Calabasas Football Hopes for Break Tonight at Oaks Christian

There is no rest in the powerful Marmonte League, one of the Southern Section’s top high school football leagues, and Calabasas High faces another tough test today at defending Northern Division champion Oaks Christian, a 53-point Calpreps favorite that is ranked No. 2 in the state by Maxpreps. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Calabasas (1-2) has given up 111 points over the past games, a 48-10 loss to Royal preceded by a 63-0 loss to Westlake.

“The most positive thing is, we’re playing the best competition in the state,” Calabasas coach Christian Pierce said. “When you play the best, you’re going to improve your program, and eventually we’re going to be competitive. It’s not going to happen overnight, it’s not like switching a light switch, but we’re learning life lessons and football lessons.”

As if it wasn’t going to be hard enough keeping pace with Oaks Christian’s high-powered offense led by quarterback Brandon Dawkins, running backs Ishmael Adams and Carlos Mendoza and receivers Jordan Payton and Chris Davis, Calabasas has been forced to shuffle some players around defensively. Linebacker Ian Demroff is out because of a concussion, so defensive lineman Jon Dehhaghi has been forced to switch positions to replace him.

“It’s a new position, but Jon is coming along nicely,” Pierce said

Another linebacker, Jordan Pierce, a junior and the coach’s son, leads the team in tackles.

“Jordan is doing well,” coach Pierce said. “He has stepped up, and he is playing well.”

Usually, concussions mean a player misses one game, but Pierce said Demroff is questionable for next week, too.

Offensively, Calabasas needs to find more success, as most defenses are keying in on running back Tyson Jones, who has rushed for 146 yards and scored two touchdowns – but none over the past two games.

“Quite frankly, we need to work on our offensive line. We’re undersized and we’re just not there yet,” Pierce said.

Oaks Christian has won seven section titles over the past eight seasons, including the Northern Division championship last season.

Meanwhile, Calabasas’ JV team is 2-1 and the frosh team is 1-2.

“Prince Hall, the JV coach, is doing a great job because he’s got the same kids from last year’s frosh team that went 0-9,” Pierce said. “The frosh team this year has a lot of talented skills players. They just have some work to do, but those guys are going to move up and do well once they get used to the system.”

VIEWPOINT FOOTBALL LOOKS TO TAKE IT ON THE RUN

Viewpoint School’s football team plays at home today at 3 p.m. against Bell-Jeff, and the visiting guards love to run the football with a tricky double-wing offense featuring a group of pulling blockers at the point of attack.

Defenses have to be physical to keep pace and Viewpoint, coming off a bye week, is hoping to be ready.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Adam Markun, Viewpoint's defensive back.

Viewpoint, coming off a 2-6-1 season in coach Chris Adamson’s first year, has won two in a row, while Bell-Jeff has won two of its past three, including a 49-12 loss at Malibu last week.

“We’re really ready to play,” Adamson said “Bell-Jeff is the kind of team that runs right at you and tries to confuse you with misdirection, so stopping the run is something every winning team needs to do, and this is a chance to prove we’re up to the challenge.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TODAY

Bell-Jeff (2-2) at Viewpoint (2-1), 3 p.m. – Viewpoint looks to stop Bell-Jeff’s potent running attack.

Calabasas (1-2) at Oaks Christian (2-1), 7 p.m. – Calabasas is expecting a tough challenge from the powerful Lions, who have won seven section titles over the past eight seasons.