Sea Kings Get Ready to Face Moorpark

already has a difficult task, opening its football season on the road against a tough Moorpark team, but injuries could only make the Sea Kings opener that much more of a challenge.

“We’re pretty banged up, and that’s what we’re fighting through right now,” Palos Verdes High School coach Guy Gardner said. “It’s a concern because we didn’t have much depth to start with and now we’ve got some players banged up. I’m sure a lot of other teams are going through the same thing. It's just part of the game. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Junior linemen Andrew Bucklin and John Bulaich will miss Friday’s opener and senior running back Zach Henkhaus, who has a shoulder separation, is a doubtful.

The absence of Henkhaus, who was expected to help fill the void in the backfield left by the graduation of Marc Sasso, means several of the Sea Kings will have a chance to step up. One of them, quarterback Zack Fixen, was confident he and his teammates could pick up the load.

“It’s a big first game, and against a tough opponent, but I’m not concerned [about the injuries],” Fixen said. “We have a lot of depth at cornerback, but it’s a bummer to lose a starter like Zach. He is a big part of our running game, too, but we should be OK.”

They put their faith in seniors Carl Aguirre and Salvatore Vitale and junior Roman Smith. Gardner has said previously that each player is capable of big games.

But injuries won’t hamper the excitement surrounding the Sea Kings and their new season. A 10-2 club last year and one of the best in the South Bay, Fixen said this season’s team is looking forward to the challenge of playing as well as last year. They will be pressed to match last season’s output, but the Sea Kings are approaching it in a positive manner.

“There are a lot of question marks, but I’m really excited to see how our passing game goes, and our running game,” Fixen said. “I think it’s going to be fun.”

Fixen enjoyed a strong season last year, passing for 20 touchdowns and only seven interceptions with 1,332 yards in 12 games. Though his completion rate (72 of 135 for 53 percent) was a bit low, Fixen believes he can improve.

“[I'll] just take it one game at a time and focus on every game,” he said. “[I'll] practice hard every day and take it slowly. I’m feeling good and looking forward to it. We’ve got a lot of good receivers, so it makes my job even easier.”

Fixen acknowledged that duplicating the success of last year’s club, which finished as runner-up to Bay League champ Mira Costa, won’t be a walk in the park.

“We have a tougher non-league schedule this year,” said Fixen, who already has committed to the University of Maryland next year to play lacrosse. “But we’re going to do good. We’ve got the talent. We just have to put the wins together.”

Friday night's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Moorpark High School, 4500 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark.