POSTSEASON CHASE GETS AN EXTRA BOOST ADDITIONAL PLAYOFF SPOT IS CRUCIAL AS TEAMS BATTLE IN ULTRA-COMPETITIVE LEAGUE RACE.Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News Before any of the eight Marmonte League The Marmonte League is a high school sports league primarily made up of schools from Ventura County. The Marmonte Leauge is part of the CIF Southern Section. Click here to view the league schedule. football teams held a single practice, they earned their biggest victory. Coaches were informed last month that a petition submitted by Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic Matt La Belle La Belle may be a place in the US:
n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. berths in the Southern Section Div. IV playoffs was approved by the section's executive committee. The decision couldn't have come at a better time, considering that this year the Marmonte League is the most balanced in the area, with seven teams possessing a legitimate chance to qualify for the postseason. ``It should have been like this forever,'' said Royal of Simi Valley coach Gene Uebelhardt, whose team won the league title last season and advanced to the quarterfinals. ``(With only three guaranteed spots) we were killing ourselves. Last year, Westlake and Newbury Park didn't go and they were both good football teams.'' In addition to Royal, Agoura and Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. earned automatic berths in Div. IV last season, and Moorpark was awarded an at-large entry. The Musketeers lost 29-14 to eventual champion St. Bonaventure of Ventura in the first round. Agoura reached the semifinals, continuing the league's trend of successful showings in the postseason. In 2003, Westlake won the championship, with Agoura and Moorpark both reaching the semifinals. ``It's not the bush league, it's the Marmonte League,'' Uebelhardt said. ``When you win the Marmonte League, it means something. If you don't show up in this league, you will lose.'' With the loss of Div. IV Offensive Player of the Year Daniel Mosier, who rushed for 2,225 yards and 27 touchdowns, Royal isn't the favorite to repeat as champion. But with 6-foot-6 quarterback Kevin Harrington Kevin Harrington (born 4 September 1959 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian actor who is perhaps best known for his role as David Bishop on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. and a veteran offensive line, the Highlanders should be in the title picture come November. Thousand Oaks and Westlake possess the best combination of talent and experience, but Agoura, Royal, Moorpark and Newbury Park aren't far behind. Simi Valley, with senior running back Devin Kelley and receiver/linebacker Lorne Bell, could also find its way into the mix after a seventh-place finish last season. Westlake's bid to win league will largely depend on the performance of senior tailback tail·back n. Football The back on an offensive team who lines up farthest from the line of scrimmage. tailback Noun Brit a queue of traffic stretching back from an obstruction Jeff Rapoport, who rushed for 1,586 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. But Warriors coach Jim Benkert knows his team can't afford to be one-dimensional, especially after facing several eight- and nine-man fronts last season. ``Last year's team was a classic example of trying to put the load on one player's shoulders, and no matter how big those shoulders are, to come through week after week is tough,'' said Benkert, who returns junior quarterback Ryan Carpenter, who was sidelined most of last season with a knee injury. ``Rapoport is a difference-maker, but we've got to have other guys step up and play. We've got to find other options and other weapons besides him.'' One of those options, senior tight end/defensive end Jeff Miller
Jefferson B. "Jeff" Miller (born June 27, 1959), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing , is sidelined with a broken bone in his foot that has him out at least three weeks. Westlake, which also features receivers Marlon Bills and Erik Schneider, cannot afford to lose Rapoport if it wants to challenge for the title. ``Westlake has the best player, and if you have a great running back, he can do a lot. We showed that last year,'' Uebelhardt said. ``If Westlake loses Rapoport, they're an entirely different team. If we lost Mosier last year, we don't win the league.'' Although Westlake's offensive rhythm might take time to develop, even without Miller on defense, the Warriors are still one of the league's best. ``Our defensive front is a big-time strong point of our football team. We're good on the edges and we've got experience in the middle,'' said Benkert, whose team defeated Royal and Agoura last season, but lost to Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Newbury Park, all in the final minute. ``We were the cardiac kids last year, but all those guys are back and it's a formidable group.'' After years of being overshadowed by Westlake, this might finally be the year Thousand Oaks breaks through. With senior Matt D'Ascenzo (150 tackles last year) - regarded as the area's top linebacker- anchoring the defense, and junior quarterback Jordan Cloney (2,964 yards, 19 touchdowns) and senior receiver Matt Luft (73 receptions, 1,133 yards) forming one of the best pitch-and-catch tandems in the state, the Lancers lanc·er n. 1. A cavalryman armed with a lance. 2. A member of a regiment originally armed with lances. 3. lancers (used with a sing. verb) a. A kind of quadrille. b. should improve on last year's third-place finish Noun 1. third-place finish - a finish in third place (as in a race) finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the winner is the team with the . Although Cloney returns for coach Mike Sanders For the former National Basketball Association (NBA) player, see Mike Sanders (basketball). Michael Edwin Neil Sanders[1] (born July 20, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American professional wrestler and stand-up comedian, formerly working with WWA, TNA , Agoura coach Charlie Wegher had to fill a big vacancy with the graduation of Cory Smits, one of only four quarterbacks in the area to throw for more than 3,000 yards last season. Dominick Huerta, who threw 35 touchdown passes at the junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. level, will be the starter for Agoura. His primary target will be J.T. Wright, a receiver/kicker who has verbally committed to Wisconsin. Wright, who caught 66 passes for 1,074 yards last season, is one of the area's best all-around athletes, along with Chargers cornerback cor·ner·back also corner back n. Football Either of two defensive halfbacks stationed a short distance behind the linebackers and relatively near the sidelines. Noun 1. Todd Dilando. Newbury Park, featuring quarterback Jordan LaSecla and 6-foot-5 receiver Jordan Cameron, should be one of the league's most improved teams. Moorpark will rely on promising sophomore tailback Darrell Scott For Darrell Scott, the "Rachel's Challenge" founder of this name, see . Darrell Scott is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has written several mainstream country hits, and also has established himself as one of Nashville's premier session to return to the playoffs. Erik Boal, (818) 713-3607 erik.boal(at)dailynews.com TOP 5 RETURNING PLAYERS Tony D'Ascenzo, LB, Thousand Oaks One of only five players in region last season to record at least 150 tackles. Matt Luft, WR, Thousand Oaks His 73 receptions are most among returning players in the area. Jeff Miller, DE, Westlake 6-6, 250-pound prospect has offers from more than 10 schools, including UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX Jeff Rapoport, RB, Westlake Two-sport standout led league in rushing (1,506 yards) and scoring (132 points) in '04 J.T. Wright, WR/K, Agoura One of area's best all-around athletes has verbally committed to Wisconsin EXTREMES Biggest: Shawn Johnson Shawn Johnson (born January 19, 1992 in Des Moines, Iowa) is an American gymnast. She is the 2007 World All-Around Champion, as well as the 2007 U.S. National All-Around Champion. , OL, Thousand Oaks Strongest: Tony D'Ascenzo, LB, Thousand Oaks Best arm: Ryan Cloney, QB, Thousand Oaks Fastest: Devin Kelley, RB, Simi Valley Most exciting: Jeff Rapoport, RB, Westlake Smartest: Matt Luft, WR Thousand Oaks D-I bound: Jeff Miller, DE, Westlake KEY GAMES Westlake at Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame , Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. Warriors get early test against region's top-ranked team. Agoura at Rio Mesa, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. Split two meetings last season, with Agoura winning in Div. IV quarterfinals. Thousand Oaks at Moorpark, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. Musketeers are one of league's most improved teams; league opener will tell how much. Thousand Oaks at Westlake, Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Plenty of Division I college prospects on the field in this one. Agoura at Westlake, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Teams will be hard-pressed to top last year's thrilling finish. FYI "For your information." See digispeak. FYI - For Your Information : After going 14-0 and winning the Div. IV title in 2003, Westlake finished in a three-way tie for third in league and missed the playoffs last year. COACHES Agoura: Charlie Wegher, 11th season Calabasas: Scott Quigley, first season Moorpark: Tim Lins, seventh season Newbury Park: George Hurley George Hurley (born September 4 1958 in Brockton, Massachusetts) is a drummer noted for his work with The Minutemen and fIREHOSE. Hurley's powerful style brought a sense of musicianship to the genre, paving the way for new possibilities in underground music. , 17th season Royal: Gene Uebelhardt, 18th season Simi Valley: Todd Borowski, first season Thousand Oaks: Mike Sanders, sixth season Westlake: Jim Benkert, 16th season KEY NUMBER: 1 Div. IV semifinalist from the league last season (Agoura). Westlake, Moorpark and Agoura all reached the semifinals in 2003. CAPTION(S): photo, 6 boxes Photo: Thousand Oaks High senior Matt Luft (73 receptions, 1,133 yards in 2004) is expected to be one of the top receivers in the Marmonte League this season. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer Box: (1) TOP 5 RETURNING PLAYERS (see text) (2) EXTREMES (see text) (3) KEY GAMES (see text) (4) COACHES (see text) (5) KEY NUMBER: 2,768 (see text) (6) MAKING THE GRADE |
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