This Week in Football

Acorn Sports Writer
Arroyo Grande (5-4)
at Thousand Oaks (5-5)
7:30 pm Friday

Don’t let the records fool you, this is a great matchup. Arroyo Grande has an impressive playoff history. In fact, the Eagles were the CIF Division IV champions in 1997 and 1998. Last season they reached the division semifinals.

This year Arroyo Grande displayed a lethargic offense at times, averaging less than 20 points per game through the seventh week of the season.

Three weeks ago Arroyo Grande coach Jon Huss made a radical change. Three-year starting quarterback Sean Shields suggested that he move to wide receiver and allow junior Cameron Walton to take over at quarterback. Coach Huss took his player’s advice and the result was shocking. Arroyo Grande scored 35 points against Santa Maria the first week and an incredible 47 points against stubborn Righetti the next week behind the passing of Walton and the receiving of Shields.

Thousand Oaks continued its own renaissance last week with a fifth consecutive victory after opening the season 0-5.

Senior quarterback Ben Olson had another 300-yard game as the Lancers scored an eye-popping 49 points and beat an overmatched Newbury Park team.

Olson has thrown for 2,383 yards this season.

Three weeks ago, Thousand Oaks traveled north and surprised Northern League champion San Luis Obispo, 33-21. Arroyo Grande lost to SLO 13-3.

But a word to the wise. This Arroyo Grande team isn’t the same one that faced the Tigers in week six.

This game is a tossup with the home team Lancers given a slight edge.

Calabasas (4-6)

at Oak Park (8-2)

7:30 pm Friday

These two teams met in the second week of the season when Oak Park had eight players suspended and their head coach was sitting in the stands. Oak Park took a 30-3 halftime lead but Calabasas woke up and outplayed the Eagles the rest of the way, only to lose 30-17.

The Coyotes offense has struggled the past couple of weeks against two very solid defenses. The Oak Park defense represents another difficult hurdle. Led by linebackers Dustin Baxley and Jacob Colson, defensive tackle Brian Custer and defensive end Nick Skultety, the Eagle defense hasn’t allowed a single point in the past eight quarters.

Once again, the pressure is on Coyote quarterback Justin Fenchel. Oak Park is tough to run against and the Coyotes best chance for an upset lies with Fenchel, who must consistently connect with his top receiver David Wolfe.

The Eagles probably will still be without injured running back Eric Testan, but Oak Park quarterback Josh Walker has been efficient this season and has handled the option offense extremely well with speedsters Brendon Anderson and Jeff Shui running the football.

Oak Park should win this game, but the Eagles will learn that in the playoffs it won’t be as easy as it was earlier this year.

Agoura (6-4)

at San Luis Obispo (8-2)

7:30 pm Friday

San Luis Obispo has been to the Division IV championship game two consecutive years and for the second year in a row, the Tigers have gone thorough Northern League play undefeated.

They have one of the best defenses in Division IV, yet both of the Tigers losses were against teams with an ability to pass the football.

Chris Denove, Brad Kahan, Jordan Grossbart, Geo Martin and Steven Tagai: Front and center please.

The only chance Agoura has to score on this team is with the arm of quarterback Chris Denove and with the legs and hands of his fleet-footed receiving corps.

Three weeks ago, Ben Olsen of Thousand Oaks did the trick when he threw for more than 300 yards against SLO. That was before the dawn of fall weather.

November nights on the central coast are incredibly cold. The football will feel like a brick. The hands will be numb at best and the ground will be either slick with rain or hard as concrete.

Has anyone ever wondered why Northern League teams strap it up and run the football down your throat? Make this trek and you’ll have your answer.

Santa Barbara (2-8)

at Westlake (9-1)

7:30pm Friday

As the top seeded team in Division IV, Westlake is matched with the weakest team in the field of 16. Santa Barbara is that team.

Last week, the Dons lost to Buena 54-7. Three weeks ago they lost 41-34 to Channel Islands, the next weakest team in the Division IV playoffs.

Westlake will warm things up Friday night, using both Cory Miles and Todd Feiereisen at quarterback and coast to an easy win behind their championship defense. For more coverage of the 2000 prep football season, visit Tom Pichotta’s "The World of Prep Sports" Website at www.twpsports.com.