ROYAL CAN'T STOP CZERNEK : N.P. 30, ROYAL 15.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Daily News Staff Writer

Coach George Hurley might want to remember whatever he told his Newbury Park Panthers at halftime Friday night.

It worked big time in the second half against a tenacious Royal team that had its way much of the first two periods against the defending Marmonte League champion - only to lose 30-15 in a league opener at Newbury Park.

``We came out a little flat tonight,'' said Panthers quarterback Nick Czernek, ``but we really fired up in the locker room at halftime.''

No doubt about that.

After spotting the Highlanders (1-3) a 7-0 first-quarter lead and struggling much of the first two periods, the No. 4-ranked Panthers scored on their first three second-half possessions to turn a tenuous 13-7 lead into a 30-7 advantage two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Czernek, again, led the way. The Panthers' 4,000-yard career passer shook off misses on his first eight attempts to complete 14 of his next 21 - three for touchdowns - and finish with 234 yards to put him near the 1,200-yard mark for the season.

The 6-foot-2 senior credited the Royal defensive pressure for his early woes, which included an interception on his fifth attempt of the night.

``I was getting hit on every play,'' Czernek said.

Royal rode its strong early defense and the power running of 205-pound returning all-leaguer Steven Sheehan (a game-high 158 yards rushing) to the quick touchdown lead and good field position much of the first half.

But the Highlanders also missed on some opportunities in the first two periods, leaving head coach Gene Uebelhardt to wonder what might have been.

``We had a chance to score twice more,'' he said. ``You never know, 21 points might have been good for a tie with these guys.''

In any event, Uebelhardt knew his Highlanders couldn't squander scoring chances against the Panthers, of all teams in the league.

``They score too many points for that,'' he said.

Czernek and Co. did just that once they got unstuck from their early problems - thanks to a fumble recovery by Elliot Elkins and a defensive stand that yielded the Highlanders no points after Jesse Morris' interception gave Royal a first down at the Panthers 13.

From that point, Newbury Park scored on five straight possessions, starting with a 5-yard touchdown run by Ryan Sshipton midway through the second period.

Czernek passed 20 yards to Cause Hanna for the go-ahead TD 57 seconds before halftime, then the Panthers charged out in the second half with scoring drives of 65, 27 and 67 yards - and had two scores canceled by penalty before the gun.