MOORPARK HAS MORE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS HAVE TALENT BACK AT KEY SPOTS.

Byline: SEAN CEGLINSKY Staff Writer

So much for the sophomore slump.

There was no jinx with Moorpark High's football team a season ago, when a pair of 10th-graders, Darrell Scott and Adam Barry, were instrumental in guiding the Musketeers to their first Marmonte League title and an appearance in the Southern Section Div. IV finals.

What can they do for an encore?

``We know it's going to be a dogfight,'' Moorpark coach Tim Lins said. ``We're going to find out how hungry these guys are pretty soon.''

Moorpark is an overwhelming favorite to repeat this year, but the fight for the other three playoff spots ought to be fierce. Thousand Oaks and Royal of Simi Valley are prime contenders for second place, and Newbury Park, Agoura and Westlake of Thousand Oaks also will challenge.

``Moorpark is the class of the league,'' Westlake coach Jim Benkert said. ``They're the team to beat.''

Scott figures to be decisive for Moorpark. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound running back rushed for 1,988 yards and 19 touchdowns in 13 games last year, despite nursing an ankle injury and sharing the backfield at times with Dan Moran.

``Last year was crazy -- it really was,'' said Scott, the Musketeers' featured back this season, who is being recruited by several Division I programs, some in the Pac-10 and Big Ten conferences.

``He generates quite a bit of interest and has his choice of where he wants to play college ball already,'' Lins said. ``He's got a combination of speed, strength, power and timing. He can run over you, around you and by you. He's special.''

Barry is a consummate leader, a heady quarterback who spreads the ball around, keeping everyone involved. He'll benefit from the return of receivers Josh Smith and Nick Karam and Stanford-bound George Halamandaris (6-7, 315), who anchors the offensive line.

``Last year, we weren't expected to do much. There wasn't any pressure,'' Barry said. ``Teams are going to be looking forward to playing us this season, though. We're going to have to step up and be leaders.''

The Musketeers will be tested often this season. They play four of their first five games away from home, including the first two in league, at Royal and Thousand Oaks.

T.O. will rely on quarterback Ryan Cloney. The 6-2, 175-pound senior essentially took over two years ago for Ben Olson, UCLA's No. 1 quarterback this fall, and has totaled 5,478 yards and 42 touchdowns while completing 67 percent of his passes. San Diego State and BYU are recruiting Cloney.

``He's taken his game to the next level,'' Thousand Oaks coach Mike Sanders said.

Taylor Malm, also entering his third year as a starter, will be Cloney's primary target after averaging 117 all-purpose yards per game as a junior receiver, running back and return specialist.

Royal lost Oregon-bound Tonio Celotto, one of the area's top defensive linemen, who has moved to Oakland. He had 14 sacks and 75 tackles as a junior.

The Highlanders have depth and return middle linebackers Jarred Debo and Cameron Flye, who led the team with 98 tackles each last season. Free safety Thomas McCormick and five other defensive starters also return.

``Losing Celotto is tough, but it`s not as damaging as losing, say, a starting quarterback,'' Royal coach Gene Uebelhardt said. ``With Debo and Flye, we're going to be just fine. They're the focal point. Those two run the show for us.''

Westlake finished 3-7 a season ago after a 5-5 campaign in 2004, but it is looking to turn things around behind Ryan Campbell, a 6-1, 195-pound quarterback targeted by several Pac-10 teams.

The Warriors will employ a running back-by-committee approach with seniors Byron Sells and Michael Streck-Woodard. Tight end Evan Christiansen (6-2, 255) is an accurate route runner and can keep opposing defenses honest if they key on the run.

Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Agoura and Calabasas spent the summer rebuilding after losing top skill-position players.

Newbury Park last season featured the league's most potent offense behind Jordan LaSecla, who threw for a Southern Section-best 4,070 yards, and fellow seniors Josh Baker and Jordan Cameron, who had more than 1,000 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns apiece.

Colby Cameron, Jordan's brother, takes over at quarterback. He's 6-2, 180 pounds and a promising prospect, but he'll be working behind an offensive line with just one returning starter, Tim Ketaily.

``Colby played well over the summer, but once the regular season starts, he's going to see that this game is played at a different speed,'' Panthers coach George Hurley said. ``There's going to be some mean people chasing after him at full speed. Our offensive line is going to have to keep the big uglies away from him.''

Simi Valley lost offensive standouts Bryan Randolph, Devin Kelley, Lorne Bell, T.J. Washington and Collin Franklin, forcing coach Todd Borowski and his staff to essentially start from scratch.

Langston Jackson, a 6-1, 210-pound junior who started last season at fullback, showed promise during summer passing leagues and will be the focal point offensively.

``We're not hoping Langston can come in and contribute -- we know he can and expect him to,'' Borowski said. ``He's going to be our horse. He's a legitimate prospect.''

Agoura has employed a pass-oriented offense, but coach Charlie Wegher plans to go with a run-first approach this season. He's got a big offensive line -- Kevin Graff (6-5, 295), Scott Beth (6-5, 270), Austin Champlain (6-5, 270), Brady Smith (6-2, 274), Jake Rivkin (6-2, 235), Robert McIntosh (6-1, 220) and Justin Keglevic (5-11, 230) -- to create holes for running back Eric Wells (6-1, 210).

``We're ready to get started and see what this new ground game can do,'' Wegher said.

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CAPTION(S):

photo, 4 boxes

Photo:

Adam Berry, left, and Darrell Scott, both juniors, make Moorpark the league favorites.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) 5 GAMES TO WATCH

(2) TOP 5 PLAYERS

(3) EXTREMES

(4) PREDICTED FINISH

- Sean Ceglinsky