Oxnard Ready to Make Every Victory Count

Go 8-0-2. Get barred from the playoffs because you used an ineligible player. Believe your school has been disparaged by teams it whipped on the field.

Let that frustration build into an emotional storm. Unleash it as a new season dawns with most of your lineup back, including the player deemed ineligible a year earlier.

Batten down the hatches. Oxnard High Coach Wes Morimune’s tsunami has the potential to blow away the rest of the Channel League.

The Yellowjackets return a wealth of talent from a team that couldn’t lose, but still couldn’t claim a league championship.

This year, Oxnard is ready to make every win count.

“The Big O is looked down upon,” Morimune said. “Everyone is using a fine-tooth comb and watching us. We just want to take the field and play.”

The Yellowjackets were 6-0-2 and well on their way to a Channel League title last year when the Southern Section determined that defensive back Adrian Maciel transferred to Oxnard from Santa Clara without filing the proper hardship waiver.

It was the second year in a row an eligibility scandal hit Oxnard. In 1995, three players transferred from Rio Mesa without following proper open enrollment procedure and couldn’t play until late in the season.

The Maciel incident confirmed for some Oxnard’s reputation for playing fast and loose with the rules. That’s not the case, said Morimune, who is in his third year as coach and 21st as an Oxnard teacher.

“The administrator responsible for the transfers is no longer here,” he said.

“We’ve done our soul-searching and learned our lessons. Now it’s time for these kids to have their hard work rewarded.”

Carrying the torch--and the football--will be tailback Desmond Davis, who ranks behind only All-American Justin Fargas of Notre Dame as the region’s top returning rusher. Davis ran for 1,577 yards and 18 touchdowns last year in only 10 games.

His backfield partner, fullback and three-year starter Chad Pierson, also returns.

Pierson, who does double duty at linebacker, rushed for 631 yards last year.

Maciel, who passed for 1,200 yards as a sophomore at Santa Clara before focusing on defense last year, will alternate with senior Joe Rivas at quarterback in the Yellowjackets’ run-oriented offense.

Receiver Eric Swanger, linebackers John Fleener and John Adams and two-way lineman Jacob Rogers are other top returning players.

Barring any more administrative problems, Oxnard is the clear league favorite.

The strongest challengers for the championship will be Rio Mesa, which made the playoffs last year behind a potent running game, and Ventura, which claimed the league title thanks to Oxnard’s forfeits.

Both teams are built around exceptional linebacking corps.

Ventura returns the county’s best defensive player: inside linebacker Joe Martinez, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior. He is joined by returning starter Mark McKinney and Cristobal Gonzalez, a senior who did not play last season but was the No. 3 wrestler in the state at 189 pounds.

Rio Mesa also has what can be termed a familiar newcomer at inside linebacker.

Jerome Stevens, a 6-2, 235-pound junior, played at Rio Mesa as a freshman, moved to Merced, and recently moved back.

“He is as gifted a linebacker as I’ve had in 30 years of coaching,” Coach George Contreras said.

Stevens will be flanked by seniors Bo Espinoza and Richard Hernandez, both three-year starters. Speed on defense is the Spartans’ greatest asset. The slowest starter runs the 40 in 4.8.

Buena and Hueneme should be middle-of-the-pack teams, and are capable of playing anyone tough. All three Santa Barbara-area schools have new coaches, and San Marcos probably has the most talent.

Jeff Van Pelt, son of former NFL star Brad Van Pelt, is the league’s best quarterback and should enable an experienced but small San Marcos team to contend for a playoff berth.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Channel League Schedules

All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted. Sites and times subject to change.

BUENA

Sept. 12--at Westlake

Sept. 19--Agoura

Sept. 26--at Newbury Park, 7

Oct. 3--*at Hueneme

Oct. 10--*Oxnard

Oct. 17--*San Marcos

Oct. 24--*at Ventura

Oct. 31--*Rio Mesa

Nov. 7--*Dos Pueblos at San Marcos High

Nov. 14--*Santa Barbara

Home Site: Ventura High

*

HUENEME

Sept. 12--at Agoura, 7

Sept. 19--Channel Islands, 7

Sept. 26--Camarillo

Oct. 3--*Buena

Oct. 10--*at Rio Mesa

Oct. 17--*Dos Pueblos at San Marcos High

Oct. 24--*at Oxnard

Oct. 31--*Ventura

Nov. 7--*at Santa Barbara

Nov. 14--*San Marcos

Home Site: Hueneme High

*

OXNARD

Sept. 12--Camarillo

Sept. 19--Newbury Park

Sept. 26--at Channel Islands

Oct. 3--*Santa Barbara

Oct. 10--*vs. Buena at Ventura High

Oct. 17--*Ventura

Oct. 24--*Hueneme

Oct. 31--*at San Marcos

Nov. 7--*at Rio Mesa

Nov. 14--*Dos Pueblos at San Marcos High

Home Site: Oxnard High

*

RIO MESA

Sept. 12--Channel Islands

Sept. 19--at Camarillo

Sept. 26--at Agoura, 7

Oct. 3--*at San Marcos

Oct. 10--*Hueneme

Oct. 17--*at Santa Barbara

Oct. 24--*Dos Pueblos

Oct. 31--*vs. Buena at Ventura High

Nov. 7--*Oxnard

Nov. 14--*Ventura

Home Site: Rio Mesa High

*

VENTURA

Sept. 12--Simi Valley

Sept. 19--at Westlake, 7

Sept. 26--Royal

Oct. 3--*Dos Pueblos

Oct. 10--*at Santa Barbara

Oct. 17--*at Oxnard

Oct. 24--*Buena

Oct. 31--*at Hueneme

Nov. 7--*San Marcos

Nov. 14--*at Rio Mesa

Home Site: Ventura High

*League games