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Oak Park looks
to compete for
league title

The Oak Park football team, under 14th-year co-head coach Dick Billingsley and second-year co-head coach Brian Crum, is looking forward to its regular season opener tomorrow night at home vs. Verdugo Hills after having dominated a scrimmage vs. Crescenta Valley, a bigger school, last Saturday.

"We outscored them seven touchdowns to one," Billingsley said regarding the scrimmage vs. Crescenta Valley, which was played at Oak Park. "The kids played very well."

Billingsley said the preseason scrimmage helps prepare the Eagles for the regular season.

"What we’re looking for is execution, No. 1," he said. "And how the kids have focused and learned from what we’ve done for the two weeks of two-a-days. We try to make it as close to game situation as possible although the scrimmage is controlled."

Though Oak Park wasn’t allowed to sack the Crescenta Valley quarterback, Billingsley said the whistle had to be blown about 10 times when the Eagles had reached the opposing QB.

On the other hand, Oak Park, which runs the option, was much more successful. Senior Nolan McNair starts at QB for the Eagles, Sean Sammis, a junior, and Matt Alexander, a sophomore, have been battling for the backup position.

"At this time of the year, everybody is looking forward to their first game," said Billingsley. "The thing that has impressed me the most with our kids is their focus and intensity—and then execution. If we can keep it going, we’re going to be a real good football team."

Billingsley said the Eagle defense is sharper than the offense at this point.

"Our defense is probably our strong point right now and our depth would probably be our second strength." Last year, injuries prevented Oak Park from being a deep team.

Senior leaders, along with McNair are: Max Hodge and Andrew Henggeler, who are linemen playing both ways, Loren Rosenberg, an defensive tackle/offensive guard, Anthony Monteleone, an outside linebacker/running back, and Mike Christensen, a strong safety/running back.

Junior Gavin Ketchum, a 6-foot-4 wide receiver/free safety, also plays both ways. He had two touchdown receptions vs. Crescenta Valley.

After the Verdugo Hills opener, Oak Park plays at home against Calabasas of the Marmonte League on Fri., Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Then the Eagles are off to Mojave before returning home Oct. 3 vs. Rosamond.

"Our goal is to try to win the league championship and then go from there," said Billingsley. "…That’s what makes high school football so fun— you basically have four and a half days of preparation and the kids have to change their focus on something new, so that makes it a real challenge."

Oaks Christian

ranked first

The Oaks Christian football team, under fourth-year head coach Bill Redell scrimmaged Channel Islands and San Marino last Friday, and Redell said his Lions accomplished their primary goals.

"First of all, we try to play everybody," said Redell. "And we want to get out of there alive, without any injuries. You just want to try and see everything that we’ve been working on, and we were pleased with where we are at this time."

Redell said the Lions quarterbacks, senior starter Joey Halzle and backup Jimmy Claussen, a freshman, both played well in the scrimmage, as did running backs Aaron Ware, a junior, and freshmen Mark Tyler and Marshall Jones.

Jones, a safety, and Tyler, a linebacker, also will see action defensively. Ware will play a little defense, but will primarily play offense.

The Lions begin the regular season Saturday night on the road vs. Calvary Chapel at Westminster High School. On Fri., Sept. 19, the Lions have their home opener vs. Village Christian at 7:30 p.m. On Sept. 25 they’re away at Canoga Park and on Fri., Oct. 3 the Lions begin their Tri-Valley League schedule when they face Santa Paula at home.

"We’re anxious for the season to get started," said Redell.

Last year four OCHS teams—boys’ and girls’ basketball, girls’ soccer and softball—all won California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championships. Redell’s football team has lost in the CIF semifinals each of the last two seasons.

Ranked first in Division XI as the seasons begins, the Lions coach said it’s impossible for his players not to think about championships, be it league or CIF.

"That’s why you play, to win the championships," Redell said. "So they all think about it."

First though, Oaks Christian hopes to unseat league champion Carpinteria. "I think the Tri-Valley League is going to be very competitive," said Redell.

Week 10, the final regular season game on Nov. 14, pits rivals Oak Park at Oaks Christian. This year, it may be for the Tri-Valley League championship.

"It’s kind of a city rivalry, so to speak," Redell said. "A lot of those kids probably played Pop Warner together, they know each other, so from that standpoint it’s a rivalry."

What are the strengths of the Lions this year? "We have a lot of team-speed and a lot of experience, so those are the two main plusses," said Redell.

A key will be how well the Lions defend against the run, he said.

Agoura ready for

Marmonte League

The Agoura football team under ninth-year head coach Charlie Wegher scrimmaged Chaminade last Friday and Wegher was satisfied with the Chargers effort.

"I was pleased with it, I thought we had a good start," said Wegher. "I thought our offense executed well. We didn’t have any turnovers and we tackled well, and our special teams are pretty sound."

The Charger players are ready for the season, said their coach.

"They’ve been banging against each other for long enough," said Wegher. "You need to go at a full-game tempo. In practice, sometimes it’s hard to simulate that."

Agoura opens the regular season at 7 p.m. tomorrow night at home against Buena. Wegher said his troops have prepared adequately. "I think we’re about as ready to start as we could possibly get. I’m anxious to get to Friday," he said.

After Buena, the Chargers will be on the road for five straight games before heading home for the last four games of the Marmonte League campaign. Next Friday Agoura will be at Camarillo; the Chargers are at Rio Mesa the week after; then they begin league play at Westlake.

Last year Agoura finished 8-4 overall, 5-2 in league and advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs where the Chargers lost to eventual Division IV champion St. Bonaventure.

"We’ve spent a lot of time talking about being just a playoff team or being a championship-level team," said Wegher. "We got to play St. Bonaventure in the playoffs. That was a good thing in one respect because we got to see what that level looks like up close. Our guys are anxious to go to the next level."

Senior Bryan Walker starts at quarterback for Agoura. Cory Smits, a junior, is the backup QB. "He looked sharp the other night (vs. Chaminade)," Wegher said of Walker. "He understands what we’re trying to do and does a good job leading the kids. He’s very low-key, but he’s a hard-worker."

Leadership is also coming from Braden Lepisto, a senior wide receiver, who’ll be counted on—again this season—for multiple tasks. He plays cornerback defensively; he returns punts and kickoffs; and he kicks PATs and field goals. Andy Christopher, a senior, joins Lepisto as a wide receiver.

About the Marmonte League this year, Wegher said: "I’d say Westlake is certainly the frontrunner, and then after that, there’s several teams that can contend for the second and third position."

This year’s seniors at Agoura know about winning. They were league champions as freshmen and as sophomores on the freshmen and JV teams, respectively. And the juniors on this year’s team also won as sophomores on last year’s JV squad.

"It’s a group that knows how to win," said Wegher, who added that winning, like losing, can be contagious. "Once your kids get used to it, they believe that’s (winning) what’s going to happen."