Camarillo football team reloads

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspaper GUNSLINGER—Camarillo High junior quarterback Jeff Mathews led the ACHS junior varsity team to a 9-1 record last season. Head coach Dennis Riedmiller expects his signal-caller to excel again. Camarillo High's football team doesn't have too many familiar faces.

The Scorpions' defense brings back three starters from a year ago, while the offense only returns two starters.

Bring up the word "rebuilding" around the squad, however, and you'll immediately feel out of place.

"No, no, I wouldn't say that," ACHS junior quarterback Jeff Mathews said with a puzzled look on his face.

"No, we are definitely not rebuilding here. I mean, we have seniors that are playing for the last time, and the younger guys want to make sure more than anything they leave on a winning note."

The Scorpions finished 7-4 overall and 4-1 in the Pacific View League last year, good enough for second place behind league champion Oxnard High. Camarillo head coach Dennis Riedmiller believes that even with the loss of many starters, the Scorpions will once again be competitive.

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspaper GRAB AND GO—Scorpion wide receiver Ryan Molesworth hauls in a pass during Wednesday's practice at ACHS. Camarillo is looking to improve on last season's second-place finish in the Pacific View League. "When you lose guys like Marcus Sanchez and Kevin Kawamoto, you basically have to start all over again," Riedmiller said.

"We have some very good athletes that didn't get to play much as starters last year but know the program well and should contribute. We should be fine."

One reason Riedmiller remains confident is the Scorpions' new quarterback, Mathews, who became the starter after Sanchez graduated.

"We have a tradition of good quarterbacks at this school," Riedmiller said. "If you go back you'll remember we had Sanchez, Samson Szakacsy and Joe Borchard. Mathews has the potential to be better than all of them.

"He's very talented; his size is good, and he's very smart. He's very coachable, and you never hear a bad word out of him."

Senior wide receiver Alex Clark, who only played defensive back last season, said Mathews is looking good in practices.

"Well, he's got a gun," Clark said. "He's also getting a lot better on his reads."

When he learned about the compliments given to him, Mathews made it known immediately that he still has a lot to prove.

"It's very humbling to hear that kind of stuff, but I haven't done anything yet in a game," Mathews said. "Nothing you've done on the junior varsity level means anything now. I still have a lot to prove."

Mathews led the ACHS junior varsity team to a 9-1 record as a sophomore.

Besides Clark, Mathews will have the luxury of throwing to other talented receivers, such as senior Charles Baca and juniors Chase Tackett and Mark Berry. Junior tight end Nathan Anderson will also contribute to the aerial attack.

The running game will consist of seniors Jeremy Navarro and Geoff Lockley, as well as junior Daniel Aslan.

Mathews will be protected by an offensive line that includes senior Richie Williams at left tackle, junior Marco Guiterrez at left guard, junior Tre Boswell at right tackle and John Lanzarone at right guard.

Junior Tyler O' Rear replaces Trevor Ludington at center, who will miss the entire season after suffering a torn labrum.

Junior Cheyne Bluhm returns as the Scorpions' field goal kicker and punter.

The offense may be coming along, but Camarillo has always won games with its defense. The last three years, the Scorpions have held their opponents to 21 points or less 23 times. During those games, Camarillo's record is 17-6.

"Traditionally, our defense has been the most outstanding part of our program," defensive coordinator Damian Wilkerson said.

"I feel like we've practiced well in our passing defense drills, but we need to learn how to stop the run better. Thankfully, we have our first game a week later than we did last year, so I think we'll be ready by then."

The defense will be led by senior linebacker Noah Lyche, who registered 91 tackles in '07, and senior defensive end Weston Yahn. Yahn led the Scorpions last season with nine sacks, and he would like nothing more than to improve that total. His goal this year is 20 sacks.

"Why not," Yahn said. "I feel more confident this year, and I feel I know my opponents' offensive line and quarterbacks better.

"I went up against one of the best offensive linemen in Agoura's Kevin Graf last season, and I got two sacks on him. If I can get sacks on him, I can get sacks on anyone."

Other defensive standouts include Clark, who led the team with six interceptions last year, as well as linebackers Cole Bernard, a junior, and senior John Bennett. Joey Valdez and Baca will patrol the defensive backfield.

Riedmiller believes the Scorpions will be more than ready when they open PVL play against Oxnard on Oct. 17.

"We might take a few licks in the first game or so, but after that we should be extremely good," Riedmiller said. "We have a tough league, and Oxnard is extremely good this year. We're hoping we can overtake them."

Camarillo opens it season at home against Newbury Park on Fri, Sept. 12. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Scorpions' schedule

Fri., Sept. 12 vs. Newbury Park
Fri., Sept. 19 at Agoura
Fri., Sept. 26 at Golden Valley
Fri., Oct. 3 vs. Ventura
Fri., Oct. 10 at Oak Park
Fri., Oct. 17 vs. Oxnard
Fri., Oct. 24 at Ch. Islands
Fri., Oct. 31 vs. Hueneme
Fri., Nov. 7 vs. Pacifica
Fri., Nov. 14 at Rio Mesa