Brandon Mariscal’s 20-yard field goal with 2:56 to play, set up by Brad Barlow’s 72-yard strike to Malakai Mejia, and Cruz Howe’s interception at the goal line with 30 seconds to play allowed Camarillo to grab a come-from-behind, 17-16 win at Santa Barbara in a season opener on Friday, Aug. 21.
“I’m so happy,” said Camarillo coach Nate Anderson.
The win was just the Scorpions’ fourth over Santa Barbara all-time in 16 meetings and first since 1998.
Barlow completed 19 of 29 passes for 252 yards and a TD for Camarillo.
“Not a bad day for the kid,” said Anderson. “I’m very pleased with how he took care of the ball.”
The senior quarterback completed passes to seven different receivers, including Jacob Garcia, who had a team-high six catches for 77 yards.
Howe also caught a 22-yard TD pass and David Alvarez ran for a 1-yard TD.
“I love the distribution on offense,” Anderson said. “And we made a couple big plays. It was nice to have some explosive plays. We haven’t had that in a couple years.”
Camarillo (1-0) visits Moorpark this Friday.
Royal 62, Monroe 0
The host Highlanders showed they were unaffected by the drama engulfing their coaching staff by scoring nine touchdowns in a season-opening victory hours after the school fired head coach Adam Brubaker.
“Obviously going into the game we had a bunch of nerves,” said quarterback Preston Murray. “The players played great. We were loose. We had fun. We executed everything.”
Murray threw two TD passes to Josh Garcia, Landon Shaffer had 170 yards from scrimmage and two TDs, Josh Salazar ran for 130 yards and two TDs, and Aiden Moses had a 15-yard TD run for Royal (1-0).
Without Brubaker, offensive coordinator Sean Bridgewater took over play-calling duties.
Assistant coach Cody MacArthur served as acting head coach, although an interim coach has yet to be named.
Royal will visit Carpinteria this Friday.
Santa Clara 31, Firebaugh 14
Issac Villanueva scored three touchdowns in the second half as the Saints won their first 11-man football game since 2017 on the road in Lynwood.
Down 14-12 at the half, Santa Clara grabbed the lead when Villanueva returned the second-half kickoff 82 yards for a TD.
The senior ran for scores of 3 yards and 1 yard in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Rudy Cerna, making his first start at quarterback, had a 3-yard TD scramble and junior Jaxx Martinez cut a jet sweep for a 17-yard TD in the first half.
“We won a game,” Santa Clara head coach David Cortez said. “It’s what the kids needed. It’s what the team needed. It shows that we can compete.”
Villanueva ran for 64 yards on nine carries, Martinez ran for 35 yards on four carries, and Cerna completed 4 of 7 passes for 83 yards.
The win snapped a 20-game losing streak in 11-man football dating back to the 2017 CIF-SS Division 13 quarterfinals. The Saints played 8-man football from 2021 to 2024.
“It’s obviously good to get the monkey off our back and show that we can compete,” Cortez said. “But it’s just one accomplishment of a serious of (goals) that we’re trying to accomplish for the season.”
Santa Clara (1-0) will host Jordan this Friday.
Pacifica 52, Del Sol 6
Taylor Lee completed 5 of 6 passes for 130 yards and four TDs as the host Tritons scored the first 51 points to open the season with a win.
Will Jones caught two passes for 40 yards and a TD; Alijah Royster caught a 34-yard TD pass; Jadiel Santos caught a 29-yard TD pass; Anthony Jacobs caught a 27-yard TD pass; and Jamarcus Harmon ran for 44 yards and a TD on six carries.
Abraham Madrid-Avila returned an interception 35 yards for a TD.
“There’s no way around it,” said Del Sol coach James Nelson. “That’s a great football team we played. “
Junior Melena, playing his first season of football, scored the Jaguars’ lone touchdown by catching a 15-yard TD pass from Jayden Ramirez.
Pacifica coach Mike Moon credited Del Sol for playing the defending Marmonte League champions in its first game with a full roster of four classes.
“They’re getting a lot of respect in the community (for taking the game),” Moon said.
Pacifica hosts Lincoln and Del Sol hosts San Marcos this Friday.
Santa Paula 41, Channel Islands 6
Junior quarterback Rene Vega started his season hot, throwing for 334 yards and four TDs on an efficient 15-for-22 passing.
“Rene Vega was really, really dialed in,” Santa Paula head coach Mike Montoya said. “I was really happy with how he spread the ball around and was able to get everyone involved.”
Vega’s four TD passes went to all four different receivers — Xavier Alcantar (three catches for 118 yards, TD), Isaiah Ramos (three catches for 81 yards, TD), Alvaro Adame (three catches for 78 yards, TD) and Imari Carveth (five catches for 58 yards, TD).
Dominic Alcantar rushed for 46 yards and a TD on four carries and Aiden Ramirez rushed for 27 yards and a TD on four carries. Alcantar and Carveth each had an interception.
Santa Paula visits Grace while Channel Islands plays at Viewpoint this Friday.
St. Bonaventure 28, Paraclete 6
Quarterback Jaxson Carper threw TDs passes to Antonio Spann and Tony Dargan as the Seraphs opened the season with a home win.
Christian Carmona had a 4-yard TD run and freshman Nasir Green had a 1-yard TD run, set by up Ke’Andre Lee’s 69-yard run, to put the game away with 8:13 left in the third quarter.
St. Bonaventure plays at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy this Friday.
Agoura 32, Saugus 22
The Chargers hit an early trick play and never looked back.
Jonny Thevenot threw a 65-yard TD on a reverse pass to receiver Anderson Mercer on the second play.
Mercer, a junior broke out for the Chargers, starting at safety and receiver for the injured Gavin Pulisic. He also caught a 25-yard TD pass late to seal the victory and finished with eight catches for 157 yards and two TDs.
“A kid like that stepping up for us is awesome,” Agoura head coach Dustin Croick said. “As coaches, we have believed in him, but now, seeing that confidence ... that was awesome for him.”
Running backs George Hastings (21 carries, 101 yards, TD) and Radeen Vahidi (nine carries, 108 yards, TD) anchored the ground game. Hastings also scored on a 93-yard kickoff return in the second quarter.
Quarterback Kris Carranza, a transfer from Sierra Canyon, completed 12 for 25 passes for 206 yards, two TDs and one interception.
Colton Powell led the defense with 2.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Cole Ziegler led the team in tackles with nine, had an interception and a tackle for a loss, and Will Gelt added 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for a loss.
Saugus was 5-0 against local programs last season.
“It’s nice to represent the county and knock them off like that,” Croick said.
Agoura plays at Westlake this Friday.
Oak Park 63, Angelou Community 12
The Eagles’ point total in their home victory tied a 36-year-old school record for scoring in a game, dating back to a 1990 shutout of Leffingwell Christian.
“It was a good first night for us,” Oak Park head coach Casey Webb said.
Senior running back Nevada Ford returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a score and did it again later in the game from 80 yards out. He finished with three scores, including a rushing TD.
Trent Allread and Teddy Chidiac recovered a pair of the four DMAC fumbles for scores and Christian Blake had an interception.
Luke Zapko had a rushing TD and caught an eight-yard TD pass, Lyndon Lovett caught a 35-yard TD pass, and Sam Kaminsky had a rushing TD for the Eagles. Quarterback Taisei Reynolds completed all four of his passing attempts for 83 yards and two TDs.
Oak Park kicker Liam Virtue was nine for nine on extra-point attempts, had a coffin-corner kick and six touchbacks in the victory.
“I think that is going to be huge for us,” Webb said. “He might be one of the better special teams players in the county.”
Oak Park plays at Fillmore this Friday.
Calabasas 27, Alemany 26
A miracle catch earned the Coyotes a come-from-behind victory at home.
After a Kingston Celifie rushing TD put Calabasas up early, the Coyotes battled back from a three-score deficit in the second quarter. Calabasas took a 21-20 lead in the third quarter, scoring a pair of TDs to take the lead, but fell behind 26-21 late.
The deciding play was a Hail Mary pass to the end zone, initially bobbled by a teammate, that was scooped up by junior receiver Jayden Campos for the go-ahead score.
Calabasas will play at Rio Mesa this Friday.
Grace 54, Arrowhead Christian 0
Seven starters played their first varsity football game in the shutout victory for the Lacners.
“(Friday) night was a learning game,” Grace head coach Tom Coate said. “We did a lot of learning.”
But it was the Lancers’ returners that powered them to the lopsided win.
Running back Owen O’Neal had nine carries for 60 yards and a TD as well as three catches for 34 yards and a TD while receiver Charlie Martinez carried the ball for a 54-yard score and had four catches for 70 yards and a score.
“Our run game was really what carried the day,” Coate said. “Our offensive line is our strength — they are all returners.”
Quarterback Riley Williams completed 11 for 19 passes for 163 yards and two TDs and also had a rushing TD.
O’Neal had two sacks and seven tackles, Jaxson Berg had eight tackles and a pair of sacks, and Reece Boyles pulled in an interception.
Grace will host Santa Paula this Friday.
Nordhoff 53, Hoover 7
The Rangers overcame a turnover on their opening drive and an early 7-0 deficit by scoring 53 straight points.
“It was like, ‘Oh man, we are in trouble,’ ” Nordhoff head coach Dillon Lowen said. “Then, we forced the fumble back. It didn’t stop from there.”
Junior defensive lineman Logan Vanderwyk was credited with the fumble recovery.
The Rangers scored five times on just eight total touches from running back Bret Winter (three carries, 64 yards, two TDs) and receiver Isaiah Giesea (five catches, 121 yards, three TDs).
“Izzy had some plays that I was like, ‘I don’t get how he does it,’ ” Lowen said.
Senior quarterback Michael Dennie completed 12 for 20 passes for 257 yards and four TDs, Brody Dvortcsak had five carries for 69 yards and a TD, Daniel Rivera had four carries for 51 yards and a TD, and sophomore tight end Levi Harrin had five catches for 98 yards.
Nordhoff hosts Taft this Friday.
Valencia 48, Simi Valley 28
The Pioneers fell to 0-1 despite 356 yards from scrimmage and four scores from Sal Villa.
The junior carried 18 times for 270 yards and four TDs and also caught nine passes for 86 yards. Simi Valley quarterback Connor Petrov completed 22 of 35 passes for 211 yards.
Sophomore Landon Samon had 16 tackles and Denver Smith had 13 tackles to lead the defense.
Simi Valley hosts Shadow Ridge this Friday.
Chaminade 18, Oaks Christian 0
The Lions were shut out in the first game under new head coach Rudy Carlton.
“We had a hard time controlling the line of scrimmage on offense,” Carlton said. “I was concerned about that matchup.”
Host Chaminade turned a blocked punt into 5-0 halftime lead with a safety and a field goal. It was still 5-0 when Chaminade put the game away with a TD run in the fourth quarter
“Obviously not the outcome we wanted, especially offensively,” Carlton said. “They had a really good defense, a really good front.”
Oaks Christian quarterback Niko Bladow completed 7 of 32 passes for 66 yards and an interception.
Josh Tyler had 15 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble, Alifeleti Tuihalamaka had 11 tackles and a sack, Kellen Knox had 10 tackles and a sack, and MJ Watson had an interception for the Lions defense.
Oaks Christian will visit Rancho Cucamonga this Friday.
Apple Valley 28, Moorpark 27 (OT)
An overtime 2-point conversion attempt came up just short for the Musketeers at home.
Star wideout Davis Benson (six catches, 171 yards, three TDs) caught a 12-yard TD pass to pull Moorpark within one point of Apple Valley. The Musketeers elected to go for two and the win, but the ensuing pass attempt to Benson in the end zone was broken up.
“It just really felt like if we had our opportunity on offense, that is what we were going to do,” Moorpark head coach Christian Dearborn said. “It was 100% that we were going for it. … That is the aggressive style of football that we want to play.”
Transfer quarterback Dawson Armstrong threw for 378 yards, four TDs and one interception on 15-for-32 passing in his Moorpark debut. Three of those scores belonged to Benson, while junior receiver Blake Davidson finished with five catches for 139 yards and a TD.
Apple Valley’s stifling defensive front forced the Musketeers to shift into an aerial attack on offense. Moorpark rushed for just 34 total yards on 18 carries with running back Payton Sustin on the bench with an injury.
Moorpark plays at Camarillo this Friday.
Northview 21, Thousand Oaks 7
Sophomore Matthew Galvez hit junior Trevor Kochel for a 16-yard TD pass to pull the Lancers within 14-7 in the fourth quarter, but Thousand Oaks couldn’t complete the comeback at home.
Galvez completed 14 of 34 passes for 99 yards, one TD and three interceptions and also ran for 34 of Thousand Oaks’ 51 yards on the ground.
“We had trouble running the ball,” said Thousand Oaks coach Branden Anderson. “They were solid. Their (defensive) line was crazy good.”
Yet the Lancers kept the game scoreless at the half.
“Our defense played lights out,” Anderson said. “Our defense stopped them in the red zone a couple times.”
Thousand Oaks plays at Hueneme this Friday.
Mission College Prep 42, Oxnard 27
Junior Aaron Salazar ran for 165 yards and three TDs on 35 carries, but the Yellowjackets fell short in their home opener.
Salazar’s third score pulled Oxnard within 29-27 in the fourth quarter, but the visitors from San Luis Obispo stopped the subsequent two-point conversion and tacked on 13 late points.
“The score doesn’t tell the true story,” Oxnard coach Lonnie McCowan said. “It was a good game. We had a chance all the way through. But there were a few plays we left out there.”
Senior quarterback Adrian Guerra completed 8 of 15 passes for 110 yards, a TD and two interceptions for Oxnard, which led 13-0 in the first quarter.
“I’m really proud of the way we fought,” McCowan said. “We did so many things better than we did last year.”
Oxnard plays at Ventura this Friday.
La Canada 31, Fillmore 22
A back-and-forth battle on the road ended in a loss for the Flashes.
Fillmore pulled within two points in the game’s final minutes after a 6-yard TD pass from quarterback Nate Perez to tight end Matthew Zavala, but couldn’t convert on a 2-point conversion pass.
The Flashes rushed for just 43 yards on 20 carries.
Senior wide receiver Saul Fraga had eight catches for 177 yards and a TD and Perez completed 16 for 31 passes for 232 yards, two TDs and an interception. Andrew Estrada had a kickoff return TD and an interception.
Fillmore hosts Oak Park this Friday.
Castaic 40, Buena 27
Christopher Slate’s 6-yard TD run less than two minutes into Thursday night’s opener was the first points from a Ventura County team this fall.
But the Bulldogs fell behind 26-14 at the half and couldn’t recover, falling to 0-1.
“The first half, defensively, we made a lot of assignment errors,” Buena coach Ryan Bolland said. “Castaic was doing some things to take advantage of what we were doing.”
Noah Campanella’s second TD run pulled Buena within 26-20 with 2:18 left in the third quarter.
Slate ran for 52 yards and two TDs on 13 carries.
Senior Ryder Bucy completed 9 of 13 passes for 78 yards. Junior Kaedyn Martinez completed 5 of 12 passes for 79 yards and an interception.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Week Zero in high school football was packed with performances
