Tyler, Clausen and Crew Erase Doubt in a Hurry

When Westlake Village Oaks Christian charged out of its locker room Friday night through the special effects of rising white smoke, it was another allusion to the Lions’ supposed football greatness. In this case, Oaks Christian lived up to the hype and left even the skeptics drooling with envy.

On a picturesque night when the Anacapa Islands could be seen from the top of a sold-out Larrabee Stadium in Ventura, the Lions and their many future NCAA Division I-A players dismantled Ventura St. Bonaventure, 59-13, proving they can make even good teams look inept.

With a quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, who probably could play for any college team now, and a supporting cast of all-stars, the Lions (3-0) only needed one respected opponent to deliver the message that they are a top team. St. Bonaventure (3-1), ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times, combined with a national television audience, gave the Lions with a distinctive opportunity.

Oaks Christian led 21-0 by the end of the first quarter, with Clausen completing nine of 13 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. By the second quarter, Clausen gave all the people who like to compare him to John Elway even more fodder when he punted the ball to the St. Bonaventure one-yard line on a quick kick, something Elway used to do as prep player at Granada Hills High.

By halftime, Oaks Christian’s other All-American, Marc Tyler, had given the Seraphs more to worry about than Clausen. He rushed for 149 yards in nine carries and scored on runs of 13, 74 and five yards. Oaks Christian led, 38-7, and looked unstoppable on offense as Clausen operated out of a shotgun formation and moved around teammates so easily that it seemed as if he were playing a video game.

Tyler finished with 274 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Clausen finished 16 of 26 passing for 227 yards and two touchdowns.

There had been much debate whether Oaks Christian could play with a team the caliber of St. Bonaventure, which had won 98 of its previous 101 games while facing much stronger opponents. But Bill Redell, Oaks Christian’s coach, never doubted his team’s ability. More than a week ago, he offered this prediction: Oaks Christian 42, St. Bonaventure 14. Redell was too kind.

Some will start wondering if St. Bonaventure was overrated. Don’t go there. No matter who the opponent might be, whether it’s Santa Ana Mater Dei and its outstanding offensive line, Compton Dominguez and its great quickness or Mission Viejo and its physical toughness, the Lions would be able to inflict the same destruction they did Friday.

While Clausen and Tyler left their future college fans from Notre Dame and USC exhilarated over what they’ll bring to the programs when they arrive next year, the real revelation is that Oaks Christian’s roster is filled with talented players, from receivers Sean Wiser, Christopher Potter and Chris Owusu, to linemen Duke Lemmens and Tommy Grillo, to defensive back Marshall Jones.

Oaks Christian’s performance answers many questions, except for one. Can Clausen take a hit? St. Bonaventure didn’t sack him once. Everyone might have to wait until Pete Carroll’s USC team visits South Bend, Ind., next year and takes its shot at Clausen.