It took Christian Butler’s 82-yard catch and run off a deflected pass to separate Oaks Christian from St. Bonaventure in the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 playoffs last November.
The Lions and Seraphs will face each other for the first time since that memorable moment Friday at Ventura College.
Right as the Marmonte League race has been thrown upside down after Newbury Park’s upset of defending champion Pacifica on Oct. 9.
Although, in this moment, both teams are prioritizing themselves.
“We have to focus internally,” St. Bonaventure head coach Troy Hill said. “We can’t take them for granted considering their record. We have to execute. We have to play our game. We have to play with effort.”
St. Bonaventure (5-2) sits atop the league standings
with Newbury Park at 2-0.
“We have to make sure we align ourselves and make this push,” Hill said. “Every game that we’ve lost, we really beat ourselves … with mental mistakes here and there.”
Oaks Christian (1-6) is coming off its first win of the season in overtime at Simi Valley. Now the Lions need to win two of their final three games to earn the league’s third automatic playoff berth.
First-year coach Rudy Carlton says the CIF-SS playoffs have already arrived for the Lions.
“We’re in playoff football,” Carlton said. “Let’s go. We have to get to three wins to get to playoffs. I’ve been preaching lets go 1-0 every week. That’s what playoff football is.”
Both teams feel stronger than ever entering this week. St. Bonaventure’s 6-foot-5, 286-pound tackle Danny McGhee made his senior debut in last week’s 42-0 win at Bishop Diego, which allows Caleb Pasina and Cassius Calderon to move to their natural positions at left tackle and center.
“We’re at full strength,” Hill said. “We have all our players ready to go.”
A new group of skill position players, including running back Caden Dragomer and receivers Grayden Morris and Carter Wolf, have boosted Oaks Christian since gaining eligibility earlier this month.
“We’re playing good ball and we’re getting close,” Carlton said. “I believe we have what it takes to make it happen.”
Other important matchups Friday include Westlake (6-1) visiting Ventura (5-2), a showdown of the Channel League’s two 2-0 teams, Royal (7-0) traveling to Fillmore (5-2), a showdown of the Tri-County League’s two 2-0 teams, and Agoura (6-1, 2-0) hosting Camarillo (4-3, 1-1) in the Coastal 101 League.
“Offensively, they’ve got playmakers,” Ventura head coach Tim Garcia said of Westlake. “This is not a team you want to get in a shootout with.”
Friday will also be a special night for Del Sol and Nordhoff, who are opening new and redeveloped stadiums.
Del Sol will host Channel Islands in the first game at the brand-new Jaguars Stadium.
“We’re super excited,” athletic director Chris Holdsworth told The Star’s Prep Period podcast this week. “We can’t wait to have the fans in the stands on campus.”
Nordhoff will have the grand opening of its new bleachers at Ojai Community Stadium ahead of its Citrus Coast League matchup with Santa Clara.
On to the Week 8 picks. Let’s see how much Joe Knows.
Friday, Oct. 16
St. Bonaventure 31, Oaks Christian 24: The area’s big private-school rivalry has been a 50-50 split in six meetings since 2021, although the Lions grabbed last year’s playoff game, 16-13.
Newbury Park 27, Simi Valley 24: The former Marmonte foes are reuniting for the first time since 2015. Simi Valley coach Jim Benkert went 19-9-1 against Newbury Park during his tenures at Westlake and Oaks Christian.
Westlake 31, Ventura 20: The first regular-season game between these two public powers since 1998 is a pivotal showdown in the Channel League.
Moorpark 35, Thousand Oaks 14: Looks like the Musketeers are getting playmaker Davis Benson back just as the stakes are increasing.
Santa Barbara 28, Rio Mesa 14: Neo Lewis is tied for the county lead in interceptions with four.
Pacifica 42, Bishop Diego 17: The Tritons haven’t lost back-to-back games for more than two years.
Agoura 35, Camarillo 31: The two quarterbacks have combined for 39 TDs passes and only seven interceptions.
Calabasas 34, Oxnard 20: Don’t let the Yellowjackets hang around in the fourth quarter!
Oak Park 27, Buena 14: The Eagles have won all four meetings since 2021.
Del Sol 27, Channel Islands 13: Jaguars Stadium’s grand opening will be the second Rose Cup game.
Fillmore 21, Royal 20: The red-hot Flashes have outscored opponents an average of 50-16 over their current five-game winning streak.
Dos Pueblos 27, Santa Paula 20: The Cardinals have yet to beat Dos Pueblos in two tries, in 2024 and 2025.
San Marcos 30, Hueneme 20: Running back Kelechi Ofoego has more than half the Vikings' 19 TDs through seven games.
Grace 42, Carpinteria 13: Best value for the price of admission? Grace is the only local team which has seen more than 500 points — 312 for, 207 against — on its schedule so far this season.
Nordhoff 37, Santa Clara 14: The Rangers have had a week to plan for life without quarterback Michael Dennie.
Last week: 10-5 (.667).
This season: 104-24 (.813).
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 looks inward to make the Week 8 football picks
