Home › VC Preps › Football
Prep football notebook: Line has been driving force for Oxnard
Download this story as a podcast!
STORY TOOLS 
More from FootballPractice ends right on schedule at Houser Field on the Oxnard High campus.
Except for the team's offensive linemen.
For the next 35 minutes, they will push a blocking sled as plays are called out by the coaching staff.
After 10 holding penalties were called against an inexperienced line in Oxnard's season-opening loss against Santa Barbara, coach Mark Beckham knew that a drill was needed to catch their attention.
"They were doing more holding than driving forward," said Beckham. "We needed to do something to teach them about driving with their legs."
It has made a difference.
Oxnard (2-2) had 415 yards rushing in a 42-0 win over San Marcos. Sam McCowan had his third straight 100-yard rushing game, gaining 177 yards and scoring four TDs. Quarterback Dasmen Steward rushed for 108 yards and passed for 99 more.
"Dasmen is starting to take charge and lead," said Beckham.
One key ingredient to Oxnard's offense has been the emergence of sophomore fullback Henry Fernandez, who has rushed for 280 yards on 32 carries.
"He could be the best fullback that we have ever had," said Beckham. "I didn't think he would be this good this quick."
Hernandez was a quarterback on the Oxnard freshmen team.
"We were looking at him as an outside linebacker or strong safety last spring," said Beckman. "We needed him to be on the field. He understands what it takes to be a fullback."
While the offense is beginning to look like the Oxnard teams that won outright or shared three straight Pacific View League titles from 2000 to 2002, it is the program's defense that has become a dominating force.
In four games, Oxnard's opponents have scored just 33 points, including a interception return for a TD.
That hasn't been totally unexpected.
Oxnard returned nine defensive starters.
It begins with the line of Derek Shutt, Sean Blevins, Carlos Martinez and Dustin Koehler that averages 6-foot-2, 255 pounds.
"They make it easy for the rest of the defense when teams have to work hard to block those four," said Beckham. "Shutt is playing tremendous football right now."
Linebackers Brian Jones, Victor Balderama and Billy Watson are physical and can cover a lot of ground.
Breaking ground: With its 14-6 win Friday night, Simi Valley ended a 10-game losing streak to Moorpark.
Moorpark had won all nine games with Simi Valley since joining the Marmonte League for the 1998 season.
Simi Valley's last win over Moorpark was 22-8 in the 1996 season.
More than breaking the Moorpark streak, Simi Valley established itself as a contender for one of the league's four playoff spots.
Simi Valley has not made a postseason appearance since 1992.
Extra points: David Brown has made field goals in each of Nordhoff's four games this season. With six field goals, four in the last two games, Brown has increased his school record career total to 12. ... Grace Brethren quarterback Kevin Ramay is averaging 320.5 yards in total offense per game. ... Buena RB Vince McCowan is averaging 98 yards rushing per game. ... Friday's Fillmore-Santa Paula game will be the 97th between the two schools.
The Star's rankings
1. St. Bonaventure (4-1)
Comment: Four turnovers doomed Seraphs in loss to Crespi.
Next game: Oct. 12 vs. Ventura.
2. Newbury Park (4-0)
Comment: Two late TDs don't detract from defensive effort in win over Royal.
Next game: Friday vs. Westlake.
3. Thousand Oaks (2-2)
Comment: RB John Lister is listed as day to day with injury.
Next game: Friday vs. Calabasas.
4. Oaks Christian (2-2)
Comment: Oaks Christian gave up 19 points in last 3:06 vs. Venice.
Next game: Thursday at Diamond Ranch.
5. Oak Park (3-1)
Comment: Defense held L.A. Baptist to 162 total yards in win.
Next game: Friday vs. Camarillo.
6. Westlake (2-2)
Comment: Westlake back on the road for three straight weeks.
Next game: Friday at Newbury Park.
7. Simi Valley (3-1)
Comment: Langston Jackson has 6 TDs in his last two games.
Next game: Friday at Agoura.
8. Moorpark (2-2)
Comment: RB Austin Edmonson has had three solid games.
Next game: Friday vs. Royal.
9. Rio Mesa (2-2)
Comment: RB Jerell Thomas had career night against Nordhoff last week.
Next game: Friday at Dos Pueblos.
10. Oxnard (2-2)
Comment: Yellowjackets have had two 100-yard rushers in last two games.
Next game: Friday at Ventura.
Posted by hoover9000 on October 1, 2007 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is Hueneme not in the The Star's rankings? They are 3-1 and on the move.
Posted by Vikingpride07 on October 1, 2007 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Mighty Mighty Vikes are back and the us against the world will show the Pac View league and the County. 3-1 and we are not in the top ten. These are good KIDS here!Here they come dogs.
Posted by ereveles93 on October 1, 2007 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
skillz doesn't know nothing about OHS football, you don't throw the ball, you run it!
Posted by melody.mendez on October 1, 2007 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FYI: the kids and the schools who deserve a little respect and recognition are never listed, dont you know that by now......i've written plenty of comments and they are never posted because i put it out there and they just dont want to post it...
Posted by juanmix2004 on October 1, 2007 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OXNARD YELLOW JACKETS V.S HUENEME ... OCT 12 ..OXNARD'S HOMECOMING GAME !!
GOOOOOOOOO YELLOW JACKETS ! THE CARDINAL AND GOLD !
Posted by hoover9000 on October 2, 2007 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hueneme Viking kids have found out what Viking pride is so why can't the Ventura County Star show a little pride and print big thing about a school that has turned there program around and gave the players pride for there school. The school and football program deserve a little respect and recognition from this paper. But as Vikingpride07 said poor school gets no love, and Oxnard gets most our best players. But still we win. I love it when that happens. As the group WAR said DON"T LET NO ONE GET YOU DOWN >>>>>>
Posted by yellowjacketpride_2010 on October 13, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yay-yuh!
OHS WON OUR HOMECOMING GAME!
41-9?
STILL... WE WON!
ANYWAYS LOVE ALL MY PPLS FROM HUENEME THAT WENT TO SEE IT LAST NIGHT.
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
- Posts that degrade others on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
- Disparaging remarks, abusive language or obscene comments.
- Threats, whether obvious or veiled.
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
There are 7 comments to this article.
Comments are found beneath the Yahoo! ad below.