A shot at redemption




CAN'T KEEP ME DOWN-Agoura wide receiver Kyle McDonnell gets tackled from behind by a Culver City defender during the Chargers' 31-7 thumping of their first-round opponent. With the victory, Agoura advances to host undefeated Rio Mesa tomorrow night.

CAN’T KEEP ME DOWN-Agoura wide receiver Kyle McDonnell gets tackled from behind by a Culver City defender during the Chargers’ 31-7 thumping of their first-round opponent. With the victory, Agoura advances to host undefeated Rio Mesa tomorrow night.


By Kyle Jorrey
jorrey@theacorn.com

Try as they might to focus in completely on their first-round contest with Culver City, members of the Agoura High School football squad couldn’t help but notice last week which teams are ahead of them on what they hoped would be a path to CIF-Southern Section Div. IV title game.


One possible matchup that particularly jumped off the bracket was in the second round against the Rio Mesa Spartans (11-0), a team that had spanked the Chargers on their home turf early in the season, 36-16, by piling up more than 500 yards of total offense and consistently getting in the face of Agoura quarterback Cory Smits.


But that was a different time and place (as they say) and against a Charger team that scarcely resembles the one at present—a squad that’s won five straight and is giving up less than 10 points per game.


Now, thanks to last week’s 31-7 first-round defeat of Culver City, Agoura and its players will get their shot at redemption Friday night at 7 p.m. in hopes of pushing their season into December and getting one step closer to a Div. IV championship.


"We’re just excited to have another shot at them," said Smits, who threw for 189 yards and one touchdown against Culver City. "We had been expecting to play them, and I know this team is really excited to get a rematch."


If they want to stop the undefeated Spartans, winners of 11 straight, the fight will have to start on the defensive side of the ball. This time around, the Chargers have safety/wide receiver Mark Lawrence and defensive tackle Corey Mowery, two of three key players—including guard Patrick Novack—who were injured for the first meeting with Rio Mesa.


They and the rest of the defensive unit will need a spirited effort if the Agoura is to pull off the upset.


"In the first game, we just didn’t tackle very well, we didn’t play the type of defense we have been playing for the past six weeks," said head coach Charlie Wegher. "They rushed for over 300 yards—that’s way too much for us to give up if we’re going to be successful against anyone. But I think our tackling has improved dramatically since that part of the season, and as a whole unit, we’re playing better defense."


The Spartans’ balanced attack is executed by 5-foot-6 replacement quarterback Chris Gagua, who’s filled in effectively for injured starter Scott Valley, whom the Chargers saw the first time around. Gagua is surrounded by talent at the skill positions, highlighted by 1,000-yard rusher Robert McGowan, giant tight end Jacob Manuel and game-breaking wide receiver Kevin Thomas. Power fullback Daniel Villasenor is also an additonal force out of the backfield.


Fortunately for the Chargers, they’re coming off arguably their best defensive effort of the season against Culver—holding the Centaurs to 45 yards rushing and causing four turnovers. All season long, Agoura has proven itself tough to beat when it gets good defense to go with its quick-strike offense.


"Our defense did awesome the last game, they really shut (Culver City) down," Smits said. "And when they play like that, that takes the pressure off the offense. . . . I think the offense has fed off of that lately because we know we just have to score one more point than our opponent to get the win."


Offensively, Agoura’s focus is on improving its blocking against Rio Mesa’s physically intimidating defensive line. In game one, Smits was constantly under fire by the Spartan pass-rush and the Chargers managed only 17 yards rushing on the ground. Though Smits still put up over 300 yards through the air, the sacks he took were costly, and made the Chargers unable to convert drives into points.


"They show a lot of different blitzes, a lot of twisting, a lot of stunts . . . it’s a headache," Wegher said. "They try to create problems for the quarterback and they have excellent people, very fast mobile guys."


Smits said he is confident that fans will see an improved effort by the Chargers along their offensive line.


"I’m sure they are going to do a much better job this time, but I’m prepared (for the pressure). I either have to throw it away or lock it up when I’m going to be hit," said Smits, who was sacked six times in the first game. "Sure, they got a couple good shots on me last game, but it was anything too bad. It helps that I’m not a little guy myself."


To free up space for their air attack, which ranked tops in Marmonte during the regular season, the Chargers hope to get some balance from the run and freshly inserted lineman turned running back Brian Scott. Last week against the Centaurs, the hard-running Scott provided just that, finishing with 61 yards and two-rushing touchdowns.


"We like Brian, he can pound the ball up the middle or he can stay in the backfield and take on defenders," Wegher said. "He’s just a real athletic kid, and he has the speed and the size . . . he runs just like an offensive lineman who’s gotten the opportunity to carry the ball, and he’s done a good job thus far."


Though Agoura is just 2-3 at home this season, Wegher said just the chance to play one more game in front of the home faithful is plenty of motivation for his team’s senior-filled lineup. In fact, it’s been more than four weeks since the Chargers last competed in the friendly confines of xxxxxxx Stadium, a thrilling 27-24 win over Thousand Oaks.


"It’s nice to get at least one more chance to put the blue on and go out in front of the home fans," Wegher said. "It means a lot to these guys."


Smits agreed.


"Our fans have been just tremendous this season, in good times and in bad," he said. "We think they deserve to watch see another victory, so we’re going to try and deliver."


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