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The Acorn Camarillo Acorn Moorpark Acorn Simi Valley Acorn Thousand Oaks Acorn |
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The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week
Westlake Warriors (2-1) at Agoura Chargers (2-1) Friday, 7 p.m.
By now, it's crystal clear that when watching a football contest between Westlake and Agoura, you don't leave until the last second ticks off the clock. This year, however, the controversy began before the first hit was made. According to Westlake head coach Jim Benkert, concerns about Agoura running back Lucky Radley's eligibility were first made at a Marmonte League athletic directors' meeting two weeks ago. Radley, who's been one of the league's top running backs since joining the Chargers in Week 2, previously attended Crespi. After enrolling at Taft for a week, Radley came to Agoura. "He'd been in the newspapers a lot during that time, and the question was whether or not he was expelled at Crespi," Benkert said. "Whether or not that was true, I didn't know. Whether or not it escalated from that meeting into something else, I don't know." Last Friday, Rob Dearborn, Moorpark High's athletic director and the Marmonte League spokesman this season, received a phone call asking him to investigate the situation. On Monday, Dearborn said he turned the case over to Agoura and the CIF. By Tuesday, the CIF had ruled that Radley was eligible and the Chargers wouldn't have to forfeit their previous two wins. "On Monday we received a concerning question about whether or not there was a disciplinary action with Radley at Crespi that had to be upheld," CIF spokesman Thom Simmons said. "According to Crespi, the claim turned out to be false. Barring anything unforeseen at this time, Radley is able to play." Simmons would not disclose who made the phone call to the CIF or Dearborn, although he said it was a Marmonte League school. "It wasn't me that made the calls," Benkert said. "I know it was a hot topic at the athletic director meeting, but that's the last I heard from it. I wasn't aware that CIF was dealing with it." AHS head coach Charlie Wegher believes otherwise. "Yeah, it was Jim (Benkert)," Wegher said. "We knew this might be an issue when we got Radley, so we looked into this very diligently before he played for us." Now that the dust has settled, the focus can return to what should be a very exciting matchup, one that defensive coordinators have nightmares about. Westlake is averaging 40 points per game, while Agoura is putting up 34.3 points a contest. Both teams have scored 40 points or more in their last two games. Westlake will likely start sophomore Nick Isham at quarterback. Isham replaces senior Ben Conlin, who left last week's game against Hart with a collarbone injury. Against Hart, Isham completed 15-of-20 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 74 yards and a score. "Where Conlin is more of a pocket passer, Isham can run a little, too," Wegher said. "I was surprised, after watching film, that Isham was just a sophomore, because he doesn't play like one." Wegher said to beat Westlake for the second time in his career— he's 1-13 all time—the Chargers must protect the football. Benkert said the game should once again go down to the wire. "Agoura's a very good team, and it will probably come down to the last play," he said. "It always seems to." Players to Watch
Outlook Every two years, when this rivalry game is played at Agoura, something crazy, something way out of
the ordinary seems to happen. In 2006 it was The Fumble. In 2004 it was The Play. What happens in 2008 remains to be seen. If you miss it, however, don't blame us. You've been forewarned. |
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