The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week
Agoura Chargers (2-1) at Thousand Oaks Lancers (1-2) Friday, 7 p.m.
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers KICKOFF TIME- Agoura's Eric Bailey blasts a punt during a preseason game. Marmonte League play begins on Friday.

The hunt for a Marmonte League championship begins now.

Preseason records and statistics will be of little consequence when Agoura High travels to Thousand Oaks Friday night for a league opener between two of Marmonte's most talented teams.

"There's a little bit more intensity when league starts," Agoura head coach Charlie Wegher said.

"After going through Hell Week, it really takes a lot out of your team and coaching staff. It takes a little while to get recharged. When the weather cools off and you start to get into the rhythm of the season, the kids tend to get more intense, and it starts to be a little more fun and less work."

Both teams equally enjoyed their preseason finales.

Thousand Oaks' Mike Leibin picked up his first career head coaching victory last Thursday as the Lancers upended Camarillo, 26-12. Previously, TOHS lost a pair of hard-fought games to Loyola and Atascadero by a combined 10 points.

Behind 180 rushing yards from junior running back John Lister and a three-touchdown performance from senior quarterback Ian Shultis, Thousand Oaks built a 26-0 lead against Camarillo and held on.

"The kids kept showing up to work," Leibin said.

"We lost two straight, but there wasn't a lack of confidence; there was a belief that we were going to get it done. That was the most rewarding thing about the win."

Agoura used some lastsecond dramatics to nail down its second win of the season, a 31-28 triumph at Rio Mesa. Charger place kicker Eric Bailey converted a 37yard field goal as time expired to seal the victory.

"They called three straight timeouts to try and ice him," Wegher said. "But (Bailey) is a kicker, and he works hard at it. I had confidence he would make it."

Looking ahead to this week's contest, the game should be a chess match between Wegher's offense and Leibin's defense.

Led by senior quarterback Doug Shumway, Agoura will look to spread the field with multiple wide receiver sets.

Charger wideout Patrick Rohn has been Shumway's favorite target to date. Rohn caught two touchdown passes last week before leaving with an injury. Wegher said he expects Rohn to return for Friday's contest.

Thousand Oaks counters with a defense that's allowing only 13 points per game.

"I don't know if you can really shut down Agoura's passing game," Leibin said. "You have to try and limit the productivity of it. . . .

"Coach Wegher does a great job calling a game and coming up with new wrinkles on offense. In the past, it's forced me to adjust on the fly. There's no doubt it's going to be a four-quarter tough football game."

In addition to Lister and Shultis, Agoura's defense must deal with an improved Thousand Oaks offensive line, a unit led by seniors Jordan Allred, Dillon Brockert and Gavin Creps.

Limiting Lister remains the top priority for the Charger defense, Wegher said, adding that he believes TOHS is the team to beat in the Marmonte League this year.

"They've got good, physical kids, and Coach Leibin is an excellent coach," Wegher said. "We need to bring our 'A' game because they're No. 1 as far as I've seen."