The showdown is set

By Kyle Jorrey jorrey@theacorn.com

THE CHAMP-Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen fires the ball toward an open receiver. Clausen threw for 283 yards and four TDs in the first half against Nordhoff in the Lions' semifinal win.OCHS went into the locker room up 42-0 at half.

For players, coaches and fans—the wait is finally over. The game that everyone wanted to see happen, is going to happen.

This Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Thousand Oaks High School super rivals Oaks Christian and Oak Park will meet on the field to decide the Div. XI championship for the second consecutive season. The two squads earned the right by winning their semifinals games in deciding fashion; the Eagles defeated Valley Christian, 40-13, the Lions annihilated Nordhoff, 42-6, after going into half time up 42-0.

After more than two months of anticipation following OC’s one-sided regular season victory over Oak Park at OPHS, both players and fans can delight in the fact that these two talent-packed teams will get another chance to duke it out over who’s the best in the land. Expect the seats at T.O. High School to be filled to the brim and two communities to come together over their love of football, and their love of this great rivalry.

"I think we’re all pretty excited, we’ve always wanted to get up to this point, and to do it in back-to-back years is just awesome," said Oak Park senior lineman Kevin Mosley. "But it’s not just like we’re just happy to be here and that’s it. We’re going to come to play."

THE CONTENDER-Oak Park wide receiver Tim Hellerstein plants and makes a move up field during the Eagles' 40-13 win over Valley Christian that landed them in the Div. XI title game.

Though he’s already been there and done that once before, Oaks Christian senior safety/wide receiver Joe Giuliani said the desire remains strong in the Lions’ camp to repeat as champions.

"It’s really important, if not more important than the first championship because we have a chance to go back-to-back, and not too many teams have been able to do that," Giuliani said. "Everybody still wants it really bad. That hasn’t changed a bit."

Lion running back Aaron Ware, who’s appeared in all five editions of OP vs. OC, said that no matter where or when the two schools get together, it’s a big deal.

"Anytime we play Oak Park it’s huge, especially now since there’s a championship on the line," Ware said. "It’s game we can’t lose. We can’t."

For Ware, it’s an extra special opportunity because it will be his final chance to line up against good friend and soon-to-be-UCLA teammate Gavin Ketchum. This championship matchup is a fitting end to each player’s super successful high school career, and neither would prefer it any other way.

"This is the most beautiful thing I could have ever pictured, especially getting to go against Gavin. That’s my boy," Ware said. "Hopefully I can have this over him for the next four years."

"I guess he has to have something," Ketchum said jokingly in retort. "But seriously, it will be much nicer having him on my side of the ball next year."

All week long players from both schools have been hearing it from fans, but primarily at Oak Park, where school and community are hungry for revenge. Though some might have their doubts about the Eagles’ ability to knock off the seemingly invincible Lions, all are interested and looking to provide motivation.

"I must have had 12 kids come up to me, and that was just on Monday," Mosely said. "It’s a big deal around here. There’s a lot of hype a lot of anticipation, but we can’t let that distract us from the goal."

The game will be televised live on Adelphia.

After seeing his team win easily the first time around, Oaks Christian head coach Bill Redell said he expects the Eagles to put up a much better fight on Saturday.

"I think in the first game we were fortunate enough to get up on them early, and that gave us a lot of confidence, and that was maybe the key to our victory," Redell said. "We don’t anticipate that happening this game. We know they have a solid defense and they have improved on both sides of the ball, but so have we."

In Redell’s opinion, the fact that the Lions won big earlier in the season might actually favor Oak Park.

"Quite frankly, I think they have the advantage because of the score of the last game," Redell said. "From a psychological point of view, they know they can be beaten, our guys haven’t experienced that yet."

To be able to pull of the upset the Eagles will have to start with good defense, but that’s been their forte since the Oct. 1 loss to Oaks Christian. Oak Park has been giving up less than 10 points per game in their nine consecutive victories.

"We need to out physical them," Mosley said. "They are a faster team, we can’t beat them with speed, but we have bigger, stronger kids on the line... we need to play our Oak Park brand of football."

With the Eagles most likely trying to keep the ball out of the hands of the powerful Lion offense, the ground game will be key for their success. The only problem is Oaks Christian, led by defensive coordinator Clay Matthews, has been giving up almost nothing on the ground or through the air over their last few games.

"I really believe the defense hasn’t received the credit it’s deserved all season," Redell said. "When this team is giving up yards and points, it’s in the second half when the starters are on the sideline. Clay Matthews has done just a tremendous job with these kids and they are responding to his system."

Though no one knows just how this game will turn out, expect the atmosphere to be charged come Saturday night as the rivalry that’s Oak Park-Oaks Christian gets played out one more time with a ring on the line.

"It’s going to be a dogfight, I expect nothing less," Mosley said.

For Ware, it always means something when old friends get on the field together, especially in the final game for some. And though the rivalry has been bitter at times, that’s largely the case with most of the players who will take the field in the title game.

"It’s going to be very emotional. A lot of us are pretty good friends, but a few do have really bad blood," he said. "During the play we are fierce enemies, but once it’s over— we’re friends. It just keeps going in that cycle. But for me, I think it’s the greatest thing... I think the fans are in for a great show."