High school football Chargers explode in opener vs. Coyotes

High school football Chargers explode in opener vs. Coyotes

DEBBIE KANTOR/The AcornTWO PLUS TWO - Kyle Rudow of Calabasas, right, tries to cover Brad Kahan of Agoura in last week's opener at Calabasas. Kahan caught two passes for 103 yards as Agoura won, 42-26.

By John Loesing

Acorn Staff Writer

Agoura won’t march through the Marmonte League like this, but it might be fun trying.

The Chargers rang up 582 yards in total offense to beat host Calabasas, 42-26, in last week’s season opener between local rivals. The Coyote’s undersized defense didn’t bend, it broke.

Agoura quarterback Chris Denove had the best game of his high school career, completing a school record 15 of 25 passes for 411 yards and three touchdowns. Brad Altman balanced the show by running 15 times for 111 yards.

"With our linemen playing so well, they were driving everybody off the ball," said Denove, who left the game in the fourth quarter after slipping near the locker room at halftime and twisting his ankle. The injury wasn’t serious, but Agoura’s offense was.

"I’m real pleased with Chris and the offense line," said Agoura Head Coach Charlie Wegher. "Once I saw Chris was hot, I opened it up."

Agoura used the combined running of Altman and Brian Baldino as main weapons in the first quarter and Denove’s arm for the rest of the game.

A Baldino two-yard run tied the game at 7 after Calabasas scored on a 12-yard Justin Fenchel to David Wolfe touchdown pass. With Agoura punting on their first possession, Oliver Jones recovered a Matt Gomez fumbled snap to set up the Wolfe touchdown.

Because 300-pound lineman Jason Meltzer was out with an injury, Fenchel found little protection behind his line and completed only 9 of 21 for 106 yards.

And Calabasas posed little threat on the ground due to the absence of suspended running back Matt Devlin.

Kicker Justin Shagrin gave the Calabasas offense somewhat of a boot. Shagrin kicked field goals of 49 and 42 yards to keep the Coyotes within striking distance.

Baldino scored his second short touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to give Agoura 13-7 lead, but Calabasas scored 16 unanswered points to go ahead 23-13.

Andre Woodert’s 65-yard punt return for a touchdown with 6:45 to go before half was the highlight of the Calabasas evening.

But Woodert, an Agoura wide receiver transfer, failed to catch a pass in the game. Ricky Claire was the leading Calabasas receiver with three catches for 33 yards.

Agoura regained the lead by halftime, 29-23, with a 1-yard Altman touchdown and a 41-yard Jordan Grossbart catch. Grossbart led the Chargers with six catches for 120 yards.

Denove’s 42-yard screen pass to Altman with 10:05 left in the third quarter gave Agoura a 35-23 lead.

Shagrin’s second field goal kept the score close, 35-26, but Agoura pulled away for good when Denove hit Brad Kahan over the middle for an 82-yard touchdown on the Charger’s first possession of the fourth quarter.

"We have four or five good receivers who can get it done any time," Kahan said.

Kahan added a fourth quarter interception to seal the victory.