Agoura Chargers

Last season’s results: (5th in Marmonte, 5-5 overall) A midseason three-game road trip crushed Agoura’s postseason aspirations, but the Chargers salvaged a .500 campaign by winning their final two games. Highlights included victories against Westlake and Royal.

Notable returnees: Sam Bradley, sr., SS/TB; Max Hogan, sr., DE/OL; Eric Kagen, sr., WR; Stephan Yang, jr., WR Impact newcomer: Sean Whitney, sr., DB Who they play: The Chargers face the same non-league opponents—Ventura, Camarillo and Rio Mesa—they battled in 2008. After opening against Ventura on Sept. 11 at home, the Chargers play five straight road games including critical league matchups against Royal (Oct. 2), Westlake (Oct. 9) and Thousand Oaks (Oct. 16). AHS ends its season with four straight home games.

Overview: Head coach Charlie Wegher said this year’s team is the youngest he’s had in 16 seasons at Agoura. The Chargers have only four returning starters, and their 42man roster is dominated by juniors. With Agoura’s offensive line in flux, Wegher hopes a strong work ethic equals success.

Bradley is the only threeyear starter. The senior, who had three interceptions last year, will start at strong safety, share most of the carries at tailback with junior Frank Schmidt and play some linebacker. Hogan is a defensive end who could see time at tackle, guard or center on offense.

The only other returning starters are receivers Kagen (29 catches, 311 yards, one TD) and Yang (eight catches, 93 yards). Senior Daniel Schlorf and junior Corey Da Silva are also expected to start at receiver.

Junior quarterback Gerard Poutier has had an impressive summer and is progressing well, Wegher said. The 6-foot, 180-pounder led the AHS junior varsity team to an 8-2 record and a co-Marmonte championship last year.

Sophomore middle linebacker Jeremy Friedman is a key contributor. Senior Patrick Yang, sophomore Cash Barden and juniors Wes Rowell and Alon Cohen will patrol linebacker. Senior Ben Samel and Whitney, a lacrosse player who’s playing organized football for the first time, will likely start at cornerback. Junior Kevin Beams, the JV squad’s MVP, patrols free safety. Senior defensive tackle Benn Rieder, junior nose tackle Josh Weinberger and junior defensive end Blake Sack add bulk in the trenches.

Junior Will Snyder should play center, but the rest of the Chargers’ offensive line is a work in progress. Sean Donnelly, Tanner Potts, Bennett Steiner, Rieder, Weinberger and Hogan must protect the quarterback.

In a nutshell: Wegher hopes the Chargers will fly under the radar and earn a few upset victories. Agoura will likely be a top contender in 2010.

Calabasas Coyotes

Last season’s results: (8th in Marmonte, 19 overall) The Coyotes showed more offensive firepower than they had in years. Calabasas defeated Hueneme 23-13 in Week 2, and nearly earned back-to-back wins before falling to Channel Islands 32-28 the following week.

Notable returnees: Kyle Zion, jr., QB; Alex Hanover, sr., WR; David Sandler, sr., PK/WR; Michael Edwards, jr., OL; Jack Gerard, sr., DL Impact newcomer: Shane Bick, jr., WR/DB Who they play: The Coyotes open the season Sept. 11 against Granada Hills, which also won one game in 2008. They follow with road tilts against Hueneme (Sept. 17) and Channel Islands (Sept. 25). CHS starts Marmonte action against heavyweight Moorpark (Oct. 2) on the road. The Coyotes play home games against Royal (Oct. 9), Simi Valley (Oct. 30) and Newbury Park (Nov. 6).

Overview: Optimism is high at Calabasas. Why? Because there are 42 players on the varsity squad—nearly double last year’s number—there’s a new coach, and it’s a new season where everyone starts 0-0.

With only six seniors on the roster, however, the Coyotes will be the youngest team in the Marmonte League.

Zion started every game as a sophomore, throwing for 1,468 yards and seven touchdowns. New head coach Larry Edwards, who guided CHS from 19802002, said Zion had a fantastic summer and threw accurately during twoa-days. With a strong group of receivers, the junior should have a breakthrough season if the offensive line can protect him.

Junior Alex Veronos, Hanover, Sandler and Bick are part of the “Air Cal” attack, a moniker Edwards has bestowed upon this group of wide receivers in the spread offense. The receivers are the strongest unit on the team.

Junior running back and slot receiver Kevin Bensen is an explosive player in the mold of Reggie Bush, Edwards said. Running back Ty Kusakawa is another versatile athlete who works out of the slot. Sophomore fullback and linebacker Ryan Duong stood out during summer practices.

The only sure thing on the offensive line is 6-foot-4 junior Jake Hayes, who should start at left tackle and contribute at defensive end. Coaches said a group of 10 Coyotes are fighting for the other four starting offensive line spots.

Other Coyotes who’ve found a niche in the defense are lineman Sean Moore, outside linebacker Brett Schwartz, Gerard at defensive tackle, Bick at strong safety, Bensen at free safety and cornerbacks Ronnie Gutierrez and Nick Eberle.

In a nutshell: Calabasas has a decent chance to open the season with three wins. That is not a misprint. CHS should, however, fall back to earth against Moorpark. It might be time to put Simi Valley and Agoura on upset alert.

Moorpark Musketeers

Last season’s results: (1st in Marmonte, 12-2 overall) MHS won 11 straight games to reach the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division title tilt, where it fell to St. Bonaventure, 42-7.

Notable returnees: Austin Edmonson, sr., RB; Joe Frank, sr., OL, Patrick Stewart, sr., OL, Tanner Moe, sr., TE; Brody Rohach, sr., QB; Brian Blechen, sr., QB; Marc Palacios, sr., LB; A.J. Dettorre, sr., DB; Joey Eckert, sr., DB; Tommy Collet, sr., DB; Quen Kantaris, sr., DL; Stephen Picchini, sr., PK Impact newcomer: Curtis Arndt, jr., OL Who they play: The Musketeers open their season Sept. 4 at home against Eastlake of Chula Vista before hosting Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (Sept. 12). Notre Dame handed Moorpark its only regular-season loss in 2008. Moorpark concludes the regular season at Westlake (Nov. 13).

Overview: In head coach Tim Lins’ office, MHS’ schedule is written on a dryerase board. It concludes with this date and game: “12/18 State Championship.”

Although it’s no secret Moorpark is the heavy favorite to repeat as league champions and possibly earn a shot at reaching another section title game, Lins wants his Musketeers to simply improve every week. Lins, in his 11th season guiding Moorpark, has reached the postseason every year except one. The coach called this senior-laden team intelligent and talented with strong on-field leaders.

The offense is paced by a two-headed monster at QB—Rohach and Blechen will share snaps from returning starter Stewart at center. Frank, an Air Force commit, anchors the line at left tackle. Sean Blum is a returning starter at guard.

Edmonson will receive the bulk of the carries at running back. The senior speedster will also start at cornerback. Juniors Garrett Dibene and Tyler Peterson will complement Edmonson on offense. Senior wide receivers James Dearborn and Chad Kendall started last season, and Moe will be a solid target at tight end. Seniors Vernon Lins and Nick Ustach will also chip in at wide receiver.

Kantaris is a standout defensive end who will get help from fellow end Lucas Mandic, a senior, and senior defensive tackle Trevor Legore. Palacios leads the linebackers, which also features junior Quinn Bauducco and senior Dan Hearon.

Dettorre will be the other cornerback, opposite Edmonson. Collet and Eckert are safeties. Blechen will also contribute at safety and is Moorpark’s first-string punter. Picchini, who has multiple Division I scholarship offers, might have the strongest leg in the Marmonte or even the county.

In a nutshell: Deep at every position, this team appears hungry, focused and ready for more. A section championship is a realistic goal for Moorpark.

Newbury Park Panthers

Last season’s results: (Tied for 3rd in Marmonte, 74 overall) The one thing missing from Newbury Park’s league resume last year was a signature win. The Panthers beat Royal and Agoura by two points each, but lost to Westlake, Moorpark and T.O.

Notable returnees: Cameron Roberson, sr., RB/LB; Phillip Muscarella, sr., WR/DB; Jake Geringer, jr., QB; Patrick Smith, sr., OG/DL; Tommy Diefenthaler, sr., C/DL; Drake Exstrom, sr., ILB/OL; Josh Sackheim, sr., OLB; Nelson Duarte, sr., DB/WR; Michael LaPerche, sr., DL; Nathaniel Roman, sr., DL; Christian Hutchins, sr., WR/LB Impact newcomer: Dakota Dunlea, jr., WR Who they play: Newbury Park plays its first five games at home, including an intriguing non-league showdown against Saugus (Sept. 25), ranked fourth in the CIFSouthern Section Northern Division preseason poll. NPHS is seventh. A Marmonte megamatchup pits Moorpark, ranked third in the Northern Division, at Newbury Park (Oct. 9). The Panthers’ regular season concludes with a trip to Thousand Oaks (Nov. 13).

Overview: Newbury Park is built to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Marmonte. The Panthers have approximately a half-dozen starters returning on each side of the ball, and the majority of the team’s playmakers are seniors, so this collection of Black Cats should be ready to pounce from the get-go.

Head coach Gary Fabricius, who will call the offensive plays, has some premier weapons at his disposal. First and foremost is Roberson, the bulldozing running back, who, according to the coach, is being recruited by Notre Dame, Northwestern and multiple Pac-10 universities.

Geringer is the talented young gunslinger, and Muscarella is his top target in the passing game. Hutchins, Dunlea and senior Alex Lopez are large passcatchers that’ll be difficult for diminutive defensive backs to deal with. Diefenthaler and Smith return to anchor the offensive line.

Exstrom, the stalwart linebacker, always seems to be in the middle of the action. He’s a legitimate college prospect. Sackheim is another solid linebacker. Duarte excels at cornerback and safety and is Ivy-League smart.

Other multipurpose linemen to watch for are 6-foot-4, 285-pound junior Andrew Gessler; junior Robert Chen; and seniors Ryan Gabby, LaPerche and Roman. Junior Kevin Kircher has the moxie to develop into a clutch kicker.

In a nutshell: Everyone knows Newbury Park can play ball, so the Panthers better put in the effort necessary to withstand other teams’ best shots. At worst, this is a bottom-level playoff squad. At best, they’re league champs.

Royal Highlander

Last season’s results: (Tied for 6th in Marmonte, 46 overall) The Highlanders started strong by winning three of their first four games but faded down the stretch. They halted a five-game losing streak by defeating Simi Valley for the 14th time in 15 years, shutting out their rivals, 24-0. Notable returnees: Ryan Stevens, sr., WR/DB; Connor Wolcott, sr., DB/WRTyler Decker, sr., OL/DL; Thomas Garner, sr., RB/DB; Mike Maurer, sr., OLAlex Flandez, sr., LB/OL

Impact newcomers: Mason McCormick, jr., LB/RB; Zach Collins, jr., QBMason Heuther, jr., DL/TE Who they play: After opening at home against Golden Valley (Sept. 11), the Highlanders play a pair of non-league road games. Royal has a chance to starstrong in the Marmonte with outings at Agoura (Oct. 2) and home againsCalabasas (Oct. 9) to open the league slate.

Overview: Kevin Flye, one of three new coaches in the Marmonte, said Royahas a good chance to qualify for the playoffs. But the Highlanders need to avoid injuries since depth is an issue.

The team has plenty of talent at running back. Garner is a workhorse back who’s being recruited by Division I schools. Juniors Keith Langley and Kyle Gauthier will carry the ball, too.

Collins, who has enjoyed a solid summer, will start quarterback. The 6foot1 junior will target Stevens, who Flye thinks is one of the best allaround football players in the county. Other receiving options include senior A.J. Miller and Wolcott, a three-year varsity player. Miller, who didn’t play as a junior, will also patrol free safety.

On the offensive line, Maurer is the right tackle. Decker can play multiple spots and will also work at defensive end. Senior tackle Jeff Perez and sophomores Marcus Piechowski (center) and Joseph Blanc (guard) add bulk.

At linebacker, junior Jake Palomarez, McCormick and Flandez are difference-makers. James MacDonald, a senior, will be a force at defensive tackleSenior Trevor Rapp and Heuther line up at defensive end. Junior Shane Toth is a standout strong safety, while senior Mitchell Rose plays cornerback. Senior Marcel Figueroa is Royal’s place kicker. Perez handles punting duties.

In a nutshell: Royal needs a fast start because the backend of the schedule features Newbury Park, Moorpark, Westlake and TOHS in consecutive weeks

Simi Valley Pioneers

Last season’s results: (Tied for 6th in Marmonte, 2-8 overall) The Pioneers started 0-5, losing three games by a touchdown or less, and were never able to recover for a secondhalf push. Simi Valley defeated Agoura and Calabasas for consecutive wins but was shut out by rival Royal in the season finale.

Notable returnees: Robbie Gall, sr., OL/DL; Nick Clausen, sr., OL/DL; Cheyne Burkhead, sr., DL/OL; Tyler McAnny, sr. DL/OL; Adam Schechter, sr., WR/DB; Andrew Rohrbach, sr., WR/DB; Jens Jeters, jr., LB/TB Impact newcomer: Beau Sandland, jr., TE/DL Who they play: The Pioneers open their season with home games against Burbank (Sept. 4) and Buena (Sept. 11). After a date at Pacifica (Sept. 18), Simi Valley plays arguably three of the top four Marmonte teams—at Newbury Park (Oct. 2), at Thousand Oaks (Oct. 9) and home against Moorpark (Oct. 16). Every Pioneer will circle Nov. 13, when Royal visits SVHS.

Overview: First-year coach Lance Martin, who spent two years rebuilding Calabasas’ program, has another reclamation project on his hands.

The Pioneers’ projected starting QB transferred out of the area in the middle of summer workouts. Other potential starters are out with injuries or left the team for a myriad of reasons. Martin is pleased with the roughly 35 players who stuck through summer training and two-a-day practices, and the coach has been thrilled with the recent progress of his offensive line. Senior center Sam Sifuentes, right tackle Gall and right guard Clausen support the line.

Simi Valley has depth at running back. Jeters leads a talented group of runners that includes sophomore Matt Baynard and senior Mitchel Virzi. All three have varsity experience. Sophomore Jake Maranto, who played on the freshman squad last year, is the quarterback. Maranto will have solid targets in senior receiver Michael Acuna, Schechter, Rohrbach and Sandland.

Jake Hale, a senior, plays linebacker and fullback. Senior Matt Matualitis and Jeters will also contribute at linebacker. Senior Rusmin Nikocevic is a standout defensive end. Burkhead is a nose tackle, and McAnny plays defensive tackle. Cornerback Eric Pinkston, only a sophomore, has been a great surprise, Martin said. Rohrbach will be the other cornerback. Schechter is the starting strong safety, while Baynard will patrol free safety.

In a nutshell: Depth will be an issue for Simi, which has multiple two-way starters. A .500 season would be a tremendous accomplishment for this team.

Thousand Oaks Lancers

Last season’s results: (2nd in Marmonte, 10-2 overall) In 2008, the Lancers’ only league defeat was a 20-17 setback to eventual Marmonte champion Moorpark. Two weeks after that loss, T.O. topped rival Westlake by 12 points. TOHS clobbered Santa Barbara in the opening round of the playoffs before being eliminated by Saugus.

Notable returnees: Bobby Mullaney, sr., WR/FS; Rickey Minyard, jr., RB/ LB; Lucas Clifford, sr., OT/DL; Garrett Malone, sr., LB/TE; Avondre Bollar, jr., QB/CB; Bobby Cortes, sr., WR/DB/QB; Daniel Miller, sr., DE/TE Impact newcomer: Richard Mullaney, jr., WR/FS Who they play: All 10 of the Lancers’ regular-season opponents remain the same from ’08. Thousand Oaks opens at home against Valencia (Sept. 11) before departing on a tough threegame road trip at Buena (Sept. 17), Canyon (Sept. 25) and Westlake (Oct. 2). Things soften up a bit midseason before TOHS looks for payback at Moorpark (Oct. 30).

Overview: Thousand Oaks has a plethora of playmakers on offense and plenty of questions on defense.

The ultra-athletic Bollar starts at quarterback. He’ll also play cornerback. As a sophomore, Bollar was a standout on the gridiron as well as the baseball diamond. He could easily develop into one of the Marmonte’s premier talents.

At wide receiver, the Mullaney brothers, Bobby and Richard, will serve as Bollar’s go-to guys on the outside. Richard Mullaney is 6-foot-3 and has no fear coming across the middle of a defense. Miller is somewhat raw at tight end but the talent is there to succeed.

After serving as a complement to star running back John Lister a season ago, Minyard, a junior, takes over at tailback and outside linebacker.

Clifford, a right tackle, is the only returning starter on the offensive line. Right guard Jordan Hammond, center Jeff Gideon and left tackle Steven Penfield must establish themselves up front. Jacob Border is the frontrunner to crack the first-team lineup at left guard.

Defensively, only two starters return for T.O.—Bollar at cornerback and Malone at inside linebacker. Miller, who also plays defensive end, must anchor a front four that’ll rotate players in and out all game long.

Inside linebacker Travis Key has impressed during team drills, while Stephen Adlman and Cameron Schneider are a pair of solid outside linebackers. Nick Dempster gets the call at cornerback opposite Bollar.

Zach Hoffmann has the talent to become one of the county’s top place kickers. He has tremendous power and range.

In a nutshell: TOHS will pile up points. That’s a given. If the Lancers can find a winning formula on defense, they’ll be legitimate contenders.

Westlake Warriors

Last season’s results: (Tied for 3rd in Marmonte, 7-5 overall) Without a doubt, Westlake’s stunning firstround playoff victory at then unbeaten Oxnard was the highlight of the team’s 2008 campaign. The magic of that win may have only been surpassed by the intense local drama, elation and frustration surrounding the Warriors’ 23-22 regular-season loss at Agoura—forever known as the Gooseneck Crossbar Game thanks to a controversial no-good call by the officials on Westlake’s game-winning field goal attempt.

Notable returnees: Nick Isham, jr., QB/S; Tavior Mowry, jr., RB; Michael Lorenzo, sr., OT; Nelson Spruce, jr., WR/FS; Brad Cotner, sr., C; Brenden Root-Burks, sr., OG; Adrian Muguerza, sr., ILB, Michael Tack, sr., OLB/HB Impact newcomer: Alex Ball, soph., PK Who they play: Westlake’s non-league slate features a home game versus Paso Robles (Sept. 4) and a pair of road contests against Saugus (Sept. 17) and Hart (Sept. 25), both of which will be played at College of the Canyons. Circle Oct. 2 as a mustsee clash pitting Thousand Oaks at WHS. The Warriors close the regular season at home against Moorpark (Nov. 13).

Overview: Like many teams in the Marmonte, Westlake needs its defense to step up this season because the offense, on paper, is dynamite.

Isham, the junior signal-caller, was Sophomore Superman in the playoff win at Oxnard, totaling 432 yards of offense and scoring two TDs. There’s no reason to believe he can’t build off that big-game success. Junior Michael Bercovici is another talented quarterback who’s earned playing time. Head coach Jim Benkert said he has the utmost confidence in both players.

Mowry will handle the load at running back. His skills are eye-opening. Several others will tote the rock for WHS, but 6foot, 210pound senior Dallas Clayton is the guy to keep an eye on. Clayton, who also starts at defensive end, plays like a man. Spruce is a star wideout and safety. Max Klinedinst has converted from quarterback to wide receiver and should start.

On the offensive front, Lorenzo, the left tackle, is nursing a lower leg injury but expects to return soon. Junior Zach Miller is filling in for now. The rest of the Warriors’ tough line features Taylor McMorrow at left guard, Cotner at center, Root-Burks at right guard and David Grubaugh playing right tackle.

Look for a pair of big-bodied sophomores—6-foot-3, 270-pound Justin Solis and 6-foot-4, 220-pound Johnny Stuart—to play prominent roles along the defensive line, as will junior Waz Dupris. Shane Giraldo, Max Winsberg, Tack and Muguerza are all playmaking linebackers.

Westlake is extremely young in the secondary with freshmen Justin Moore and Dylan Ray expected to start alongside junior Casey Bliss.

In a nutshell: Benkert has won more high school football games than any coach in Ventura County history. He seems to like this group a lot, and that’s good enough for us. A postseason berth is anticipated.