Jim Bittner knows the challenge ahead of the 52nd Black and Blue rivalry game between Rio Mesa and Camarillo.
“If we can contain the quarterback,” the Rio Mesa High head coach said. “That’s key. He’s really good.”
Camarillo is 2-2 — and so close to 4-0 — in part because of the effectiveness of quarterback Brad Barlow, who has thrown for 1,098 yards and seven TDs and run for 222 yards and three scores.
“He’s makes things difficult because he can really run,” Bittner said. “His eyes are downfield. He sees the field very well. He elongates plays, which is tough to deal with.”
The Black and Blue rivalry has seen this type of quarterback before. Bittner’s son, JJ, dominated it from 2021 to 2024, leading Rio Mesa to four wins.
“Very similar, I would say,”
the elder Bittner said. “I think he plays very similar to how JJ played.”
Three of the biggest rivalries in Ventura County arrive Week 4, as Ventura travels to Buena, Camarillo visits Rio Mesa and Channel Islands hosts Hueneme on Friday, Sept. 18.
The last full nonleague slate of the season also delivers big challenges for some of the best teams in the area.
Westlake hosts Tustin in a showdown of two of the state’s top 35 teams, according to CalHiSports.com.
“This will be a really good test for us to figure out where we fall,” Westlake head coach Rick Clausen said. “If our skill guys think they’re good, this it the test for them. You want competition? This is competition. Let’s see where we stack up.”
St. Bonaventure's trip to Chaminade features two of the top 36 teams in the section.
Simi Valley at Palmdale and Muir at Newbury Park, Oaks Christian at Serra, Oak Park at Crespi, and Grace at Western Christian will also deliver playoff-style tests as teams conclude nonleague schedules.
On to the Week 4 picks. Let’s see how much Joe Knows.
Friday
Ventura 35, Buena 17: The Cougars have won 19 of the past 22 meetings of the San Buenaventura rivalry.
Camarillo 28, Rio Mesa 14: The Scorpions snapped the Spartans’ four-year winning streak in the Black and Blue rivalry last year with a 22-14 win.
Hueneme 21, Channel Islands 7: The Vikings have won the last three games in the south Oxnard rivalry, including last year’s 25-0 win.
Royal 21, Del Sol 20: The Highlanders won last year’s meeting, 37-0.
Chaminade 28, St. Bonaventure 27: St. Bonaventure junior Caleb Pasina and Chaminade senior Jackson Hill, a 6-foot-5 Notre Dame commit, are two of the top tackles in Southern California.
Simi Valley 31, Palmdale 27: Elleyon Clark and D'Onnie Moore have combined to run for 698 yards and 10 TDs for Palmdale.
Newbury Park 28, Muir 26: These two teams are side by side in the Southern Section ratings at No. 60 and No. 61.
Serra 35, Oaks Christian 21: Stanford commit AJ McBean has run for 465 yards and eight TDs in four games for the Gardena school.
Tustin 24, Westlake 21: BYU-bound defensive tackle Jeremiah Williams is a big problem for Westlake.
Moorpark 35, Elk Grove 24: Elk Grove has allowed 34 or more points in each of its three games, all losses.
Lancaster 35, Thousand Oaks 21: Lancaster had a bye week after routing Bishop Diego on Sept. 3.
Agoura 38, Heritage Christian 17: James Thompson, the former St. Bonaventure and Simi Valley quarterback, has thrown for 368 yards, seven TDs and an interception for Heritage Christian.
Crespi 27, Oak Park 20: Chase Curren has already thrown for 1,157 yards and 13 TDs for Crespi.
Fillmore 42, Carpinteria 17: The Flashes have won five straight in the series, which dates back to 1928.
Santa Paula 28, Little Rock 0: Little Rock has yet to score a touchdown through four games.
Nordhoff 42, Beverly Hills 6: Winless Beverly Hills has thrown one touchdown pass this season.
Santa Clara 21, Duarte 13: Duarte won this matchup 28-6 last year.
Western Christian 30, Grace 28: The Upland school has only allowed 21 points in four games and has yet to allow a point in the first half.
Last week: 13-5 (.722).
This season: 60-16 (.790).
Joe Curley — aka Jostradamus — writes The Star’s high school football picks column. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. Follow him at @vcsjoecurley on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Jostradamus delivers West County rivalry picks in Week 4
