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Oaks Christian in league of its own
Rout of Santa Clara clinches title, ends new TVL member's winning streak at 18
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Photo by Dana Rene Bowler
Oaks Christian's Malcolm Jones breaks away to score the first touchdown of the Lions' win over Santa Clara on Friday night at Oaks Christian School.
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STORY TOOLS 
More from FootballThere's Tri-Valley League Tier 2 and Tri-Valley League Tier 1.
League newcomer Santa Clara High found out how much of a difference there is between the two levels.
Unbeaten in its first three TVL games, the Saints found out how life is like in the upper half.
The upper half belonging strictly to five-time defending section champion Oaks Christian School.
Oaks Christian clinched its fifth consecutive TVL championship with a 49-6 victory over visiting Santa Clara in a regionally televised game.
Malcolm Jones rushed for 147 yards and Nick Montana passed for two TDs as Oaks Christian (9-0, 4-0 TVL), ranked No. 1 in the Northwest Division, won its 16th consecutive game.
The loss ended Santa Clara's 18-game winning streak and was the Oxnard school's first in 20 games. Santa Clara (8-1, 3-1) had not lost since its 2007 season opener against Hueneme.
Then again, Oaks Christian has been doing that kind of damage to opponents for eight seasons.
Santa Clara cashed a pair of field goals by Zak Werre to sign off on time-consuming drives of 5:45 and 4:14 on its first two possessions.
"Nobody has played us that tough like Santa Clara did in the first quarter," said Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell. "They're the real deal."
That would be it for the Saints.
Over Santa Clara's next six possessions, Oaks Christian surrendered a total of 22 yards.
In its last six games, the Lions defense has allowed just 20 points. Opponents are averaging just 5.2 points per game.
It may not be what Northwest Division rivals want to hear, but Oaks Christian may have the best defense in program history.
And, up for debate, one of the best overall teams in program history.
"That's to be seen," said Redell. "We are a very good football team. The offense is very good. The defense is very good. And so is special teams.
Except for Cierre Wood's 105 yards on 21 carries, there was very little damage that Santa Clara could do against Oaks Christian defense.
And Oaks Christian's offense isn't far behind.
Jones, who passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second straight year, scored on runs of 60 and 50 yards and caught a 48-yard TD pass. Montana was 9 of 15 for 191 yards and two TDs. He also scored on a 9-yard run.
What hurt the most was Santa Clara lost Wood to an injury less than three minutes into the fourth quarter. He had to be helped off the field.
Ranked No. 3 in the Northwest Division behind Oaks Christian and Serra, Santa Clara saw its chances quickly evaporate midway into the second quarter with a string of Oaks Christian TDs.
Oaks Christian used a quick-strike offense to jump out to a 28-6 halftime lead.
The Lions' streak of 12 consecutive scoreless quarters ended nearly 10 minutes into the game when Werre kicked a 39-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Twelve seconds later, Jones scored the first of his three first half TDs with a 60-yard run.
Santa Clara responded with a drive that took 4:14 off the clock, ending with a 37-yard field goal by Werre.
In rapid-fire action that had to be demoralizing, Oaks Christian scored on three of its next four drives with a combined time of possession of 2:14.
Brian Owusu caught a 56-yard pass from Montana and Jones added a 50-yard TD run and 48-yard pass reception.
Jones finished the half with 121 yards rushing and 67 yards on two catches.
Wood was a workhorse in the opening quarter, carrying the ball 10 times for 78 yards.
By the start of the second quarter, Santa Clara had lost much of its steam. The Saints gained just 14 yards over their final four possessions of the half.
Oaks Christian gave Santa Clara a break in the game's opening drive. The Lions drove inside the Santa Clara 10, but were stopped on four downs.
It was the second time that the two schools had met. Six games into its first varsity season, Oaks Christian had a Saturday afternoon road game in Oxnard and beat Santa Clara, 56-0.
Oaks Christian closes out its regular season at home next Friday against Nordhoff, while Santa Clara faces Carpinteria at Hueneme.
Posted by saints2009 on November 8, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Santa Clara, you played your hearts out!! Don't you dare put your heads down. Those Lions were shocked first quarter to not only have their offensive scoring attempt stopped by a strong defensive line, but also that we dared to score first! Did you see the stands? Did you hear the crowd? We believed in you, your school, and in your futures! Did you hear your opponents fans? No, because we were louder. When you return to school, will you find parking spots marked RESERVED FOR.....FAMILY 24/7? When you go back to school, will you find an auditorium with luxury seats to watch your game film in? Will you find a squad of coaches that just by the count of them could equal a football team? NO to all of these answers and more.... but what you will find is a community of support, of love, and of pride for how well you handled yourselves as young men, how determined your were, and how even to the last seconds of the game, you played every down like it was your last. Thank you for believing in yourselves. Good luck in the playoffs! You know who you are and you know what money can't buy you: Pride and desire to be winners! Those Lions' dads can NOT buy that for their sons!! GOOOOO SAINTS!! You know you will see them again!!
Posted by 2KooL4U on November 8, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said, I couldn't agree more!!! I for one was very proud of SC last night!!!
Posted by Hueneme1961 on November 8, 2008 at 11:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lol after how rude you guys were at the Hueneme Game I am glad you lost and lost badly.Learn some Class.Maybe losing so badly will be good for you.
Posted by saints2009 on November 9, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sore loser? Seriously? Wow, you have no clue nutjob. There is not one team in the area that can beat them. Do you know how many coaches that they have that are former NFL players? Did you see the earlier article this year by the LA Times that quoted their tuition as almost $22,000 a year? Uhm, what person in Ventura County can afford to send their kid there? Let me think $6,000 tuition versus $22,000 tuition. Granted some of their starters are on tuition waivers. I have nothing against a team that money can buy. Isn't that what professional NFL teams do all the time? Or how about the legendary New York Yankees? Didn't Steinbrenner spend millions to put the best guys in pin stripes? Oaks Christian doesn't fit in this league or any other league in Ventura County. Why don't we put them with other huge power houses in Los Angeles and Orange Counties that have student populations like they do? Long Beach Poly, Orange Lutheran, Servite? Yeah we put up 6 points, more than most schools by the way, but I also know that Montana was sacked (has anyone else done that as many times as SC did?!), they were stopped how many times on 4th down?? I am proud of how the Saints played, I have watched other schools play them half heartedly, knowing they were going to lose before they got off the bus. That was my whole point of the article..sorry you missed that or misinterpreted that. Santa Clara and its fans walked in and out with their heads held high. That is an accomplishment.
And mr hueneme1961, maybe we were watching two different games that night. From where I was standing near your new beloved principal and new AD, I saw your Vikings huddle up and yell their rebel cries while pointing fingers and arms half raised to the SC fans in the stands, as if to say something not very nice. I then saw Cierre return the opening kickoff for a score. But then again, maybe while I was talking with Mr. Palazuelos and Mr. cijanovich, some other game was going on.
We will be in the playoffs in two weeks while some schools will be warming up for wrestling and basketball. That is okay by me.
Posted by Hueneme1961 on November 10, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
saints2009
Well I was on your side line by the chain gang and i could hear your fans and coaches all game.I can only put so much in print.but screaming all game. not only are you bad losers seems you can't win well either. I still can hear that guy screaming sc,sc sc,sc ,Oh i remember last year. over and over again.I am happy you guys got the same treatment from OC.
I talked with the AD oF Hueneme and we agree Saints were the worse group fans we had this year. Its a shame to cause you do have a great team.I wish them the best.heck i have coached some of them.My feelings are base on the fans/coaches staff.I was there silly have not miss a home game in years.now how your fans acted this years is the worse i have ever seen or heard at thats saying alot from a Hueneme kid who has seen worse.
Money can get you a better team but can buy class.
Posted by Hueneme1961 on November 10, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
JWisaliberalnutjob
Lol good point. they only good now cause they talked our kids into leaving.But the tide will change back.I hear there are a few kids already planning on comming back to Hueneme.Now if we could just keep our kids from going to oxnard/SC.we would be ok.The Rhinos always have good teams ,But by the time high school comes along the kids go to other schools.Heck I have even seen a hueneme kid playing baseball for OC that's how far our kids go.Devin shepherd play a year up there.I just figure SC got what it had comming.
Posted by nunyabiz on November 10, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hueneme1961
How is it that SC talks your kids into leaving? Maybe the kids that leave actually want to get a decent education without being afraid of getting jumped. Have you looked at your record this year? Hueneme is 0-9!. And all that noise you heard on the other side is called school pride and school spirit, maybe if more of Hueneme parents actually went out to watch their kids play you you would know what that is.
Posted by Hueneme1961 on November 11, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
thats funny ,yes we are 0-9 but it was not to long ago your team was just as bad.out of those 9 beat downs you guys were the worse sports about it.I just thought you guys wold act better than other schools.My bad like i said money can't by class just talent.This is how you get our kids.By telling them your school is safier and you will get a better education,and if you good in sports maybe they will lower the fees.But Thats just bs.the kids get what they put into it.I think Our new principal shows this.since he is a Hueneme Grad.and a Dr.
but good luck in playoffs
saints2009 one last thing to you .you said you talked to the new AD maybe you should ask him.if what i say is true.
Posted by 1proudsaintsmom on November 11, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hueneme1961,
It's obvious that you're from Hueneme, your grammar and spelling are terrible!
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