IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers TOO TALL—Royal High volleyball players Rebecca Jones, center, and Kasey King jump to block a shot from Palos Verdes’ Elizabeth Mu during a CIF-Southern Section Division 1AA firstround playoff match Tuesday night. RHS won in four games to advance to the second round. The Simi Valley-Royal football matchup is more than a game, it’s an experience.

This year’s edition of the Simi Valley-Royal rivalry will have a different feel, however.

Tonight’s 7 p.m. game will be played at Simi Valley’s home stadium for the second time since 1988, according to Royal head coach Kevin Flye.

Only once since then was the game held at Simi, and that was because of an accident.

About 10,000 fans were amped up for the 1995 game at Moorpark College when a power outage just before kickoff postponed the game.

The Pioneers and Highlanders played before a smaller and much more subdued crowd at SVHS that Saturday morning.

“An accident knocked out the lights,” Flye said. “We had to stop (the game) and get everyone out of the stadium in the dark. . . . It was anticlimactic.”

With no playoffs at stake tonight, both teams are hoping the game is a barnburner.

“It’s the biggest night of the season,” said Simi Valley head coach Lance Martin, a former Royal assistant.

The Highlanders (3-6 overall, 2-4 in the Marmonte League) had a chance to sit in the driver’s seat for the playoffs last weekend, but they lost at home to Thousand Oaks, 35-14.

Junior running back Kyle Gauthier, listed at 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, had 82 rushing yards including a 20-yard touchdown run against the Lancers.

Mason Huether caught an eight-yard scoring strike from quarterback Zach Collins to tie the game 14-14 at halftime.

“We were hoping to be a playoff team,” Flye said. “The kids were a little disappointed with that. We have such a good group of kids; I don’t think they’ll feel sorry for themselves. I assume they’ll show up ready to play.”

Simi Valley has experienced growing pains in Martin’s first season at the helm.

The Pioneers (1-8, 1-5) earned a comeback win at Calabasas, 2814 on Oct. 30. Martin coached the Coyotes for the two seasons prior to joining Simi.

“We’ve had a number of guys getting better over the course of the season,” Martin said.

The coach has been impressed with Adam Schechter, a two-way starter at wide receiver and safety.

“You can’t get him tired,” Martin said of the senior. “He’s all over the field playing at full speed. He’s like the Energizer Bunny: He takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”

Simi Valley’s offensive line of right guard Nick Clausen, left tackle Tanner Geiger, left guard Damian Corral, center Sam Sifuentes and right tackle Robbie Gall has been solid the past five weeks, the coach said.

Martin also likes the progress made by 5-foot-7 quarterback Jake Maranto, nicknamed “Flutie” after Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie.

Maranto, the living embodiment of an underdog, was a backup quarterback on the freshman squad last season.

“He’s embraced by everyone,” the coach said. “He’s gutty. He’s taken control of the offense and come into his own. I’m proud of him for stepping into a tough situation.”

Defensive tackle Tyler McAnny, safety Matt Baynard, and linebackers Matt Matualitis and Jens Jeters have also been defensive stalwarts for Simi Valley, Martin said.

The Highlanders have played hard every week “with the exception of the Moorpark game,” Flye said.

“On both sides of the ball, we’ve played well in spots,” the coach said.

Gauthier has stepped up and anchored a running back position that has been riddled with injuries, Flye said.

Highlander offensive linemen Joey Blanc and Marcus Piechowski and defenders Mason McCormick and Huether have improved.

Tyler Decker, a center and three-year starter, has been a rock on the offensive line. Linebacker Alex Flandez, strong safety Shane Toth and right tackle Mike Maurer have also provided veteran leadership.

Perhaps no Highlander has shown as much grit as Ryan Stevens.

The senior wide receiver and defensive back set a school record for catches in one game with 12 against Westlake on Oct. 30.

Stevens accomplished the feat with a cast on his thumb.

“Imagine if he played with two hands,” Flye said.

Stevens has played with a cast for seven of nine games, but he is healthy this week.

“We’re expecting him to play well,” the coach said of Stevens. “He always does.”

Flye hopes Royal can end the year on a positive note.

“We’re looking forward to going over there,” he said. “We have high aspirations here. If all else fails, this is a good way to send these seniors out and get these underclassmen ready to roll.

“We’ll be right back at it in the weight room next week.”