PREP FOOTBALL: POSTSEASON TO START EARLY FOR AGOURA.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

The Agoura High football team is in a good position to earn a playoff berth after two consecutive winless Marmonte League seasons. However, the Chargers look at their season finale against Westlake on Thursday as a postseason-caliber matchup.

``The way I look at it, Westlake's as big a game as the (Southern Section) championship,'' Chargers senior running back Brad Altman said. ``We're going to go all out. Every kid on this team is dying to have the best game against them.''

The No. 1 Warriors (8-1, 5-0) and Chargers (6-3, 3-2) are natural rivals. The campuses are separated by a short stretch of Thousand Oaks Boulevard. But the success of the programs are miles apart in recent years.

Westlake won last year's meeting 50-6 during its Southern Section championship run and the Warriors are heavy favorites again. But Agoura's seniors lost to Westlake's seniors just 31-28 in a JV game two years ago.

``We've always had a rivalry with all the guys over there. We all know them,'' Agoura senior quarterback Chris Denove said. ``They've always been the better of the two. And after last year's game, we need to come back.''

--Recruiting update: The two-way play of Westlake senior cornerback/wide receiver Ryan Foltz hasn't gone unnoticed. Several schools have offered scholarships, with California and Arizona State at the top of Foltz's list.

``I'm definitely thinking. I still have a lot of decisions that need to be made,'' Foltz said. ``I just have to find the place that's right for me.''

--No triple play: Moorpark's 21-21 tie against Royal might have cost the Highlanders second place and a first-round home game in the playoffs.

At the same time, Moorpark - which qualified for the playoffs its first two Marmonte League seasons - had its postseason hopes end when Musketeers quarterback Aaron Garcia's pass was intercepted in the end zone in the final minute.