Calabasas Football Focuses on Fundamentals

Here we are at the end of the first month of the high school football season, and Calabasas High was hoping to be a bit further along heading into a Marmonte League game Friday against visiting Oaks Christian (2-1), a national power that’s coming off a 14-point win over fellow league favorite St. Bonaventure. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

The host Coyotes (1-2) are coming off a 48-10 loss to Royal that Calabasas coach Christian Pierce thought should have been a lot more competitive.

“It just wasn’t a good night for us, but this team will never quit,” Pierce said. “I’m disappointed about the Royal game because I thought we matched up extremely well.”

Calabasas has been working on fundamentals after being penalized for 105 yards last week while also committing six dropped passes and other mistakes that need to be fixed if the Coyotes want to keep with some of California’s top programs -- because that’s exactly what they’re going to have to do to hang with the likes of Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks, all of whom are looming over the coming weeks.

“When you look at the film against Royal, we made a lot of mistakes on the little details,” Pierce said. “Mistakes that cost us big.”

Among the leaders for Calabasas are Brandon Marin, who has passed for 156 yards and a touchdown while also leading the team with 162 yards rushing. Tyson Jones has rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, and Jordan Pierce has 33 tackles.

VIEWPOINT FOOTBALL READY TO RIDE MOMENTUM

After two big football wins in a row, a 42-point victory over L.A. Baptist preceded by a 20-point win over Villanova, Viewpoint School felt like nothing could stop it – except the calendar.

The Patriots had the weekend off last week, idle because of a bye before resuming this coming Friday against visiting Bell-Jeff. Kickoff is 3 p.m.

“Coming off a bye week, we’re just really ready to play,” Viewpoint coach Chris Adamson said. “We’ve taken a week to get after it in the weight room and get healthy and to focus each day on specific aspects of the game with great detail.”

“Inside run one day, pass and screen another, option and outside run another. I think it was a really good to have that time in the season to be so inwardly focused and detail-oriented.”

Joey Verhaugh has passed for 411 yards and five touchdowns, Adam Markun has rushed for 265 yards and five touchdowns, and David Cutler and Spencer Bernstein lead with 32 tackles.

HOME SWEET HOME FOR CALABASAS TENNIS

After being without a home court for the past 18 months because of campus construction, Calabasas High’s tennis team is celebrating the grand opening of its new tennis court Oct. 12, and the Coyotes are treating the event like a special occasion.

Beginning at 4 p.m., they’re serving refreshments in conjunction with a riebbon-cutting ceremony and some mixed doubles by the varsity and JV teams.

Since construction began to build a performing arts center, Calabasas has been forced to relocate to the as well as courts in Hidden Hills, plus home matches at Agoura High.