Oaks Christian, Oak Park primed for gridiron glory
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers TOUGH GUY- Sean Westgate and the Oak Park Eagles open the playoffs at home Friday night against St. Joseph, the No. 2 seed from the Los Padres League. OPHS was 7-3 in the regular season.

The Oaks Christian football team as playoff underdogs?

Although the idea may sound absurd, when the CIF-Southern Section Northwest Division playoffs begin Friday night, the Lions will be just that- a team on the road looking for an upset.

Although OCHS ended in a three-way tie for the Tri-Valley League championship with a 4-1 league mark, the Lions begin the postseason as the No. 3 seed from the TVL and will play at San Dimas High Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Although the role is a different one for Oaks Christian, last year's CIF Division III state champion and a four-time defending section title winner, it's not completely new.

"We were the No. 3 seed out of the league four years ago, and we still ended up winning the championship, so we know it can be done," Oaks Christian head coach Bill Redell said.

"It's just a much tougher road to get there. If we do happen to beat San Dimas, then we probably have another very good team in Serra High waiting for us."

After losing 25-20 to Oak Park High in Week 7, the Lions enter the postseason on fire. In its last three games, OCHS has outscored the opposition 14514, including a 426 beating of the Tri-Valley's No. 1 seed, Nordhoff High, on the road.

The Lions are getting healthier, too. One of the team's offensive playmakers, Stanford-bound wide receiver Chris Owusu, will return from a knee injury that sidelined him for Oaks' last six games.

"Offensively, we are now playing more consistent," Redell said. "The defense is also starting to come along as well. I think they knew what they we're doing, but knowing how to do something and actually going out on the field and doing it are two separate things.

"A lot of that has to do with our defensive coordinator, Clay Matthews, who has done a great job with this year's defense."

Redell said to beat San Dimas, the Lions will have to try and slow down Saints junior running back Nico Barbone.

Barbone has rushed 184 times this season for 1,592 yards, for an average of a little less than 160 yards a game. Barbone has also rushed for 15 touchdowns.

"On film, it's hard to tell a team's size, but we do know that San Dimas is very, very quick," Redell said. "They have a very good running back and a good defense that's also quick. I would actually stack them up and compare them with Oak Park, another good football team."

Oak Park is the No. 2 seed from the Tri-Valley League and will host St. Joseph High Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Knights (7-3) are the No. 2 seed from the Los Padres League. According to Oak Park head coach Dick Billingsley, the St. Joseph team is "gigantic."

"They average 265 (pounds) across the front," Billingsley said. "They are a pretty physical team. They have a good young running back (sophomore Russell Perkins) and a good young quarterback (junior Gavin Kelly) that we must stop.

"They also have a good wide receiver in Scott Cathcart that stands in at 6-foot-4."

After losing to Nordhoff in Week 8, the Eagles have won consecutive games over Santa Paula High and Carpinteria High. Billingsley is hoping the team's recent success can continue.

"Our offense is now pretty steady and is putting some points on the board," Billingsley said.

"Our defense has started out slowly in the last couple games, but I've been impressed with how they have played better as the game has gone on, especially in the third and fourth quarters."

While OCHS plays on the road, Oak Park will have the luxury of playing at home in front of its fans. According to Billingsley, the home crowd could be a big factor.

"Usually, in a first-round game, the team at home is much better than the team they are playing, and the home crowd doesn't matter as much," Billingsley said. "However, with St. Joseph being a very physical team and with us both being No. 2 seeds, the home crowd could be huge."

With Oaks Christian and Oak Park both being in the bottom half of the Northwest Division bracket, the two teams could eventually meet in the semifinals on Nov. 30.

"I'm hoping we have the chance to play Oak Park in the semifinals," Redell said. "We're not a cocky team, but we are a confident team right now. Even though we are the No. 3 seed, the team has the right attitude and mindset. It's the feeling of, 'We were the champs last year, and until someone knocks us off, we are still the champs.'"