Conejo -
Las Virgenes
Sports
Beat
by Wayne Harrison
Practices start

The Newbury Park football team, coached by George Hurley, had its first week of practice last Mon., Aug 20. "The weather cooperated," Hurley said. "It was nice and cool for us, probably the best in 20 years." There weren’t a lot of surprises for the Panthers the first week. "We’ve worked real hard all summer and so we knew all summer what we were dealing with and what we had and what we didn’t have," Hurley said.

One returning starter who the Panthers have high hopes for is junior quarterback Ryan Lombardo. "He’s going to be a significant force in the Marmonte League, and he’s somebody we’ve got to protect, and people have got to catch the ball."

Newbury Park opens the season Fri., Sept. 7 at home against Tigart, a team from Oregon.

One difference this year is that Coach Gary Fabricius is taking time off from coaching after being the Panther offensive coordinator the past 12 seasons. "Its kind of fun having more to do with the offense than having to turn it over to somebody. But it’s an adjustment and it’s also one more thing that goes on the list of things that need to get done," Hurley said.

Edwards is

optimistic

Coach Larry Edwards said the weather cooperated during his team’s first week of practice, which began Mon., Aug. 20. With 27 juniors on a team that totals 39, Edwards has much to look forward to this year and next.

Some players, who had impressed during the spring and summer, have continued to prove themselves. "We had pads on right away because we did our conditioning Aug. 15, so that was a plus," Edwards said. "There were some players who were penciled in over the summer who are now penned in definitely."

Edwards said the Coyotes are looking forward to their opening game at Agoura, Friday, Sept. 7 because it’s an inter-district game—both schools being in the Las Virgenes School District, and because it’s a precursor of things to come. Calabasas joins the Marmonte League next fall.

Edwards said he is pleased with the progress of senior quarterback Justin Fenchel, that the team is strong at running back, and that his receiving corps is deep, and includes juniors Nick Fera and Alex Rosenblum and seniors John Robbins and Patrick Dunn, as well as Tom Dumary, a junior.

Eagles shine

Oak Park football coach Dick Billingsley was very pleased with the way his Eagles team performed during Week One, which began Aug. 20. "Actually, the first week of practice went better than I thought it would. And our first day in pads (Thursday), was probably the best first day of pads I’ve ever had as a coach," he said.

"We had a great defensive day, a great offensive day, and a great special-unit day," Billingsley added. "That doesn’t usually happen the first day of pads, but the execution was great as well as the enthusiasm. We didn’t do a lot of hitting but we did some, and I was real pleased."

Billingsley said the Eagles have moved a couple of linemen to new positions and one who has impressed is Griff Snyder at offensive tackle. Andrew Lee, whose knee was a question, has come out and is healthy, and should help on the offensive line.

And defensive lineman Blake Nelson, a catcher for the Oak Park baseball team, also came out and is expected to play a big role in the Eagle’s success this season.

Oak Park opens vs. Kern Valley away, then faces Calabasas also away from the Oak Park campus. Other non-league games include L.A Baptist, Santa Paula, Nordhoff and Montclair Prep.