MIDSEASON REPORT: LEAGUE CAPSULES

DIVISION IV

CHANNEL LEAGUE

How They Stack Up

With a balanced attack on offense, Buena appears to be the front-runner, though Ventura is 5-0 for the first times since going 9-0 in 1987. San Marcos has won three consecutive games. Dos Pueblos has been outscored, 135-55. Winless Santa Barbara is averages 7.4 points per game.

Ventura: 5 0 0

Buena: 4 1 0

San Marcos: 3 2 0

Dos Pueblos: 2 3 0

Santa Barbara: 0 5 0

Dates to Mark

Friday: Ventura at San Marcos

Oct. 22: San Marcos at Buena

Nov. 11: Buena at Ventura

Key Players

* Kyle Loughman, Buena. Senior quarterback has passed for 4,598 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career.

* D.J. Blackledge, Buena. Senior running back is an ideal complement to Loughman, rushing for 673 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

* Tyler Ebell, Ventura. Junior running back has rushed for 732 yards and 15 touchdowns.

* Carlos Santano, San Marcos. Junior running back has rushed for more than 170 yards in three consecutive games.

Fast Fact

Buena won the league title in 1997 and shared it last season with San Marcos.

MARMONTE LEAGUE

How They Stack Up

Even tough it has only played one league game, Westlake is clearly the favorite to win the Marmonte League, especially with quarterback Chris Lombardo of Newbury Park out for the season because of a broken leg. Newbury Park and a resurgent Thousand Oaks should battle for second place. Moorpark, with first-year Coach Tim Lins, could also be a factor.

Westlake: 4-1 (1-0)

Newbury Park: 3-2 (2-0)

Thousand Oaks: 3-2 (1-0)

Moorpark: 2-3 (2-0)

Agoura: 1-3-1 (0-2)

Royal: 1-4 (0-2)

Simi Valley: 0-5 (0-2)

Dates to Mark

Thursday: Westlake at Newbury Park

Oct. 29: Westlake at Moorpark

Nov. 12: Newbury Park at Thousand Oaks

Key Players

* Zac Wasserman, Westlake. Quarterback who has committed to Penn State, started slow, but has improved in recent weeks.

* Marcus Crawford, Newbury Park. A transfer from Thousand Oaks, he has rushed for 818 yards and helped take the pressure off quarterback Cameron Merrill.

* Clint Wilson, Thousand Oaks. He has rushed for 516 yards and five touchdowns.

* Dylan McLaughlin, Moorpark. He has legitimized the Musketeers’ passing game, throwing for 1,131 yards while completing 60.3% of his passes.

Fast Fact

Thousand Oaks has scored 113 points in its last three games.

PACIFIC VIEW LEAGUE

How They Stack Up

Hueneme has struggled compared to last season, but is favored to win its second consecutive title. Oxnard, which came within a two-point conversion of defeating unbeaten Ventura last week, and Rio Mesa could be Hueneme’s biggest challengers.

Hueneme: 2 3 0

Rio Mesa: 2 3 0

Channel Islands: 1 4 0

Oxnard: 1 4 0

Camarillo: 0 4 1

Dates to Mark

Oct. 22: Hueneme at Rio Mesa

Oct. 29: Oxnard at Rio Mesa

Nov. 12: Hueneme at Oxnard

Key Players

* Keary Colbert, Hueneme. Wide receiver was slowed by a knee injury in the first three games of the season, but the Viking senior has 12 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games.

* Tony Williams, Oxnard. Senior quarterback has completed 37 of 73 passes for 448 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 245 yards and three scores.

* Mike Liranzo, Rio Mesa. Senior has rushed for 437 yards and three touchdowns and caught two touchdowns.

* Loren Cerny, Camarillo. Senior made smooth transition to running back from tight end and has rushed for 669 yards. Has nine touchdowns, six rushing.

Fast Fact

Channel Islands is shooting for its first winning league season since 1988, when it tied Thousand Oaks for first in the Marmonte League.