Persistence Pays Off for Moorpark

Moorpark High football players seeking to learn perseverance in their first season in the Marmonte League need look no further than the school’s administrators.

Refusing to take no for an answer, Principal John McIntosh twice appealed and finally in October convinced the Southern Section council to listen to his reasoning: Like Mickey and Minnie, Moorpark and the Marmonte are a perfect match.

The decision annoyed neighboring schools because it left an odd number of teams in the Marmonte and in the Channel League, which Moorpark originally was slated to join.

Everyone had to scramble to fill a bye week in its football schedule. Marmonte champion Newbury Park wasn’t able to do so, and will play only nine games.

“Moorpark belongs in the Marmonte,” Newbury Park Coach George Hurley said. “But my fear was that in an odd-number league, we wouldn’t have anybody to play during our bye week. That fear materialized.”

An exhaustive search by Royal for an opponent to fill the ninth week of the schedule turned up one team: Orange Glen High in San Diego.

“The scheduling was a nightmare,” Royal Coach Gene Uebelhardt said. “I was 100% for putting Moorpark in the league and 100% against an odd-number league. We had to scour the state.”

Hard feelings toward Moorpark will not linger, coaches said. Moorpark Coach Ron Wilford says that’s as it should be.

“I hope people realize it wasn’t a kids’ decision or a coaches’ decision, it was an administrative decision,” Wilford said. “If anyone takes that out on a 16- or 17-year-old kid who wants to play football, there’s something wrong with that.”

More likely, the established Marmonte teams will take aim at Moorpark because it is coming off a 13-1 record and Southern Section Division X championship.

The Musketeers held up well in summer passing-league competition against large schools and the pervading belief is that they will compete for one of the Marmonte’s four playoff berths.

David Oviedo, the Frontier League player of the year, returns at inside linebacker and also will play center. Experienced running backs Art Garcia and Artie Lopez will have holes opened by a line that returns three starters.

Moorpark’s biggest challenge will be stopping teams such as Newbury Park and Westlake that boast high-powered passing attacks. The ferocious blitz the Musketeers rode to the championship last season will be exploited by quarterbacks adept at changing plays at the line of scrimmage.

Newbury Park senior Nick Czernek (3,358 passing yards and 24 touchdowns last season) and Westlake junior Zac Wasserman (2,788 yards, 31 touchdowns) are the league’s best passers. Not surprisingly, most observers point to their teams as the league favorites, although Royal is mentioned as possessing the most overall talent.

Newbury Park and Westlake must replace nearly their entire offensive and defensive lines. Czernek and Wasserman had plenty of time to pass last season, and if that is reduced, so could their gaudy numbers.

Royal returns most of its defense, including All-Ventura County sack specialist Brian Montesanto. Three offensive linemen and running back Steve Sheehan (1,020 yards rushing last year) also return.

Rivaling Royal as the league’s top running team will be Thousand Oaks, which returns speedy tailback Wes Cobos (468 yards rushing in seven games). The Lancers are coming off a 4-6 record, but Coach Mike Kelly said the team is improved.

“We are a better, more athletic, faster team,” he said. “The league has a lot of parity. We will be in the mix, I’m convinced of it.”

With Camarillo and Channel Islands now in the new Pacific View League, Agoura and Simi Valley probably will be fighting to stay out of the cellar.

Agoura is coming off its best season under Coach Charlie Wegher, but must replace its entire line and backfield. Simi Valley won one game last season.

Said Wegher: “We have a lot of question marks going in, but the kids have a good attitude. I’m excited about the team and I think we will do well.”

Said Simi Valley Coach Ron Veres: “We will be much improved. The kids are really working hard, there is a lot of enthusiasm. I am very optimistic.”

With four of seven teams playoff-bound instead of the three of eight the Marmonte lived with for so long, everyone is upbeat.

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AT A GLANCE

* THE PROVEN: Quarterbacks Nick Czernek of Newbury Park (3,358 yards, 24 touchdowns last season) and Zac Wasserman of Westlake (2,788, 31) are among the most prolific passers in the state. Tyler Johnson (48 catches) is Newbury Park’s top receiver, and Westlake’s Travis Campbell and Mike Seidman combined for 108 catches and 1,556 yards. Campbell also had eight interceptions. Royal’s Steve Sheehan rushed for 848 yards, nearly 400 more than any other returning Marmonte running back. Agoura’s Garrett Lepisto (20 receptions, three interceptions) is another top skill-position player. The top defensive players are Royal end Brian Montesanto, Newbury Park LB Anthony Foli, Moorpark LB David Oviedo and Thousand Oaks DB Joey Casillas. TE Noah Happe of Simi Valley is getting attention from recruiters.

* THE PROMISING: Mike Martin, a junior in his third varsity season, and Eddie Knipps, who missed half of last season with a broken hand, anchor Royal’s outstanding corp of linebackers. Westlake should be strong at linebacker with junior Jordan Lampos and senior Matt Warman, who

transferred from Oak Park. MLB/OT Eric Frey and OLB/TE Nick Ciufo give Thousand Oaks toughness on both sides of the ball. Agoura TB Ryan Anzoutas could put up rushing numbers similar to those of Chris Poling last season. Julian Lambert, a transfer from Birmingham, gives Westlake speed at tailback. Agoura’s Danny Brockdorf could be the league’s premier kicker. The most improved quarterback could be Simi Valley’s Tim Bird, whom Coach Ron Veres said is poised for a big season.

* FAST FACT: Eric Cooper and Nick Campanelli, Simi Valley’s starting safeties last season, transferred to Royal, adding to a Highlander defense that already is the most experienced in the league.

* 1997 STANDINGS: 1. Newbury Park 10-1 overall, 7-0 in league; 2. Westlake 8-4, 6-1; 3. Agoura 7-4, 5-2; 4. Royal 6-4, 3-4; 5. Thousand Oaks 4-6, 3-4; 6. Channel Islands 2-7-1, 2-4-1; 7. Camarillo 1-9, 1-6; 8. Simi Valley 1-8-1, 0-6-1. NOTE: Channel Islands and Camarillo no longer are in the league. Moorpark, 13-1 last season, joins the league.

Marmonte League schedules

Games start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. Dates and sites subject to change. *-League games

*

AGOURA

Sept. 11--at Calabasas, 7

Sept. 18--Camarillo, 7

Sept. 25--at Rio Mesa, 7

Oct. 2--*at Thousand Oaks, 7

Oct. 9--*at Moorpark, 7

Oct. 16--Pomona, 7

Oct. 23--*at Royal, 7

Oct. 30--*Simi Valley, 7

Nov. 6--*Newbury Park, 7

Nov. 13--*at Westlake, 7

Home Site: Agoura High

*

MOORPARK

Sept. 11--at Nordhoff

Sept. 18--at Santa Paula, 7

Sept. 25--Channel Islands

Oct. 2--*at Simi Valley, 7

Oct. 9--*at Agoura, 7

Oct. 16--*Royal, 7

Oct. 23--*Newbury Park, 7

Oct. 30--*at Westlake, 7

Nov. 6--*Thousand Oaks, 7

Nov. 13--at Lompoc

Home Site: Notre Dame High

*

NEWBURY PARK

Sept. 12--at Sahuaro (Tucson, Ariz.), 7

Sept. 18--Oxnard, 7

Sept. 25--Buena at Ventura High

Oct. 2--*Royal, 7

Oct. 9--*Simi Valley, 7

Oct. 15--*at Westlake, 7

Oct. 23--*at Moorpark, 7

Oct. 30--bye

Nov. 6--*at Agoura, 7

Nov. 13--*Thousand Oaks, 7

Home Site: Newbury Park High

*

ROYAL

Sept. 11--at San Marcos

Sept. 18--at Granada Hills, 7

Sept. 25--Ventura

Oct. 2--*at Newbury Park, 7

Oct. 9--*Westlake, 7

Oct. 16--*at Moorpark, 7

Oct. 23--*Agoura, 7

Oct. 30--*at Thousand Oaks, 7

Nov. 6--Orange Glen (San Diego)

Nov. 13--Simi Valley at Moorpark College, 7

Home Site: Royal

*

SIMI VALLEY

Sept. 11--Ventura, 7

Sept. 18--Saugus, 7

Sept. 25--Granada Hills, 7

Oct. 2--*Moorpark, 7

Oct. 9--*at Newbury Park, 7

Oct. 16--*Thousand Oaks, 7

Oct. 23--at San Luis Obispo

Oct. 30--*at Agoura, 7

Nov. 6--*Westlake, 7

Nov. 13--*Royal at Moorpark College, 7

Home Site: Simi Valley High

*

THOUSAND OAKS

Sept. 11--Crescenta Valley

Sept. 18--Hart at Canyons

Sept. 25--Camarillo

Oct. 2--*Agoura, 7

Oct. 9--at Rio Mesa, 7

Oct. 16--*at Simi Valley, 7

Oct. 23--*Westlake, 7

Oct. 30--*Royal, 7

Nov. 6--*at Moorpark, 7

Nov. 13--*at Newbury Park, 7

Home Site: Thousand Oaks High

*

WESTLAKE

Sept. 11--Buena at Ventura High

Sept. 18--at Ventura

Sept. 25--El Camino Real, 7

Oct. 2--Canyon, 7

Oct. 9--*at Royal, 7

Oct. 16--*Newbury Park, 7

Oct. 23--*at Thousand Oaks, 7

Oct. 30--*Moorpark, 7

Nov. 6--*at Simi Valley, 7

Nov. 13--*Agoura, 7

Home Site: Westlake High