Calabasas passes Santa Clara test, 49-8
By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

One rout deserves another.

The Calabasas Coyotes avenged a 46-7 loss to top-rated St. Bonaventure two weeks ago by smashing host Santa Clara, 49-8, in the opening game of the Frontier League season last Friday.

Calabasas built a 28-0 lead in the first quarter, sparked by Justin Fenchel’s 40-yard touchdown pass to Andre Woodert on the third play of the game.

"[Woodert’s] our big play guy. He’s got plenty of speed," said Larry Edwards, Calabasas head coach.

Fenchel completed 12 of 18 passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns.

"He was making wide choices, but actually our receivers made some big plays," Edwards said. "Kyle Rudow and David Wolfe both turned short passes into long touchdowns for us."

Fenchel also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to running back Sean Flanagan as Calabasas increased the lead to 35-0 at halftime.

"All summer we knew that if we were going to be successful we’d have to throw the ball more than run the ball because we just haven’t had the size up front that we’ve had in years past," Edwards said.

The lopsided score allowed Edwards to substitute his players freely.

Running back Matt Devlin contributed to the rout with a 43-yard touchdown run.

Santa Clara scored its only touchdown on a Jimmie Griffin to Ricky Payne 28-yard pass.

Edwards said the 3-4 Coyotes are making progress toward a respectable season.

"We’re looking at them one at a time," Edwards said. "We’ve lost four games already this year so I’m not sure we’re ready to say we’ve arrived as a team. We’ve still got some work to do and I think the players understand that."

The Coyotes play their last three games of the regular season at home, including tough conference matches against Santa Paula and Nordhoff. Tomorrow’s home game against Malibu was supposed to be on the road, but the Malibu High School stadium is under construction.

With the return of offensive lineman Peter Kim, who has been out two weeks with an ankle injury, the Coyotes will be at full strength for the first time this season. Injuries and player suspensions have kept the varsity lineup in flux, Edwards said.

"We’re progressing, especially with the problems we had with personnel this year and getting a consistent 11 out there."

•Calabasas made short work of the Santa Clara junior varsity, winning 54-0.

Calabasas quarterback Keith Barrett threw a first-half touchdown pass to Alex Fera and a pair of first-half strikes to Alex Rosenblum as the Coyotes led 42-0.

Rosenblum had six receptions for 120 yards.

Running backs Brian Lasley and Barry Dadon contributed touchdowns as well.

Defensively, Eitan Zimmerman blocked a Santa Clara punt and linebacker Josh Steinberg returned it for a score. The Coyotes recovered three fumbles and had two interceptions.

The Calabasas JV team (6-1, 1-0) is ranked No. 2 in the region. among JV teams.

JL-S-481 – Tidal Wave on a roll

The Apex Tidal Wave, an under-12 girls soccer team from the Conejo Valley, improved its record to 6-0-2 with back-to-back wins over the Valley United Stars and the FRAM from Torrance.

The Tidal Wave, which is in first place in the Coast Soccer League North Bronze Division, defeated the Stars 2-1 with goals by Alexandra Kaplan and Michelle Clark.

Caitlin Hart scored the Wave’s only goal in a 1-0 win over the Torrance team. Katie Craig assisted. Craig also had an assist against Valley United.