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Team-by-team at a glance: Marmonte
MARMONTE LEAGUE
LEAGUE PREVIEW:Seven are serious Marmonte League contenders
IMPACT PLAYERS:
Defense: Justin Lilley, Westlake
Offense: Colby Cameron, Newbury Park
TEAM BY TEAM:
At a glance
THE STAR'S PICKS:
League rankings
WESTLAKE
Nickname: Warriors
Coach: Jim Benkert (19th year)
2006 record, league finish: 12-1, 7-0, first place
2006 playoffs: Advanced to semifinals in Northern Division before losing to Canyon.
Top returning players: RB Cooper Shockley, WR Curtis Peterson, QB Nick Owens, OL/DL Tommy Stuart, DB Justin Lilley, K Jordan Mannisto.
Promising newcomers: QB Ben Conlin, OL Michael Lorenzo, DB Steve Hagy, LB Zach Dunaj.
Outlook: There's plenty of talent led by WR Peterson, DB Lilley and RB Shockley. Nick Owens and Ben Conlin are locked in a tight duel at quarterback. If the Warriors can come close to matching last season's team-wide chemistry, another Marmonte League championship might be in the offing.
Quote: "We've got two gifted quarterbacks. We can win with either one of them." — coach Jim Benkert
MOORPARK
Nickname: Musketeers
Coach: Tim Lins (ninth year)
2006 record, league finish: 1, 6-1, second place.
2006 playoffs: Reached Northern Division championship game where it lost to Canyon.
Top returning players: QB Adam Barry, DL/TE Casey Blum, DT/RB Garrett Meadows, OL Tyler Phillips, DL Corey Sandoval, S Larry Poole.
Promising newcomers: RB Austin Edmunson, LB Marc Palacios, DB Greg Morrissey, LB A.J. Dettorre.
Outlook: Darrell Scott's transfer moves into the rearview mirror as the Musketeers strive to reach the CIF-SS championship game for the third straight year. The prime movers become quarterback Adam Barry and another top-notch defense led by linemen Casey Blum and Garrett Meadows.
Quote: "We look at Adam Barry as one of the top quarterbacks in the area. We expect him to have a big season." — coach Tim Lins
NEWBURY PARK
Nickname: Panthers
Coach: George Hurley (18th year)
2006 record, league finish: 4-6, 3-4, tied for fourth
2006 playoffs: Did not qualify.
Top returning players: QB Colby Cameron, LB Ron Tatham, LB Chance Flaaten, WR Danny Diefenthaler, WR David Gru, QB OL Tim Ketaily.
Promising newcomers: RB Chris Brown, DE Jackson Powell, WR/DB Vincent Muscarella, WR/DB Phillip Muscarella.
Outlook: A senior class led by quarterback Colby Cameron, OL Tim Ketaily and LB Chance Flaaten is all grown up and eager to cash in the growing pains. The talent is in place to win a league championship.
Quote: "We have the talent. The next step for this team is to learn how to win and close out games." — coach George Hurley.
THOUSAND OAKS
Nickname: Lancers
Coach: Mike Leibin (first year)
2006 record, league finish: 7-4, 5-2, third place
2006 playoffs: Lost to Hart in first round of Northern Division playoffs.
Top returning players: RB John Lister, DB Scott Luft, CB/WR Evan Yabu, OL Jordan Allred, OLB John Boger.
Promising newcomers: DT Eddie McGilvra, LB Korey Mitchell, LB Chase Agor.
Outlook: A gifted running back, a stalwart offensive line and a rugged defense make this one of the most physical units in the league. If the passing game develops, the Lancers will be a top contender.
Quote: "One of the keys for us has been working on the throw game. Obviously, teams are going to look at us and try to stop the run." — Mike Leibin
AGOURA
Nickname: Chargers
Coach: Charlie Wegher (14th year)
2006 record, league finish: 6-4, 3-4, tied for fourth.
2006 playoffs: Did not qualify.
Top returning players: QB Doug Shumway, LB/RB Adam Azoff, OL/DL Kevin Graf, PK/P Eric Bailey, WR/DB Mike Cammorata, RB/LB Matt McGinnis.
Promising newcomers: OL Austin Champlain, WR Nick Haraden, S Sammy Bradley, OL/DL Nick Rubin.
Outlook: With a winning record in six of the last seven years, Agoura has been the most consistent Marmonte League program this decade. It shouldn't change this year, led by an experienced quarterback and a talented offensive line.
Quote: "We will be in the mix in the Marmonte League. If we can play outstanding defense, we will win the close games." — Charlie Wegher
ROYAL
Nickname: Highlanders
Coach: Gene Uebelhardt (19th year)
2006 record, league finish: 5-6, 3-4, tied for fourth.
2006 playoffs: Lost to Canyon in first round of Northern Division playoffs.
Top returning players: FS Jake Mittel, DL Brad Dade, QB Trevor Shubert, RB Derek Morris, DL/TE Michael Cooper.
Promising newcomers: QB Brian Blechen, WR/DB Connor Wolcott, LB Michael Leipzig, TE Nick Zortea.
Outlook: The position battle between quarterbacks Brian Blechen and Trevor Shubert may not be decided until the start of league. Assistants Ron Veres and Scott Veres have moved over from Thousand Oaks High, and should help revitalize the offense.
Quote: "We have guys who love to play the game. Sometimes, you have stars who are more worried about where they are going, and end up going nowhere." — coach Gene Uebelhardt
SIMI VALLEY
Nickname: Pioneers
Coach: Todd Borowski (third year)
2006 record, league finish: 3-7, 1-6, seventh place.
2006 playoffs: Did not qualify.
Top returning players: RB Langston Jackson, LB Alan Steele, WR Jesse Swayze, TE James Barona, LB Everett Campos, DB Adam Hernandez.
Promising newcomers: WR Keith Williams, OL/DL David Yataly, RB Tommy Dowling, DB Evan Green.
Outlook: Langston Jackson appears poised for a big season, which should elevate this team to a league and playoff contender. The key remains for the newcomers to develop as expected.
Quote: "We lost a bunch of close games last year, and we're better than we were last year." — coach Todd Borowski
CALABASAS
Nickname: Coyotes
Coach: Lance Martin (first year)
2006 record, league finish: 0-10, 0-7, eighth place.
2006 playoffs: Did not qualify.
Top returning players: RB Cameron Ventura, QB Serop Challian, OL/DL Edward Bedigian, WR Emon Saee, LB Jason Dorn.
Promising newcomers: RB/LB Justin Cudworth, OL/DL Alain Dalencourt, DB Shane Wilson, OL/DL Jan Hammar.
Outlook: New coach Martin is promising a complete restructuring, starting with the team attitude. The players have displayed a winning attitude. Now they need to translate that to the scoreboard.
Quote: "We're starting over from scratch and working from the bottom up. We're learning how to practice, learning how to compete— Lance Martin.
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