Hot and Cold: Viewpoint Football Is Way Up, and Calabasas Is Way Down

Hey, look who is among the hottest football teams in Southern California.

Viewpoint School is on a tear. The Patriots won again Thursday, defeating Western Christian 41-14 for the first road victory of the season and the fourth time in a row Viewpoint has scored 40 points or more in a game.

Viewpoint (4-1) has the most wins of anyone in the Prep League heading into the league opener Friday at 3:30 p.m. against visiting Rio Hondo Prep (3-1).

“We have a different flavor to our offense every week,” Viewpoint coach Chris Adamson said. “We can run the ball, we can throw the ball, and in this win at Western Christian, our quarterback, Joey Verhaugh, ran for more than 100 yards, so we can do a lot of different things.”

Verhaugh, a 6-foot, 1-inch 230-pound transfer from Crespi, scored three touchdowns and passed 5 yards to David Cutler for another score, and running back Adam Markun scored twice, as Viewpoint is averaging 40.4 points per game, including 49 over the past four.

Not bad for a program that went 2-6-1 last year and has never won a playoff game since moving up from eight-man football in 2004.

Adamson is in his second season, and this year the Patriots have a lot more talent, especially on offense, as Markun has returned after gaining more than 1,000 yards rushing as a sophomore last year, and the Patriots have been fortified with the additions of Verhaugh and running back Dakota Williams from Alemany.

“I think the most dangerous part of our offense is our versatility,” Adamson said. “We're lucky because we can go with whatever is working that week, and this week the quarterback running the ball was a big part of our offense.”

CALABASAS FOOTBALL HURTING BECAUSE OF INJURIES

As if it was not going to be hard enough for Calabasas’ football team to compete in the high-powered Marmonte League, the Coyotes have been decimated by injuries and other issues that have left the team with barely enough experienced players to function.

Twelve players were missing Thursday in a 52-6 loss at Simi Valley, and Calabasas coach Christian Pierce is frustrated – and rightfully so.

Starting quarterback Brandon Marin was not available because of a shoulder injury, and backup Ike Fuchs – who also starts on defense and is the team’s kicker and punter – was out with a head injury. Plus, top lineman Jon Dehhaghi was out with a hand injury, Devin Doyle was missing because of a shoulder injury, and linebacker Ian Demroff was sidelined with an undisclosed injury.

Furthermore, two of Calabasas’ top players, running back/defensive lineman Tyson Jones and linebacker Jordan Pierce, are playing hurt. Jones, the team’s leading rusher, is bothered by a shoulder injury, and Pierce, the team’s leading tackler, is playing with a broken thumb.

“When you’re playing your third- and fourth-string quarterbacks and your scout-team offensive linemen, it’s a little hard to compete,” coach Pierce said. “We’re beat up. Jordan Pierce has a broken thumb, but he is still playing because he is the leading tackler in the Marmonte League, and if I take him out of the game, we have no defense. Zero.”

Also, Alex Shapiro, a starting safety, did not play because of disciplinary reasons.

“We’re trying to do things the right way, and on the field it’s hurting us,” Pierce said. “Plus, Simi Valley is strong. They have a really strong defensive line, and they’re well-coached.”

Calabasas (1-4, 0-4) fell behind 28-0 in the first half in losing its fourth in a row. Caleb Madden scored Calabasas’ only touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Ben Stevens.

“We had to re-arrange our whole scheme right before the game. It was tough,” Pierce said. “We’ve got Moorpark next, and we’re hoping to patch these guys up. But this is part of football – you’ve got to face adversity, and the kids who play with heart and courage are the ones who are going to play.”

CALABASAS READY TO HOLD COURT

After going 18 months without a tennis court because of ongoing construction on campus, Calabasas’ tennis team is forced to wait one more week than planned for the grand opening of its new tennis center. Because of a recent storm, the opening has pushed to Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. instead of the original date of next Wednesday.