DEFENSIVE ENTHUSIASM SIMI VALLEY OPTIMISTIC WITH BETTER DEFENSE.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Still a newcomer to all the hoopla and part of a clutch goal-line stand that preserved a Week 1 win, Simi Valley High linebacker Jeramey Smith headed for defensive coordinator Jim Tutino.

``Coach, I love this,'' Smith shouted to Tutino. A few grass stains earlier, Smith, one of three key Pioneers juniors making their varsity debuts, wasn't so sure what he was getting into. Neither were cornerbacks Tony Washington and Rob Fierro.

By night's end, a 21-18 victory over Pacifica of Oxnard, they understood the speed of the game, the intensity and the feeling of winning football games. It's something Simi Valley isn't accustomed to with a 1-19 record over the past two seasons.

``I was really nervous,'' Fierro said. ``(In the locker room), I was pumped and getting excited. But going out on the field, it's just a whole new thing. It's a lot different than JV. Guys are a lot faster and a lot bigger.''

But not necessarily better. Whereas the Pioneers made significant progress last season despite finishing with a 1-9 varsity record, the JV team went 6-4 under the tutelage of Tutino. He gave up head-coaching duties to be varsity defensive coordinator. He took with him several promising juniors, including Fierro, Smith and Washington.

In all, five 11th-graders started on defense for the Pioneers in their opening game. Washington, a two-way player who scored one of the touchdowns, also collected two of the unit's four interceptions.

``Defensively, we've gotten a lot better,'' Washington said. ``This whole program as a whole is much better. Our whole team is starting to believe that we can go out there and compete with people. We think we can do it now.''

Toughness has become the Pioneers' trademark under coach Karl Zierhut. They come to practice with the lunch-pail approach.

``Nobody's scared of anything anymore,'' Fierro said. ``Going into (Pacifica game) films, Coach was telling us, `These guys are fast, these guys are strong.' But it never really got to us. We wanted to keep a mindset that we can beat anybody.''

Certainly, Tutino was impressed with his young unit's ability to force turnovers and make key stops when necessary. Pacifica rallied from 21-0 down when the Pioneers' offense sputtered in the second half.

Junior returning starter Todd Michaels, who along with Smith forms a strong inside linebacker duo, and newcomer defensive end Joel McKeehan also played well.

``We showed a lot of potential last year,'' Tutino said of the JV players promoted to the big club. ``And now as varsity guys, they're showing even better (promise). They're learning at a faster level.''

Simi Valley hadn't won a home game in three years. Smith made a point to look at the home point total on the scoreboard at game's end just in case somebody botched the math.

Next on the agenda is the Pioneers reversing last season's string of close losses in Marmonte League play. The offense, despite not moving the ball like Zierhut expected in the opener, has plenty of senior experience and hunger as intangibles.

The Pioneers made the most strides on the defensive side of scrimmage last season. And despite the youth soon to be tested by offensive juggernauts like Newbury Park, Agoura and Westlake, defense is expected to be a Pioneers strength.

The new cornerbacks are eager to challenge a talented cast of Marmonte League receivers. The linebackers, who also include scrappy senior Mike DellaMonica, are fierce. There is hope for an improved pass rush.

``They've been waiting a long time for this,'' Zierhut said. ``We would hope that we'd always play good defense first. It's always a point of emphasis.''

And now Smith's, Washington's and Fierro's butterflies have taken off. Once there were a few snaps made in that first game, the anxiety disappeared. Now it's just about bringing a winner back to the Simi Valley campus.

``We've got a lot of talent that's young,'' said Smith, who has emerged as one of Simi Valley's emotional sparkplugs. ``We have some size and speed. We just have to build on it and keep our heads on straight.''

Chris Cocoles, [phone]

chris.cocoles(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Linebacker Jeramey Smith made his varsity debut last weekend as the defense held off Pacifica for a victory.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer