Running backs rule the night
East Ventura County stocked with high-quality tailbacks
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers BULLDOZER—Royal High running back Matt Rulon has found the end zone five times in three games. He's just one of a handful of multitalented tailbacks competing in the Marmonte League.

The playmakers, the guys who threaten to take it to the end zone on any offensive snap—a lot of them compete on the high school football fields of eastern Ventura County.

Most are running backs.

Some area teams possess dangerous two-back combos. The list includes Cameron Roberson and Chris Brown at Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks' John Lister and Ricky Minyard, and Justin Lilley and Tavior Mowry of Westlake.

Excluding Brown, who's been out since injuring his back in Week 1 but could return as soon as next week, the other five players listed have combined for 1,766 yards of total offense and have found the end zone on 18 occasions in nine total games.

Newbury Park head coach Gary Fabricius, who's coached locally for more than a quarter century, said the talent at running back in the Marmonte League is as good as it's been in years.

"This is one of the first times in a long time where you look around and say, 'Maybe it's not the league of quarterbacks,'" Fabricius said. "It's not to say all of the quarterbacks can't take a team down the field when they need to in a two-minute drive, but they're not being asked to do it with the skill at the running back spot.

"Usually we look at good running backs out of Oxnard, (St. Bonaventure) or Oaks Christian," Fabricius said. "But to have them planted at all the Marmonte League schools, it's kind of good news, bad news for the coaches who have to prepare for a different style back each week."

During the past month, Moorpark head coach Tim Lins and his staff have seen several Marmonte teams take the field. Lins, too, has been impressed with the tailbacks.

"The league does seem to be full of quality running backs that are playing a big part in each of their team's offenses," Lins said. "No doubt."

Charlie Wegher, the longtime head coach at Agoura, notices the trend as well.

"There have been years when we've had to face three or four good backs in league," Wegher said, "but I can't remember it ever being this thick."

In addition to fielding a quarterback, Justin Arias, who's carried the ball more than anyone else on his team, Agoura rotates three running backs—Lucky Radley, Sam Bradley and Justin Cudworth—with Radley (20 carries for 251 yards, 4 TDs), a highprofile transfer from Crespi, emerging as a star in the offensive backfield and at linebacker.

"I haven't had a kid with Radley's ability in a long time," Wegher said. "He's very explosive. He accelerates extremely quick, and he can cut very quickly. He just adds an element of explosiveness we haven't had in a while."

There are several potent, primarily one-back systems as well, the most productive of which are being fueled by Austin Edmonson at Moorpark (367 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and Matt Rulon from Royal (247 rushing yards, 5 TDs).

"We've been happy with (Edmonson's) play," Lins said. "He's benefiting from his experience as a sophomore, and he understands our offense. He works well with our linemen in reading their blocks and getting up field."

Rulon, who's already made a name for himself on the wrestling mat, is the latest bruising tailback to play for Royal.

RHS head coach Gene Uebelhardt admires Rulon's toughness and tenacity.

"He's heavy for his height (5foot-10, 205), but the size doesn't affect his quickness," Uebelhardt said. "Not only is Rulon a good, hard-running back, but he takes his toll on defensive backfields. When he hits a 150pound defensive back, he wears them down."

Behind Lister's thump, T.O. has beaten a pair of Foothill League stalwarts, Valencia and Canyon, en route to a 3-0 record.

The 6-foot-2 senior has carried the ball 71 times for 592 yards and has scored five touchdowns. During last week's victory over Canyon, Lister had one carry for zero yards in the first quarter but still finished with 120 rushing yards and two scores. He also threw a touchdown pass.

TOHS head coach Mike Leibin said Lister becomes more effective as the game wears on.

"He runs as hard in the fourth quarter as he does in the first," Leibin said.

"It's a testament to his work ethic. Obviously he's in great shape, and obviously he worked hard this offseason. It's showing with his performances in the fourth. . . . I've always said John is one of my best athletes, and he's one of my best kids."

Minyard, a sophomore, can line up in the same backfield with Lister or provide a change of pace when the senior needs a breather. He's a dangerous pass-catcher, too.

"We complement each other well," Minyard said. "John's the featured back, and I'm just learning from him."

As his staff prepares for tonight's showdown vs. 3-0 Newbury Park, Lins has had an opportunity to watch plenty of tape on Roberson, the 6foot, 205pound Panther junior. Lins sees a talented young man beginning to develop his game as both a running back and defensive back.

"As far as running the ball, Roberson is powerful enough to run inside and fast enough to get outside and make things happen," Lins said. "He's a dangerous runner."

While filling in for Brown, Roberson has logged 434 rushing yards and four scores.

Aside from the Marmonte League talent, Oaks Christian's Malcolm Jones is a beast in the Tri-Valley League, where he's expected to pile up massive numbers again this season.

Jones, a junior who posted 2,025 rushing yards in 2007, is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation.

He's already received offers from Stanford and Oregon and, according to OCHS head coach Bill Redell, is drawing interest from all the big-name universities.

For the 4-0 Lions, Jones has scored 11 touchdowns and is averaging 9.1 yards per carry.

"Malcolm has very, very strong legs," Redell said. "He's deceivingly fast, faster than he looks. He's got great speed and size at about 215 pounds. He's got great hands, too. He can really catch the ball."

Jones' backup, senior Jordan Morrison, is averaging 10 yards per carry. He's another Division I college prospect with offers on the table, Redell said.

All this running has area teams sprinting up the CIF-Southern Section coaches' polls.

In the latest CIF-SS Northern Division rankings, four Marmonte teams were placed in the top 5, including Newbury Park (No. 2), Thousand Oaks (No. 3), Westlake (No. 4) and Moorpark (No. 5).

Oaks Christian continues to maintain its stranglehold on the top spot in the CIF-SS Northwest Division.