Spartans fighting for playoff lives against Camarillo

TOUGH IN THE TRENCHES—Camarillo High defensive end Tre Boswell, left, battles left tackle Nathan Anderson during practice Wednesday. The Scorpions, winners of eight straight games following a season-opening loss, play host to Rio Mesa tonight at 7. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Rivalries are kind of a big deal, to paraphrase Ron Burgundy from “Anchorman.”

More than civic pride or bragging rights will be at stake when Rio Mesa High’s football team plays at crosstown rival Camarillo tonight at 7.

A potential playoff berth is at stake for Rio Mesa. Camarillo, which wrapped up the Pacific View League championship last weekend, doesn’t want to enter the postseason on a downer.

“Like a typical rivalry, they’re always crazy,” Rio Mesa head coach Bob Gregorchuk said before Wednesday’s practice.

Last year’s clash went down to the wire as the Scorpions pulled out a 14-13 victory.

TURN AND BURN—Rio Mesa High quarterback/cornerback Enrique Thomas is being counted on to make big plays at ACHS. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Rio Mesa, 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the PVL, may need a win and a little luck to qualify for the playoffs.

There is a four-way tie for second place in the league, with Rio Mesa, Hueneme, Oxnard and Pacifica clogging the middle of the standings.

Only three PVL teams qualify for the playoffs, and Camarillo has earned an automatic bid.

Pacifica (4-5, 2-2) plays at Oxnard (6-3, 2-2) for one potential spot. If Hueneme (6-3, 2-2) defeats Channel Islands (5-4, 0-4) and Rio Mesa wins, there will be a three-way tie for second place.

In that scenario, coin flips would determine which two teams enter the postseason.

Rio Mesa will make the playoffs with a win and a Hueneme loss.

GUNSLINGER—Scorpion quarterback Jeff Mathews threw for a Ventura County singlegame record 588 yards last weekend against Hueneme. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers If the Spartans lose tonight, they would need Hueneme to also falter to get into another threeway coin flip.

Camarillo (8-1, 4-0) won’t overlook the Spartans.

“We’re not looking forward to the playoffs yet,” said Scorpion senior quarterback Jeff Mathews. “We have a tough task in Rio Mesa.”

Mathews’ 588 passing yards in last weekend’s 69-20 romp of Hueneme were the second-highest yardage total in Southern Section history for one game.

He now owns the Ventura County record for most passing yards in a single outing.

The senior could have shattered the section record of 604 yards.

Camarillo head coach Dennis Riedmiller said two dropped passes and three holding penalties took away one touchdown and 85-100 yards for Mathews.

“We’ll take the 588 yards and we’ll take the win,” Riedmiller said. “Mathews had great protection and time to read his routes. He delivered the ball where only our receivers could catch them.”

Mathews has 2,560 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and only five interceptions this season. He has been sacked only four times behind a stout offensive line.

“It’s a group effort,” Mathews said. “This season’s been a blast. I want to keep it going as long as I can.”

The men in the trenches, guided by offensive line coach Art Perez, will have their work cut out against Rio Mesa’s tenacious, unpredictable defense.

“We expect them to blitz us and play hard,” said Tyler O’Rear, a senior center for Camarillo. “We need to keep our heads up, stay consistent and come out intensely.”

Gregorchuk watched film of ACHS and said Mathews had “at least five seconds” to stand in the pocket and deliver strike after strike.

The RMHS coach said he hopes the Spartans’ speed—a team strength—will help pressure Mathews.

The Spartans are ready for action.

“This is the biggest game of my life,” said RMHS senior strong safety Omar Benson. “It was heartbreaking how we lost in the final quarter last year. I hope we blow them out and make a different outcome.”

Senior middle linebacker Connor Benado, who leads Rio Mesa with 124 tackles (13.8 per game), said the Spartans must play with a sense of urgency.

“We need to get pressure on the quarterback and not give up on any play,” Benado said. “We all want to win.”

Devon Hall, a senior running back and linebacker, missed last year’s game with a broken collarbone. He is eager to face Camarillo.

“I think it will be a great game, a close game,” Hall said. “If we can stay focused, I believe we can come out on top.”

Hall and fellow tailback Jamaal Perkins lead Rio Mesa’s ground attack. Perkins has 1,115 rushing yards and 15 scores. Hall’s gleaned 563 rushing yards and four scores.

Gregorchuk said he’s pleased with the improvement of junior quarterback Blair Benchwick, offensive lineman Scott Raymond, safety/receiver Steven Cristobal and Benado.

The Scorpions have won their first PVL crown since 2005 but refuse to rest on their laurels.

“It’s nice to win a league championship, but it means absolutely nothing if we don’t take care of business against Rio Mesa,” Riedmiller said.

“They’re very capable of beating us. We have to play our best game of the season.”

Scorpion defensive tackle Jorge Martinez, who has five sacks, said the defense must stop the Spartans’ playmakers.

“Our defense is about stopping the run, deflecting passes, getting interceptions and playing hard,” Martinez said. “We need to play every play like it’s our last.”

Senior defensive end Tre Boswell, who leads the Scorpions with seven sacks, said Camarillo’s defense relies on gap control.

Even though nothing’s really at stake for Camarillo, Boswell said the Scorpions have plenty of motivation: winning.

“Football’s fun,” he said. “But if you don’t win, it’s not fun.”