The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week
El Camino Real Conquistadors (0-0) at Calabasas Coyotes (0-0) Friday, 7 p.m.
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers IT'S HITTIN' TIME- Calabasas defender Charlie Kaufman, left, puts a hit on Cameron Ventura during Tuesday's practice.

The Calabasas players have taken it upon themselves to improve. Of course, the proverbial kick in the pants from a new coach didn't hurt the cause, either.

Under the leadership of first-year head coach Lance Martin, the Coyotes have shown a renewed focus this offseason. They're working harder in the weight room and on the practice field, with the goal of getting a little bit better with each passing day.

"The way the team has responded to the new level of intensity Coach Martin brings is great," senior lineman Andrew Bedigian said. "We've all raised our level of play, both as a team and as individuals, to try and build a solid program here for the community and for ourselves."

Following four winless seasons, Bedigian said the CHS players underwent a "reality check" when Martin was hired after previously serving as an assistant coach at Royal High. It was time for the Coyotes to begin to take pride in their work, he said.

"Everyone pretty much stepped up to the plate and decided to embrace what Coach Martin brought here to us," Bedigian said. "We know we need to reach a certain level or we'll never be successful."

On Friday night, Calabasas opens its non-league schedule at home against El Camino Real. It will be the beginning of a new era of Coyote football, one equipped with a new FieldTurf playing surface, similar to the one that was installed at Agoura High.

"Any Friday is a big day for us because it's game day," senior quarterback Serop Chalian said. "But this is the first week of the season, and we do have a new coach. We want to work hard for him and show him that all his hard work hasn't been wasted."

According to Chalian, the school has already started to embrace the football team like never before during his time on campus. There are pride signs hanging on hallway walls and words of encouragement being offered from classmates and teachers, he said.

"In the past I've never heard so many people say they were going to come to one of our games," Chalian said. "More people are excited for this game than any game I can remember during the past few seasons."

Some of the anticipation may stem from Calabasas' near upset of El Camino Real on the road last year. In that 1413 seasonopening defeat, the Coyotes failed to convert a two-point conversion with approximately six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Coyotes attempted a trick play on the conversion attempt- the famed Swinging Gate- and it didn't work. CHS had a few other chances to win the game in the waning moments but couldn't find paydirt.

While Chalian admits the loss was "demoralizing," there were more than a few positives in that game that the Coyotes can utilize and build on as they prepare for the rematch.

"After that game we knew we could win; we were confident for a while," he said. "Even though we lost, it helped us mature a little. It gave us the mentality that we can win if we just do a little more."