MIDSEASON REPORT: LEAGUE CAPSULES
DIVISION XI
FRONTIER LEAGUE
How They Stack Up
Nordhoff, defending league champion, is the team to beat, but watch out for Malibu. The Sharks are averaging 33.4 points. Santa Paula and Santa Clara, which have both shown flashes of brilliance defensively, should stay close and keep it interesting. Calabasas, which has been kicked around by a few larger schools in the preseason, is rebuilding.
Malibu: 3 2 0
Santa Paula: 3 2 0
Nordhoff: 3 2 0
Santa Clara: 2 3 0
Calabasas: 1 4 0
Dates to Mark
Saturday: Nordhoff at Malibu
Oct. 22: Santa Paula at Nordhoff
Nov. 12: Santa Paula at Malibu
Key Players
* Chad Metelak, Santa Paula. Looks like the veteran quarterback he is with 750 yards passing and 10 touchdowns.
* Jessie Hawkins, Nordhoff. Has twice as many yards rushing as any other back in the league with 496 and five touchdowns.
* Scott Drew, Nordhoff. Has emerged as the go-to guy in Nordhoff’s balanced offense with 22 of the team’s 39 receptions.
* Matt Bernstein, Calabasas. The second-leading scorer for the Coyotes is their kicker, who is five for five on extra points and four for five on field goals.
Fast Fact
Nordhoff has won five league titles in the 1990s, but never more than two in a row.
TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE
How They Stack Up
St. Bonaventure is a decided favorite after averaging 33.6 points per game while boasting the No. 1-ranked defense in the region. Carpinteria figures to be the Seraphs’ main challenger. Oak Park and Fillmore are improved over recent years and have designs on second place.
St. Bonaventure: 5 0 0
Carpinteria: 4 1 0
Fillmore: 3 2 0
Oak Park: 3 2 0
Bishop Diego: 2 3 0
Dates to Mark
Oct. 16: Oak Park vs. St. Bonaventure
Nov. 4: Carpinteria vs. St. Bonaventure
Nov. 5: Fillmore at Oak Park
Key Players
* Eric Testan, Oak Park. After two years as a backup quarterback, he has become the top running back at Oak Park, gaining 748 yards and rushing for seven touchdowns.
* Lorenzo Booker, St. Bonaventure. Sophomore transfer from Oxnard has rushed for more than 100 yards in each game, totaling 852 yards and five touchdowns.
* Adam Gray-Hayward, St. Bonaventure. Senior has 30 receptions for 390 yards and six scores and is en route to topping his totals of 60 catches for 853 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.
* C.J. Hernandez, Fillmore. Senior does it all--an excellent lead blocker, seven of eight on extra points, starting cornerback with an interception, special teams leader.
Fast Fact
St. Bonaventure has won four league titles this decade, including the last three in a row.
DIVISION XII
ALPHA LEAGUE
How They Stack Up
A funny thing happened on the way to a Paraclete runaway. The Spirits are 2-3, top player Michael Washington was injured for two games and quarterback Rob Fockaert had a lackluster first half. Kilpatrick began 3-0 but has lost consecutive heart-breakers in the final seconds.
L.A. Baptist: 3 2 0
Kilpatrick: 3 2 0
Paraclete: 2 3 0
Village Christian: 1 4 0
Pasadena Marshall: 0 5 0
Dates to Mark
Friday: Kilpatrick vs. L.A. Baptist
Oct. 29: Paraclete vs. L.A. Baptist
Nov. 5: Kilpatrick vs. Paraclete
Key Players
* Jermaine Marshall, Kilpatrick. Senior has rushed for a region-best 1,371 yards and 166 points, more than any team in the league.
* Curtis Brown, Paraclete. Sophomore running back has been a bright spot in a disappointing season with 956 yards rushing.
* Scott Swenson, L.A. Baptist. Quarterback has a 64% completion rate and has only three interceptions in 108 passes.
* Robert Watts, Paraclete. Six-foot-4, 210-pound outside linebacker is one of the region’s best--in any division.
Fast Fact
Coach Mike Plaisance, in his 20th season at Village Christian, needs one victory to reach 125 at the Sun Valley school.