CHS wins two in a row

Calabasas High School’s small players are making big strides toward turning their season around.

Considered undersized and inexperienced, the Coyotes last week won their second game in a row to improve to 2-2 for the year.

Junior quarterback Justin Fenchel threw for 265 yards and three touchdown passes as Calabasas beat host Channel Islands, 34-13.

"We’ve put two games in a row together that the guys have played very well," said Larry Edwards, Calabasas coach.

"We’ve executed well and haven’t made many mistakes."

David Wolfe caught two touchdown passes including a 35-yarder at the end of the first quarter to give Calabasas a 10-0 lead. Wolfe finished with six catches for 114 yards.

The Coyotes led 24-0 at the half following a Sean Flanagan two-yard touchdown run and an Andre Woodert 19-yard touchdown catch. Woodert, an Agoura High transfer, had six catches for 95 yards.

Fenchel was 16 of 28 in the passing department.

"You gotta get the ball to the guys who make big plays and Wolfe and Woodert certainly are big play guys," Edwards said. "In the two games we’ve won, they’ve both been significant contributors. They run little plays into big plays with their athletic talents."

A Wolfe 12-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter gave Calabasas a 31-0 lead.

Coyote scoring included a pair of 25-yard Justin Shagrin field goals.

Channel Islands scored all of its points in the fourth quarter.

Calabasas lost to Agoura and Oak Park, but answered with wins over Verdugo Hills and Channel Islands to bring the season back on its feet.

After two more non-league games against El Camino and St. Bonaventure, the Coyotes begin their Frontier League campaign at Santa Clara Oct. 20.

Edwards said by then the Coyotes should be at full strength.

Running back Matt Devlin has missed half the season because of a suspension and linemen Jason Meltzer, Tim Braden and Chris Melancon have been in and out with injuries.

Meltzer played his first game of the year last week. Braden and Melancon, who missed last week, hope to return against El Camino.

With Devlin absent, Flanagan and Ricky Claire have picked up the Calabasas running attack. The backfield rushed for 130 yards against Channel Islands, led by Claire’s 79 yards on 12 carries. Fullback Ben Strull provided the tough, inside yards.

The Coyotes are getting better defensively as well.

In addition, the team had no turnovers against Channel Islands.

"We’re improving with each game and we’re starting to get more consistency from everyone," Edwards said.

"When we get all of our guys back at 100 percent, we’ll be pretty good."