THE PERFECT STING: CAMARILLO COMPLETES 10-0 REGULAR SEASON, NOW WAITS ON PROJECTED NO. 1 SEED

Camarillo defenders Brett Herron and Anthony Feldstott (No. 51) help bring down Royal running back Diego Reynoso while Collin Kirksey (No. 1) and Joseph Hunt surround the stop. Camarillo sealed its first-ever 10-0 regular season with a 49-21 romp of the Highlanders, which also solidified the Camino League title (photo by Lorenzo Reyna). 

One year ago, Camarillo was the team on the outside looking in, as the Scorpions needed an at-large berth to qualify for the playoffs.

Now, the Scorpions are in the school record books for completing the first-ever undefeated varsity football regular season on Mission Oaks Blvd – and awaiting word on if the No. 1 seed in the CIF Southern Section Northern Division III bracket belongs to them.

The 49-21 trouncing of Royal (Simi Valley) at Carl Thompson Field on Friday, Nov. 6 sealed the Camino League championship and 10-0 mark for Camarillo. The playoff fate of the Scorps will rest in the hands of the CIF Southern Section committee, as playoff seeds are unveiled on Sunday, Nov. 8.

Elijah Alexander – who gave the Scorps their most electric plays through two interceptions, two catches that stretched 40 and 38 yards and a 52-yard gain on a fly sweep run during Camarillo’s opening drive – described Camarillo High’s historic night as a “speechless” moment.

Said Alexander: “This is the first time the school has ever done this (go undefeated). It feels so good. I love these boys. It feels amazing to come back from the season we had last year to this remarkable season and making history here.”

Colby Stevens, who went three ways as a bruising running back, underneath receiving target and run-stuffing safety, was another Scorpion who was at a loss for words.

“I’m definitely speechless,” Stevens said. “My team has worked very hard and we definitely deserve it. We knew this team was going to be special because we all grew up together.”

The Scorpions scored first after Alexander’s sweep run led to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jake Constantine to Wyatt Zambri. A two-point conversion try made it 8-0. Constantine then showed his flair for evading defenders and firing the long ball, as he shed past two Highlander defenders before zipping his throw to Desmond Clancy on an 18-yard strike. The next play saw Constantine find Alexander one-on-one with his defender in the left corner of the goal line, with the versatile senior coming down with the 17-yard touchdown and the 14-0 lead.

Royal (4-6), though, wasn’t going to check out of the game right away. This was the same team that had all of its losses decided by two touchdowns or less, including a near upset of Newbury Park (44-37 defeat) last week.

Quarterback Matt Sciumbato gave Camarillo fits with his arm and legs by engineering a long drive that culminated in a Daniel Henderson 1-yard touchdown run and the lead cutting to 14-7.

Constantine, though, marched Camarillo down the field with its two-minute offense and ended the drive by scrambling down the left side and then barreling past two Royal defenders for the 12-yard touchdown.

Constantine combined for five touchdowns, including four through the air and two that went to Frankie Tostado in the second half (8 and 1-yard scores) to seal Cam’s flawless regular season, plus possible top seed.

“It feels great knowing that this time, we don’t have to play the No. 1 seed on the road,” Constantine said. “They (the No. 16 seed) now comes to us.”

GOLD MINE GAME OF THE WEEK: ROYAL (SIMI VALLEY) AT CAMARILLO

Camarillo slot receiver/return man Ryan Muscarella should see plenty of touches as the Scorpions go for regular season perfection, as 9-0 Cam takes on upset-minded Royal of Simi Valley on Friday, Nov. 6 (photo by Lorenzo Reyna). 

Camarillo High football has won in three ways: blowout wins, defensive battles and last second heroics.

Now, the 9-0 Scorpions are one victory away from regular season perfection.

Standing in the way is 4-5 Royal of Simi Valley. The Highlanders have lost four of their last five games, but all five losses have been by a margin of 14 points or less.

Here’s a breakdown:

ABOUT THE SCORPIONS: Jake Constantine, the Scorpion front line and Frankie Tostado ensured that Camarillo wasn’t going to go down in defeat during the final seconds of the Oct. 30 road game at Thousand Oaks.

Constantine, from the Lancers’ 35-yard line and with excellent protection from his front five, lobbed an air ball that hung in the air for five seconds before falling into the palms of a double covered Tostado, who came down with the catch and sealed the heart-pounding 49-45 victory.

Tostado is one of four weapons at Constantine’s disposal in the air attack. Colby Stevens helped provide some clutch catches during the final drive of the TO game. Tight end Desmond Clancy and slot receiver Ryan Muscarella have stretched the field with the ball in their hands all season long as well.

Camarillo has won the last two games without top rusher Isaiah Otis, who’s expected to return from a knee injury for the playoffs but has been successfully replaced by Aaron Lamb, who has 215 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games.

Defensively, Camarillo has been without top tackler Brett Triebold, but Brett Herron and Collin Kirksey picks up the slack at linebacker. Tostado serves as Camarillo’s shutdown ace and was credited for limiting Nevada commit Kevin Howell’s big plays last week.

ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS: Like the Scorps, Royal prefers to do its damage in the sky, with a passing attack that’s averaging 249.7 yards per game.

Quarterback Matt Sciumbato drives the offense. The senior has 2,247 yards, 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions through nine games. His best outing was a 440-yard, five touchdown evening in the 44-37 loss to Newbury Park last week.

Royal has four receivers with 22 catches or more and a combined 16 touchdowns. Ryan Pench is the go-to-guy with 35 catches, 626 yards and seven touchdowns; all team highs. Cesar Magdaleno is second on the Highlanders with 33 receptions, 480 yards and three scores.

Defensively, 6-foot-2, 165-pound Ryan Hoffenberg is Royal’s top playmaker with five interceptions.

BEST MATCHUP: Frankie Tostado versus Ryan Hoffenberg. These two towers will likely cross paths on both sides of the ball, with one trying to take the ball from the other.

DON’T SLEEP ON: Aaron Lamb. He may not have Otis’ breakaway speed, but Lamb brings power and a hard-nosed mentality to the Scorpion offense.

GAME INFORMATION: Kickoff is 7 p.m. It’s also the Scorps’ senior night and Homecoming game.

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA GETS A VERBAL PLEDGE FROM AN UNDERRATED LOS ANGELES REGION STAR

Charter Oak (Covina) athlete Dareon Nash ended his recruiting process on Tuesday, Nov. 3, by verbally committing to the University of Montana. Nash said the positive treatment he received at Missoula sold him (photo contributed). 

Charter Oak of Covina athlete Dareon Nash was in awe of the atmosphere that he saw during his visit to Missoula, MT – which convinced him to accept the University of Montana’s football scholarship pledge after verbally committing to the Grizzlies on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Nash, who mainly drew Football Championship Subdivision interest and held his other offers from Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington and the University of San Diego, said that Montana immediately sold him before he took his Oct. 2015 visit to the campus.

“From the moment coach and I talked about my visit and then when I actually saw the flight reservations, I knew they really did care about me because they didn't wait until the end of the season for my trip - and that made an impression on me,” Nash said. “Then, once I arrived in Montana, you could just feel the difference in the people and their relationships with the players and the passion for their football team. There's no professional sports in Montana and so from meeting the head coach, to the student section recognizing my face on the Jumbotron while chanting my name, or spending time with the coaches and players whether we were meeting or just hanging out all felt like family.”

The Class of 2016 prospect is currently second in three separate receiving categories for the 8-1 Chargers. He has 39 catches for 412 yards and six touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound target has hauled in 129 catches for 1,678 yards and 20 touchdowns during his three-year varsity career.

Nash added that Montana’s coaching staff and players made him feel like a wanted piece to their puzzle.

“I've always wanted to go someplace where they wanted me as much as I wanted them,” Nash said. “Now I can go in there and they expect me to compete right away.”

Nash, who also has one interception and four pass breakups on defense through nine games this season, said he’s hopeful that he can contribute immediately to the Big Sky program.

“I'm used to playing three sides of the ball, but ultimately I anticipate being a playmaker for them on offense,” Nash said. “I love to work and compete so I'm looking forward to the challenge and anxious for this next chapter in my life. My mom, sisters and I always had this dream about me earning my college degree and playing college football, so I feel like I've done good on our promise to each other and I will always stay humble through it all.”

IDAHO SWOOPS INTO THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND GETS CLOVIS HIGH RECEIVING STAR

Clovis High Class of 2016 wide receiver J.J. Wills accepted the University of Idaho's scholarship offer on Monday, Nov. 2. Wills has provided plenty of game-changing moments for the 8-1 Cougars (photo contributed).  

From the moment the University of Idaho offered a football scholarship to J.J. Wills in June 2015, the Vandals stayed on the Clovis High School wide receiver for the next five months.

All of that following, chasing and convincing on Idaho’s end convinced Wills that the Kibbie Dome will be his future college football home, after the 6-foot, 179-pound wideout verbally committed to the Vandals’ pledge on Monday, Nov. 2.

Wills said he sought the advice of his family during a night time get-together inside his house.

“We have been talking about this as a family for a while. It was a special thing because I wanted to know everyone's opinion and then I prayed on it. But it was a very special thing (to commit),” Wills said.

The three-year varsity letterman Wills, who held one other scholarship offer from NCAA Division II program Minot State, becomes Clovis High’s first NCAA Division I wide receiver commit since Matt Lindsey chose Fresno State in Sept. 2006.

Wills currently leads the 8-1 Cougars in three different receiving categories: receptions (50), yards (905) and touchdowns (10). He has five 100-yard games this season, including his recent five catch, 124-yard and three touchdown evening in the 41-28 victory over Clovis North on Oct. 30.

For his varsity career, Wills has 99 catches for 1,528 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

GOLD MINE GALLERY: ARROYO GRANDE AT ATASCADERO

(All photos by Lorenzo Reyna):

ARROYO GRANDE DEFENSE HOUNDS ATASCADERO

Arroyo Grande defenders Brad Mickey (No. 20) and Noah Thinger wrap up Atascadero quarterback Carson Rinkenberger during the Eagles' 24-10 victory over the Greyhounds in a huge PAC-5 showdown (photo by Lorenzo Reyna). 

A white and dark blue defensive avalanche tumbled down on Atascadero in a banner PAC-5 showdown at War Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 30, as Arroyo Grande forced four second half takeaways in the 24-10 victory over the Greyhounds.

The Eagle defense entered their road game featuring an 11-man blizzard who froze any offensive firepower in the last three games, with three consecutive shutouts and only 17 points surrendered in the last 20 quarters of play.

Despite giving up a rushing touchdown early during the opening Atascadero drive that ate up nine minutes and 47 seconds in the first quarter, the Arroyo Grande defense rose up and smothered Atascadero’s high-powered read option offense.

Two-way stud Brad Mickey – doubling as workhorse running back and patrolling safety – sealed the league contest by grabbing an air ball from the sky with less than a minute left.

A rejoiced Mickey sounded relieved that his team survived the Greyhounds’ brute force.

“In league play like this and against Atascadero, it’s always going to be a hard-fought game,” Mickey said. “Every yard you have to earn. Nothing is given. We came into this game knowing that we can’t play relaxed and we came out hard.”

Linebacker/defensive lineman Cole Cunningham started the momentum swing and turnover frenzy for Arroyo Grande. After the Greyhounds pounced on a fumble during the previous play, Cunningham stepped in front of a Carson Rinkenberger pass for the first takeaway of the second half. A trio of Alex Cecchi runs helped lead to a 23-yard field goal and the 17-10 lead.

Then on the next defensive series, Arroyo Grande brought a heavy rush up the middle, sacked Rinkenberger and forced a fumble at the AG 41. That later led to a Mickey 41-yard scoring scamper that saw him run left, cut back to the middle, then accelerate to the end zone.

“We ran that play earlier in the game and they strung it out nicely. But our offensive line made a nice adjustment and really washed them down, which helped the cutback to open up,” Mickey said.

Cecchi was the other two-way Eagle star who picked off a pass, with his takeaway coming at the AHS 5-yard line.

“It was a pretty physical game. The first half was an intense game but in the second half, we grinded it out to win the game,” Cecchi said. “We made the adjustments that we needed to and succeeded. We were in the right place at the right time.”

The Eagles move to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the PAC-5. A victory over San Luis Obispo on Nov. 6 seals the outright league championship.

GOLD MINE GAME OF THE WEEK: ARROYO GRANDE AT ATASCADERO

R.J. Reusche of Atascadero tries breaking away from a San Luis Obispo defender. Reusche will help lead the Greyhounds' hard-nosed running game into a huge PAC-5 showdown with Arroyo Grande at home on Friday, Oct. 30 (photo credit: Rick Evans/Paso Robles Daily News). 

In the last two seasons, the PAC-5 title has come down to a three-team race featuring Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles and Atascadero.

Now, the two unbeatens left in PAC-5 play – Arroyo Grande and Atascadero – will meet at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 30 with league title implications in tow.

This game also will likely involve high playoff seedings in the CIF Southern Section Northern Division III bracket.

Here’s a breakdown:

ABOUT THE EAGLES: After falling 27-13 at home against Camarillo on Sept. 12, Arroyo Grande (7-1, 2-0 in the PAC-5) has been on a defensive stampede, with three consecutive shutouts and just a combined 17 points allowed in the last 20 quarters.

Seniors Benny Wilkhomm and Brad Mickey are among the best 1-2 combos in any 805 secondary. Both have combined for seven of Arroyo Grande’s 11 interceptions. At cornerback, 6-foot-1, 180-pound Landon Carter has held his side down with two interceptions and a team-high five pass breakups. Alex Cecchi completes the Eagle secondary with two picks and one forced fumble.

Mickey leads the AG offense with 1,000 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. Cecchi is another Eagle who goes both ways and does the same amount of damage on offense, proven by his 739 total yards and eight touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Sawyer May has led an efficient air attack with 1,417 yards, 14 touchdowns, one interception and a quarterback rating of 133.6. May's strength has been the deep ball. 

ABOUT THE GREYHOUNDS: Since taking over a program in 2004 that was previously up-and-down on the football field, head coach Vic Cooper has turned Atascadero into one of the models of consistency in San Luis Obispo County with a 54-27 mark in eight seasons.

This year’s Greyhounds (7-1, 2-0 PAC-5) has an aggressive backfield duo in seniors Marc Martin and R.J. Reusche, who both have over 800 yards rushing in eight games. Martin is the thunder back with his 6-foot-1, 221-pound frame and inside running prowess. Reusche is the outside threat at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds.

Defensively, senior nose guard Tannen Soojian is the 6-foot, 220-pound road block who clogs up running lanes and leads the team with nine tackles for a loss. He’s also the ‘Hounds lead blocking back.

Junior Lucas Sprouse is Atascadero’s top ball hawk with three interceptions and four pass break ups.

GAME INFORMATION: Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Atascadero High.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Cali Gold Mine founder Lorenzo Reyna will be talking about this game and the 805 football scene on KEYT Channel 3 in Santa Barbara this weekend. The entire segment should air on Sunday during the 6 p.m. news. Check local listings or also look for the online link on Lorenzo’s Twitter page @LJ_Reyna.