BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers SECOND SEASON-Royal's Jake Mittel, right, and the hard-hitting Highlanders travel to Canyon in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs. Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells once said: "This is the reason you lift all those weights." He was talking about postseason football.

In the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division playoffs, four Marmonte League schools are among the field of 16. Northern Division teams are derived from the Marmonte, Pacific View, Pac-7, Foothill and Channel leagues.

On Friday night, Marmonte League champion Westlake (10-0) hosts Oxnard (73), thirdplace finishers in the PVL.

Westlake is coming off a league-championship clinching 23-12 victory at Moorpark High last Friday. The Warriors are undefeated and riding a wave of positive energy.

"Our team has built momentum and built confidence during every win, regardless of what team we play," WHS senior quarterback Ryan Campbell said. "Coming off a win like Moorpark, it builds so much confidence.

"I always believe in winning," Campbell said. "I always believe that when you work hard you accomplish your goals. I'm glad this team's been able to do that."

Westlake's been stout against the run this season. The Warriors will be tested by Oxnard, a team that's rushed for 2,460 yards in 10 games. Senior William Franklin leads Oxnard with 1,101 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

The Yellowjackets have thrown for only 436 yards.

"One of the strengths of our team has been run defense," Campbell said. "We just beat the premier running offense in the section (Moorpark). I feel strongly that the defense will come to play."

In a matchup of second-place finishers in their respective leagues, Moorpark (82) welcomes Camarillo (4-6) to its home field.

The Musketeers will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's disappointing defeat to Westlake. Camarillo lost to PVL rival Rio Mesa in its regularseason finale. Both teams missed out on league championships.

Camarillo has righted the ship since dropping five of its first six games-including losses to Newbury Park, Agoura and Thousand Oaks.

The recent return of quarterback Samson Szakacsy, who suffered a leg injury early in the season, has helped Camarillo regroup.

Moorpark will surely look to pound the ball on the ground vs. the Scorpions, and the matchup leans in the Musketeers' favor.

MHS junior running back Darrell Scott has 2,250 rushing yard and 31 touchdowns this season. Camarillo allowed 283 rushing yards to Rio Mesa last weekend, with 202 yards going to senior running back Malachi Lewis.

Scott could be chomping at the bit come Friday night.

Thousand Oaks (7-3) received no love from the schedule makers.

The Lancers, thirdplace finishers in the Marmonte, must travel to College of the Canyons to take on Hart of Newhall (6-4), the second-place representative from the Foothill League.

Over the last three games, Hart has outscored its opponents 122-28.

"Our defense is playing really well," TOHS s o p h o m o r e tailback John Lister said.

"We're going to have to score, no doubt, because they've got a highpowered offense. We'll have to hold them, score whenever we can and take advantage of their mistakes."

Thousand Oaks' point-per-game output has increased in each of the past three weeks and they've won each game. Behind Lister and an improved offense line, the Lancers are averaging 218 rushing yards per contest during the winning streak.

The Lancer defense hasn't allowed more than 21 points in a game since an Oct. 6 defeat against Moorpark. Scott Luft, Curtis Paulsen and Sean Debeikes have been major contributors for Thousand Oaks. Luft leads the team with 75 tackles. Paulsen and Debeikes each have 67 tackles.

If T.O. advances past Hart, topseeded St. Bonaventure likely awaits on the second round. It's a difficult path, Lister said.

"It's a tough draw, but we're a tough team," Lister said. "We can go as far as we want."

Royal was rewarded for its good fortune with a matchup on the road against second-seeded Canyon (7-2).

Canyon has won six consecutive games since losing backtoback contests to Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and St. Bonaventure in early September.

In their last three games, the Cowboys have scored 194 points (64.6 points per game). On Oct. 20, Canyon defeated Golden Valley 90-0.

Sill, Royal head coach Gene Uebelhardt doesn't mind taking on a perennial football power like Canyon.

"Two-thirds of the high school football players in this country are turning their equipment in today (Monday)," Uebelhardt said. "We're not. So we're happy about that, and hopefully we're up to the challenge."

A pulled hamstring limited Royal senior running back Marcus Hunt early in the season, but in his last five games, Hunt has averaged 153 yards on the ground.

"Hunt's been a huge key, and the offensive line got healthier," Uebelhardt said. "We took a few linebackers and put them in on the offensive line. They're used to hitting. They're also seniors who wanted to go to the playoffs again."

Nose guard Dylenn Ramirez and inside linebacker Jared Debo have been key contributors on both sides of the ball for the Highlanders, Uebelhardt said.

Royal will be without its leading receiver, 6foot4 senior Thomas McCormick. McCormick broke his collarbone in the regular-season finale against Simi Valley.

MHS and Royal begin at 7 p.m. The other games start at 7:30.
Final Marmonte
        Standings
                    League Overall
Westlake         7-0-0   10-0-0
Moorpark       6-1-0     8-2-0
T.O.                 5-2-0     7-3-0
Royal             3-4-0     5-5-0
Agoura             3-4-0     6-4-0
Newbury         3-4-0     4-6-0
Simi Valley       1-6-0     3-7-0
Calabasas 0-7-0   0-10-0
* Bold denotes playoff teams