in his first calling formations. With the Spirits playing at Banning in the Division XI title game Friday, Hagerty has no plans to get more involved.

“My job is to coach the coaches,” Hagerty said. “Everything they say goes through my ear during a game, but only at crucial junctures or at the end of a half will I say no or take things on.”

Paraclete, known for tough defense and limited offense, has been prolific moving the ball of late and Hagerty has no problem deflecting the credit.

“We didn’t score nearly as much when I called the plays,” he said with a laugh.

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Hagerty is less than thrilled that Friday’s game will be played at Banning High. Paraclete’s choice was UC Riverside.

“The mayor [of Banning] and I don’t see eye to eye on this one,” Hagerty said. “He’s pledged to keep the game in town. I think if you’re playing a title game, it should be in the nicest setting possible for the kids and the fans.”

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It took Notre Dame sophomore Matt Lutz until the playoffs to crack the starting lineup at defensive back and he’s doing his best to remain there despite a dislocated shoulder suffered Friday in a victory over Righetti in the Division III semifinals.

“I’ll believe it when I see it, but he’s been icing the shoulder and he insists he’s going to practice in pads this week and play Friday,” Knight assistant Jeff Kraemer said Tuesday.