Moorpark Musketeers

Last season's results: (Marmonte League champions, 10-4 overall). Lost to St. Bonaventure, 277, in the CIF-SS Division IV title game. After capturing the league title, the Musketeers rolled through San Marcos, Arroyo Grande and Ventura before dropping a heartbreaker to St. Bonnie in a game that was closer than the final score would indicate. The MHS defense allowed a mere 13.2 points a game last season, while the team's offense punished opponents on the ground to the tune of 244.7 rushing yards per contest.

Notable returnees: Darrell Scott, jr., RB (1,988 rushing yards, 19 TDs); Adam Barry, jr., QB (109-of-209 passing, 1,581 yards, 15 TDs, 10 INTs); David Prickett, sr., WR/PK/P (27 receptions, 376 yards, 3 TDs, 8 FGs, 29 PATs); Nick Karam, sr., WR (16 receptions, 8 TDs); Dakota Holland, sr., FS (80 tackles, 8 INTs); Zach Trottier, sr., LB (73 tackles, 1.5 sacks) Impact newcomer: Ryan Murry, jr., WR Who they play: Moorpark's preseason schedule is absolutely loaded. They kick off the year tonight on the road against nationally ranked Canyon, and then host Hart the following week. MHS is back on the road in Week 3 to play Ventura. The Musketeers' Marmonte schedule begins with back-to-back road games against Royal (Sept. 29) and Thousand Oaks (Oct. 6). The regular-season finale at Westlake (Nov. 10) could be a beauty.

Overview: The Musketeer offensive line should be the envy of the league-if not the entire county. MHS has a pair of mammoth bookend tackles in George Halamandaris (6-foot-7, 310 pounds) and Kyle Rainer (6-foot-7, 300 pounds). On the inside, guards John Martinez and Daniel Reinhardt are as solid as it gets. Center Pat Carter is nasty and plays much bigger than his 5-foot-10, 260-pound frame. Those five guys should help the ultra-talented Scott run wild again in '06.

Barry really started to mature near the end of last year and has looked good during offseason workouts. The signal-caller has been hitting the weights hard and is poised for a breakout year. Wideouts Karam and Josh Smith can fly and will make teams pay for stacking the line to stop Scott.

If there's a chink in the champ's armor it's on the defensive side of the ball where MHS lost eight of 11 starters from a year ago. Holland, Trottier and third-year varsity linebacker Tom Mouwen must provide leadership and stability while the unproven newcomers learn the team's 4-4-3 defensive scheme.

In a nutshell: The MHS offense has all the necessary ingredients to dominate, but it'll be the defense that'll likely decide the Musketeers' fate. If the unit comes together, Moorpark could be unstoppable. Consider them the frontrunners.