Just when you least expect it, Mr. Reality Check shows up at your door.

Witness the St. Bonaventure High football team. One week after avenging a loss to Oaks Christian last month, the Seraphs dropped their only game of the season and tumbled out of the state's top 10 list.

Now, they're back to playing championship football.

(Be fully aware, Oak Park. After your win over Oaks Christian last week, next up is Nordhoff.)

Witness Nordhoff. After back-to-back three-point losses, the Rangers nearly upset highly regarded San Luis Obispo, settling for a 17-17 tie.

Witness Pacifica. After consecutive losses, the Tritons are tied for first place two weeks into the Pacific View League season for the first time in program history.

Witness the Deuce. After his best week of the season picking games, he fell back — not to the depths of the first five weeks of the season — but far off the pace needed to cast away the Swami's stare.

Last week: 10-4. Season: 76-37, .673.

Moorpark 27, Calabasas 13: With road games the last two weeks of the season against Newbury Park and Westlake, this is a must win for Moorpark. Calabasas is looking to get some pop in its offense.

Agoura 24, Royal 21: Royal's near upset of Thousand Oaks (the Highlanders had the lead with less than a minute left in the game) is sure to have caught Agoura's attention.

Westlake 33, Thousand Oaks 28: The matchup has all the makings of being one of the great Marmonte League shootouts we've come to know and love. Then again, it could be a grind-it-out three yards at a time running game featuring two of the league's best backs.

Newbury Park 34, Simi Valley 20: Newbury Park hasn't won by less than 10 points in its last four games and has outscored Marmonte League opponents by a 34.3-14.8 margin. Simi Valley has held three teams to total of six points.

Buena 17, Ventura 15: This figures be the most significant — for both teams — Buena-Ventura game in several years. The winner gets a boost in its odds of reaching the postseason.

St. Bonaventure 30, Dos Pueblos 16: The midseason move to make Casey Serna the team's quarterback seems to be working out for St. Bonaventure. The defense is picking up its tempo.

Camarillo 24, Pacifica 21: If the margin is indeed this close going into the fourth quarter, the final 12 minutes should be fun. Both teams have had their fans on the edge of their seats in the final minutes of games.

Oxnard 23, Channel Islands 9: Look for Oxnard to hold its sixth straight opponent to under 10 points. Injuries to QBs have put a kink in CI's offensive plans.

Rio Mesa 14, Hueneme 10: The start to the Pacific View League season has been frustrating for both teams.

Bishop Diego 28, Santa Clara 24: While Fillmore might have some say in the matter, this game could decide the Frontier League title. Bishop Diego has been dominant in three of its last four wins. Santa Clara has averaged 39.3 points in its last three games.

Fillmore 30, Malibu 17: Bye week appeared to revive Fillmore, which bounced back after two losses for a big win over Villanova. Did you happen to catch that Villanova threw a season-high 27 passes last week?

Oaks Christian 35, Grace Brethren 24: The first three games of this young series weren't kind to Grace Brethren, which lost by a combined 167-14.

Carpinteria 29, Santa Paula 17: Three of Carpinteria's losses were by a combined 13 points. Santa Paula needs to shorten the game by controlling the clock.

Oak Park 30, Nordhoff 27: Some Ventura County teams have had trouble the game following a major win. The Deuce doesn't see that happening with Oak Park and its veteran staff. They'll have no problems gearing the team for a great rivalry game.

— The Deuce may be contacted at deads@VenturaCountyStar.com