X Factor Might Be Defense for Moorpark

If anybody can predict the winner of Saturday night’s game between Moorpark High and St. Monica for the Southern Section Division X title, it’s Calabasas Coach Larry Edwards.

Calabasas played St. Monica twice, defeating the Mariners in the fifth week of the regular season, 48-28, but losing in the quarterfinals, 21-3.

Calabasas lost to Moorpark in the sixth week of the regular season, 16-7.

“St. Monica’s got great speed,” Edwards said. “It’s certainly an advantage. If I were [Moorpark Coach Ron] Wilford, I’d leave the sprinklers on late Friday night.”

Edwards was especially impressed with St. Monica receiver James Dunn, a junior who has 74 catches and 14 touchdowns.

“Some receivers get into stances, he gets into [track and field] starting blocks,” Edwards said.

Even so, Edwards said he can’t go against Frontier League rival Moorpark, which will host the game.

“Offense sells tickets, but defense wins games and theirs is so stingy,” he said. “I think it’s gotten even better in the playoffs.

“It’ll be very close,” Edwards said. “I think home field advantage is so huge in the playoffs and coming off that victory [against Carpinteria] last week, [the Musketeers] might think they’re the team of destiny. I’ve got to root for the Frontier League . . . 17-14, Moorpark.”

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Riverside Banning football fans have caught Hay fever.

First-year Coach Brian Hay, a former Cal State Northridge lineman, has led the Broncos to an improbable postseason run and a berth against Paraclete on Friday in the Division XI championship game.

The game will mark Banning’s first appearance in a football final since the program was established in 1929.

“It’s incredible,” said Hay, whose team finished fourth in the Skyline League, then upset top-seeded L.A. Baptist, 51-45, in six overtimes in the first round and Skyline League champion Riverside Notre Dame, 58-19, in the semifinals last week.

“People I’ve never met are walking up to me on the street and wishing us luck.”

Hay, 27, started at left guard at Northridge in 1992 and ’93 before moving into the coaching ranks.

“The Valley holds a special place in my heart,” he said.

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Paraclete has shuffled its athletic schedules to accommodate athletes and fans wishing to attend the Division XI championship game at Banning, the school’s first appearance in a section football final since 1969.

The girls’ soccer match at Ridgecrest Burroughs has been moved to Thursday, while the boys’ match was switched from 5:30 p.m. to 4:30.

A girls’ basketball game against Quartz Hill has been rescheduled for Jan. 6. The boys’ basketball game between Paraclete and Quartz Hill was canceled.

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Banning’s home field, at Nicolet Middle School, seats only 2,100 people. The Broncos are renting additional bleachers to accommodate an extra 1,000, as well as transporting other bleachers from the city’s parks. Between 4,000 and 5,000 fans are expected.

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Notre Dame had a much easier time reaching the Division III final last season.

Running back Justin Fargas believes the team has faced much tougher playoff games this season, which should provide preparation for the championship game Friday night against Arroyo Grande.

“It’s been a tougher road to get where we’re at right now,” Fargas said. “But I think that’s the best way to earn something, for it to be tough.

“Last year we blew almost every team out in the playoffs and ended up with a close game in the finals and didn’t know how to handle that. [The Knights lost to Camarillo.] Hopefully, some of the things we’ve been through this year will help us.”