PANTHERS BACK ON THE PROWL NEWBURY PARK IS LEAGUE CONTENDER.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

Staff Writer

NEWBURY PARK - It's taken a while, but one of the most feared high school football programs of the 1990s might finally be back.

Newbury Park, which raced through that decade with an entertaining, high-flying passing attack but recently fell on tough times, takes an undefeated record into tonight's 7 p.m. Marmonte League games against visiting Westlake.

From 1993 to 1999, Newbury Park went 68-18 (.791) and advanced to the section quarterfinals or further four times in seven seasons. Over the next seven seasons through last year, Newbury Park went 30-42 (.417) and advanced past the first round of the playoffs just once.

Behind returning standout quarterback Colby Cameron, running back Chris Brown and a hard-hitting defense, the Panthers look like they are finally back.

A win tonight against Westlake (2-2, 1-0) solidifies their resurgence.

"We're trying to improve, and we're having a good season," Cameron said. "We're back on track."

Cameron, coming off a 2,400-yard junior season, has passed for 801yards and eight touchdowns.

Brown, a junior, has rushed for 458 yards -- an average of more than 100 per game -- with 13 receptions and six touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Newbury Park has allowed just 15.5 points per game, led by defensive standouts Chance Flaaten, Brandon Born, Phillip Muscarella, Robbie Hammond, Ron Tatham and David Gru -- all of whom are averaging 5.5 tackles or more.

Longtime coach George Hurley, in his 18th season, can sense a difference.

"Are we all the way back? I'm not so sure yet, but we're 4-0, the JV is 3-1, and frosh team is 3-0-1, so I think the drought seems to be coming to an end," Hurley said. "I don't know if we're really a dominant team but we're playing very well and have some depth."

Hurley expects Cameron to continue to blossom, and if the quarterback can rise to the occasion, then Newbury Park could have the inside track to a league title -- and beyond.

"Colby is still trying to find his place where he was last season, still learning to read defenses and working on his mechanics," Hurley said.

In recent seasons, Newbury Park has scored a lot of points but given up a lot, too. They've also been better passing the football than rushing.

This year, there's balance.

"Last game, we ran 11 times in a row during one drive," Hurley said. "There have been times through the years when we didn't run 11 times in a whole game."

Brown, a shifty back with a knack for breaking tackles, has restored faith in Newbury Park's running game.

"Things are going pretty good. We're 4-0, and that's a good start," Brown said. "This game against Westlake is a pivotal game because the winner could be the Marmonte League champion. So it's going to be very competitive."

Brown was relegated to the JV last season because of transfer restrictions after arriving from Trubuco Hills of Mission Viejo.

"I'm at a school with a great quarterback -- I think Colby is the best quarterback in the league -- and a good offensive line and a good defense, so I guess I got lucky," Brown said.

Cameron comes from an athletic family. His brother, Jordan, has committed to play football at USC after playing at BYU. His sister, Brynn, plays basketball at USC.

Cameron is the latest in a line of top Newbury Park quarterbacks that have included Keith Smith, Wayne Cook and Chris and Nick Czernek.

Those are some of the names that remind Newbury Park of its impressive past. This team is hoping to make some history of its own.

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Q&A WITH HART RUNNING BACK DELANO HOWELL

Delano Howell might be the area's most complete football player -- a top running back, defensive back and kick returner who must be accounted for at all times if opponents expect to keep up with Hart, which is averaging 40.2 points per game.

After scoring 37 touchdowns as a junior last season, Howell is off to a flying start for the Indians, 4-0 heading into tonight's 7:30 showdown vs. Loyola (2-2) at College of the Canyons. The Stanford commit has rushed for 658 yards (10.1 avg.), caught six passes for 104 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.

Howell hasn't played much defense this year because Hart is winning by an average of 27.5points, but he's a national recruit as a cornerback.

He is the third Howell brother to excel at Hart. Dan is a senior linebacker at Washington, and Keith played defensive back at Harvard.

DAILY NEWS: You ran for 267 yards and three TDs last week but played just past the first quarter. Did you at least break a sweat?

HOWELL: (Laughs) Oh, yeah, I broke a sweat. I believe we all broke a sweat that night, or at least a lot of us.

DN: Yeah, it was 50-0 at halftime (50-10 final), so every player got into the game. That must be nice, right?

DH: Yeah, it's good for our team morale. It helps a lot because all the guys work so hard in practice -- that's a lot of work, so they deserve to play. And it makes the starters feel proud because it gives them that opportunity.

DN: So far, so good. You're 4-0 heading into your game against Loyola (tonight).

DH: Yes, everything is going pretty well so far. We're getting prepared for league. It's been a successful preseason. Loyola is a really good team, and I think they'll come out and play hard. We're preparing for a good game.

DN: How are your brothers doing, Dan and Keith?

DH: Dan is doing his thing at linebacker for Washington, and he's focusing on this last season until he graduates.

DN: You think he might play in the NFL?

DH: I'm not sure, it's a possibly. You'd have ask him that, I guess. And Keith, he's working in Boston.

DN: We know your father died last season. How are doing personally, you and your mom?

DH: I'm doing just fine, and Mom is just fine. She enjoys coming to the games on Friday nights, and there's also a lot of family and uncles, everyone. My uncle Joe (Forte), he's always going to the games, and sometimes he'll give me little tips here and there. I appreciate that a lot.

DN: You had that bloody injury this summer when you banged heads (with teammate Spenser Souza). Your coach, Mike Herrington, dropped everything and followed you from La Verne all the way to the hospital. How much did that mean to you?

DH: That meant a lot. He's always there for me, and he wanted to make sure I was OK at the hospital. He and my mom, they stayed late, too. Not sure how late, 12 or 1 a.m., all I remember is it was past my bed time. That's for sure.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 8 boxes

Photo:

(1) Newbury Park High quarterback Colby Cameron and running back Chris Brown have helped the Panthers start off 4-0. They play Marmonte League rival Westlake tonight.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

(2) no caption (Delano Howell)

(3) OSCAR CHOTO

(4) CRAIG NOBLE

Box:

(1) PLAY OF THE WEEK

(2) Q&A (see text)

(3) TOP 20 TEAMS

(4) SOUTHERN SECTION RANKINGS

(5) THE BIG MATCHUP

(6) LEAGUE UPDATES

(7) JOIN THE DAILY NEWS TEAM

(8) PEERLESS PROGNOSTICATION