IN FOCUS—Oaks Christian senior quarterback Nick Montana, a University of Washington commit, has thrown for 2,274 yards and 29 TDs in 12 games. The Lions play at Cathedral on Saturday. JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers The stage is set for some sensational semifinal action in the CIF-Southern Section high school football playoffs.

All four top seeds remain alive in the CIF-SS Northern Division bracket.

Third-seeded Westlake plays host to second-seeded St. Bonaventure on Friday night, while Moorpark travels to topseeded Valencia for a Saturday evening affair.

Both games kick off at 7 p.m.

According to MaxPreps.com, all four teams are ranked among the top 20 in the state—St. Bonaventure (ninth), Westlake (12th), Valencia (13th) and Moorpark (18th).

Oaks Christian travels to Cathedral for a Northwest Division semifinal Saturday night at 7:30.

The Lions, ranked fourth in the state by MaxPreps, are winners of 33 consecutive contests and have an overall record of 91-5 since the 2003 season.

OCHS is gunning for its seventh consecutive section crown.

And then there’s Grace Brethren of Simi Valley.

The high-flying Lancers already won a pair of postseason games by a combined five points, needing a last-second field-goal miss to survive the quarterfinals.

Grace Brethren (7-5) plays Ontario Christian (6-6) in an East Valley Division semifinal Friday at 7 p.m. at Moorpark College.

Now let’s take a closer look at the local matchups:

St. Bonaventure

at Westlake

St. Bonaventure dominated Newbury Park during a 39-0 mauling last weekend at NPHS.

Panther quarterback Jake Geringer was punished all night as the Seraphs (11-1) recorded six sacks and countless pressures.

“Every drill we do, we take as a game situation,” said St. Bonaventure defensive tackle Daniel Miguel. “Once we come out for games, it’s just like another day at practice. . . .

“We use our speed and our willingness to get off the field as motivation to stop people.”

Westlake quarterback/safety Nick Isham is a more mobile signal-caller than Geringer, and he’ll need to utilize his elusiveness to have success against the Seraphs’ get-to-the-quarterback attack.

“They have some very skilled guys on that defensive line, some big guys and some fast guys,” said Isham, who’s accounted for 42 total touchdowns on the season.

“But I have complete faith in my offensive line to do the job and keep me protected. If need be, I should be able to get out of the pocket and make things happen.”

The Warriors (12-0) manhandled Hueneme during a 54-24 road victory in Round 2.

Westlake’s senior-laden offensive line paved the way for 412 rushing yards in the blowout, including 225 yards by tailback Tavior Mowry and 148 yards from tailback/defensive end Dallas Clayton.

Senior left tackle Michael Lorenzo is the only Warrior player who started for Westlake’s 2007 team that lost to St. Bonaventure in a quarterfinal playoff at Ventura.

Lorenzo said this WHS squad matches up much better with the Seraphs than the ’07 team did.

“They have a few juniors and younger guys playing us this year,” Lorenzo said.

“As I see it, they are all skilled and very well coached, but we just have to execute like we’ve been doing for the last 12 games. If we execute our game plan, I have no doubt that we can win.”

St. Bonaventure, winners of eight section titles since 1999, counters with an offensive line that averages 258 pounds per player across its starting five.

The unit is unique in that the guards and tackles often swap positions on different sides of formations, sometimes from play to play on a single drive.

“It requires a lot of mental preparation and work in the film room,” said SBHS offensive tackle David Barajas of the constant shuffling of linemen.

The Seraphs’ top playmaker is tailback Devon Blackledge, who torched Newbury Park for 193 total yards and three scores.

If St. Bonaventure’s big guys can get Blackledge into a rhythm on the ground, then lots of opportunities open up for quarterback Logan Meyer in the passing game.

“We love running the ball. That’s what gets us pumped up,” Barajas said. “But when we pass the ball, our line can be pretty solid as well. Still, running the ball is our strong suit.”

Westlake’s defensive front has played exceptionally all season.

In the Marmonte League titleclinching win over Moorpark on Nov. 13, the Warriors held MHS star tailback Austin Edmonson to 55 yards rushing.

Blackledge is similar to Edmonson in that he can take any offensive touch to pay dirt.

“He’s quick and he’s nifty,” said Warrior linebacker Shane Giraldo of Blackledge. “We definitely need to watch out and not let him get a big run.”

In addition to the 2007 playoff matchup, St. Bonaventure and Westlake faced each other during Division IV title games in 2002 and 2003. The Seraphs won in ’02, but Westlake got its revenge the following year.

Isham expects a barnburner at Warrior Stadium on Friday night.

“It’s going to be a very evenly matched game,” Isham said. “We have big guys to match their big guys, and we have skill guys to match their skill guys. It should be an all-around good game.”

Oaks Christian

at Cathedral

For the second time in two weeks, Oaks Christian (12-0) faces a playoff opponent from the Del Rey League.

The Lions defeated Del Rey third-place finisher HarvardWestlake, 45-10, in the Northwest Division quarterfinals last week.

OCHS now travels to the Del Rey’s second-place finisher, Cathedral.

While most teams try—and ultimately fail—to run the ball successfully against Oaks Christian with the hopes of keeping the Lions’ offense off the field, Cathedral’s biggest asset is its explosive passing attack.

Phantom quarterback Trevor Olson has thrown for 3,160 yards and 36 scores. His favorite target is 6-foot-2 wideout Anthony Jefferson, who has 57 receptions for 1,201 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Oaks Christian linebacker Carlos Mendoza is confident in his team’s ability to defend the pass.

“If they keep trying to throw on us,” Mendoza said, “I really don’t think they’ll be very successful.”

The Lions are two wins away from another CIF-SS banner and a likely spot in a state bowl game. With so much at stake, playing for school pride still remains a top priority for senior left tackle Erik Kohler and his crew.

“On our shirts it says, ‘Tradition Never Graduates,’” Kohler said. “With all the championships we have at this school, that winning tradition never really does graduate.

“No matter what class leaves, there’s always another class that’s going to keep things going. That’s a big part of what motivates us at Oaks Christian.”
Football forecast
Northern Division
• St. Bonnie at Westlake,
Friday at 7 p.m.
• Moorpark at Valencia,
Saturday at 7 p.m.
Northwest Division
• Oaks Christian
at Cathedral,
Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
East Valley Division
• Ontario Christian vs.
Grace Brethren, Friday at
7 p.m. at Moorpark College