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Maverick Diaz and Ryan Staub drenched West Ranch football coach Chris Varner with a celebratory ice-cold water bath from a Gatorade jug Friday night. The initial feeling was shock, but what it meant was a different feeling.
“A lot of validation for 11 years as a head coach in this valley,” Varner said.
West Ranch football coach Chris Varner gets the celebratory shower from seniors Maverick Diaz (2) and Ryan Staub (6). The Wildcats claim the program’s first-ever Foothill League title and finish the season 10-0. pic.twitter.com/EjW8kjoeHH
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) October 22, 2022
When the clock hit zeros to West Ranch’s 63-6 win over Castaic, it cemented school history. The Wildcats completed the season 10-0 and claimed the program’s first-ever Foothill League title.
Staub threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns, bringing his season total to 32. Diaz hauled in five catches for 116 yards.
As it stands, West Ranch (which will not play next week) is likely to be placed in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs, according to the Calpreps.com rankings after Week 9. The Southern Section is scheduled to release the playoff brackets on Sunday, October 30, at 10 a.m.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Thousand Oaks (9-0) polished off its perfect Canyon League campaign with a 35-0 win over Agoura. Quarterback Travis Endicott threw for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Newbury Park (8-1, 4-1 Canyon) and Camarillo (7-2, 4-1) will face off in next week’s season finale for an outright second-place finish in the league.
Newbury Park freshman QB Brady Smigiel threw for 276 yards and five touchdowns in a 55-26 win over Oak Park. Nolan Story ran for 171 yards and two scores on 20 attempts in the win.
Daily News football wrap-up: Stories, scores, photos from Friday’s Week 9 games
Oaks Christian topped Simi Valley 42-14 to improve to 4-0 in the Marmonte League. Running back Johnny Thompson had 15 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He also scooped and scored a fumble recovery on defense for 39 yards. Junior wideout Justice Williams had five catches for 138 yards and two scores.
The Lions (7-2) will take on St. Bonaventure (6-3, 4-0 Marmonte) Thursday in a winner-takes-all Marmonte League championship game at Ventura College.
St. Francis (7-2) clinched a share of the Angelus League title with a 49-20 win over St. Paul thanks to 217 rushing yards on 17 carries and a 54-yard touchdown reception. The Golden Knights are 4-0 in league competition with a final game against Loyola next week.
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In the City Section, Monroe might be having the most surprising season in the San Fernando Valley now that it shocked North Hollywood 20-6 at home Friday night. The Vikings claim the East Valley League title and finish the season 8-1, marking the program’s first winning season since 2014. Monroe was 2-7 last season.
Canoga Park (5-4, 5-0 Valley Mission) running back Corie Ruell ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries in the Hunters’ 56-3 win over Van Nuys.
Kennedy’s Gabriel Argott rushed for 200 yards and three scores on 24 carries in the Cougars’ 35-14 win over Sylmar.