T.O. tops Agoura in football, 36-16

RUNNING FREE -- Thousand Oaks' Frank Melia runs away from Agoura's Brian Baldino as Lancer quarterback Ben Olsen looks on. The T.O. Lancers won, 36-16, over the Agoura Chargers.

This seemed like a year when Agoura might finally win two of its three biggest league games. Having already defeated Newbury Park, and knowing that Westlake would be an unlikely win (the Marmonte League finale, Nov. 9) the Chargers looked to beat Thousand Oaks last Friday night. However, the Lancers proved they are a team to be reckoned with when they easily handled the Chargers 36-16.

Agoura (4-3, 2-2) looked to improve to 3-1 in league play, and practically ensure themselves a playoff berth, after not having won a league game last season.

But Thousand Oaks (2-5, 2-2) insinuated themselves into the playoff picture with their second straight league win and their second straight win after starting the season with five losses.

Two years ago, T.O. got off to a terrible start, but with the heart of running back Wes Cobos leading the way, the Lancers, then coached by Mike Kelly, turned things around, ultimately upsetting Newbury Park and tying Westlake on its way to an unlikely league title.

This year, the Lancers have already lost to the Warriors, so under first-year coach Mike Sanders, the best the team could hope for after its disappointing first half of the season, was to climb its way back into CIF postseason contention.

The Lancers went ahead of Agoura 13-0 in the first quarter on scores by junior quarterback Ben Olson (a two-yard run) and on a 20-yard pass from Olson to sophomore wide receiver Corey Mazza.

Agoura’s senior kicker Matt Smooke, the hero of the 23-20 win over Newbury Park two weeks before, connected on a 25-yard field goal to get the Chargers on the scoreboard, but T.O. came right back, scoring twice more before halftime to go ahead 26-3.

Before the intermission, Olson and senior wide receiver Frank Melia hooked up for a 65-yard TD strike, and junior wide receiver Patrick Hoffman caught a 36-yarder from Olson.

On the day Olson passed for 212 yards on 11-20 passing (three TDs, no interceptions).

But the T.O. offense was balanced. Senior running back Tony Ferrara had 110 yards in nine carries.

T.O. held Agoura’s vaunted offense relatively in check, as senior quarterback Chris Denove was only good for 12 of 37 passes on the day, which did gain 205 yards. Senior running back Brad Altman rushed 29 times for the Chargers, accumulating 123 yards on the night.

Altman’s two short TD runs in the fourth quarter brought Agoura to within 29-16, but an interception ended any thoughts of a comeback.