Newbury Park Stumbles Again

For the second consecutive season, the Newbury Park High football team squandered a top divisional seeding in the first round of the Southern Section playoffs, losing Friday to Ventura, 41-39.

Ventura (5-5-1), the fourth-place team in the Channel League, pulled off the upset of the Panthers (7-3), champions of the Marmonte League, with excellent defense and a solid rushing attack.

The Cougars advance to play next week against San Luis Obispo, a 38-22 winner over Rio Mesa.

Ventura was led by defensive backs Jon Lang, Tyler Ebell, Rashe Hall and Clark Goodwin, who blanketed the Panther receivers, and the offensive backfield of Ebell, Tino Guerri and Mike Anderson, who combined for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

Ventura quarterback Mike Anderson, who entered the game with a 39% completion rate, connected on nine of 18 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.

Newbury Park, which was eliminated last year by Arroyo Grande, 54-34, could not fire up its normally effective passing game. The Panthers trailed, 31-14, at halftime and 41-26 in the fourth quarter before staging a late rally. The effort fell short in part because of a blocked conversion kick, a failed conversion kick and a failed conversion pass.

Newbury Park quarterback Nick Czernek completed 21 of 48 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He had two passes intercepted, giving him season totals of 2,955 yards, 27 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

Czernek’s first pass attempt, 1:16 into the game, was intercepted and returned 57 yards for a touchdown by Ebell. Czernek threw two touchdowns to Tyler Johnson in the final five minutes, but consistently challenged double coverage and was forced to throw on the run by the Cougar pass rush.

Johnson led Newbury Park with six catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Teammate Brian Swett added eight receptions for 70 yards. Cause Hanna had five catches for 65 yards.