The movie "3:10 to Yuma" has drawn critical raves.

To the Thousand Oaks High football team, "Evan Yamu to first and 10" is two thumbs up.

With starting running back John Lister, his right leg heavily wrapped, on the sideline for almost three quarters, Yamu rushed for 148 yards and one touchdown as Thousand Oaks defeated Agoura, 37-26, Friday night at home in a game between two Marmonte League heavyweights.

Six of Yamu's 14 carries were good for first downs for Thousand Oaks (2-2, 1-0). Agoura dropped to 2-2, 0-1.

Lister's injury, following a 25-yard run early in the second quarter, came at a critical time for Thousand Oaks.

"We couldn't have scripted it any worse," said Thousand Oaks coach Mike Leibin. "We were behind and without our best back."

Two Agoura touchdowns in a 75-second span in the first quarter had put Thousand Oaks into a 13-3 deficit. Lister had cut the margin to three points with a 2-yard run.

With Lister out of the game on Thousand Oaks' next series, Leibin and the Lancers program looked to Yabu, who had carried only twice in three games and was more of an impact player as a cornerback for the defense.

"John is the best back in Southern California," said Yabu. "He is a phenomenal player."

Thousand Oaks' offensive linemen "blew open huge holes," said Yabu, allowing him to sprint into the Agoura secondary, where he found downfield blocking.

"There is no mistake about why Yabu was getting his yards," said Leibin. "The linemen were great."

Lister will be listed as day to day as his injury is monitored, Leibin said.

When Thousand Oaks wasn't running, quarterback Ian Shultis had time to throw, completing 15 of 20 passes for 188 yards and one TD.

"They are everything they are advertised to be," said Agoura coach Charlie Wegher of the Lancers. "They chewed up the clock on offense and their defensive game plan was excellent."

Curtis Dempster intercepted two passes for Thousand Oaks.

"We still have a few things to tweak defensively," said Leibin. "There are only a few thin hairs that we need to improve."

Agoura scored on its first possession as Doug Shumway completed a 6-yard TD pass to Patrick Rohn. That came two plays after the pair hooked up for a 60-yard pass play.

Three plays into Thousand Oaks' next series, Agoura's David Claxton returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown and a 13-3 lead.

Thousand Oaks' defense held Agoura to negative 13 yards on its next two series.

Inspired, the Thousand Oaks offense came alive with a 36-yard pass from Shultis to Scott Luft, setting up Lister's 2-yard TD run. Ryan Thompson and Garrett Malone, a sophomore called up from the JV team, scored in the second quarter to give Thousand Oaks a 24-13 lead.

Tyler Ackroyd blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt by Agoura's Eric Bailey with 5:13 left in the half.

Shumway scored on runs of 7 and 8 yards in the fourth quarter as Agoura tried to keep pace with an offense it had trouble stopping.

Shumway completed 22 of 32 passes for 245 yards and rushed for 89 yards.