FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The Big Game

For crosstown rivals Santa Barbara and San Marcos, it really doesn’t matter how each team has done in the past six games.

What matters most is how they play Friday night when they line up across from each other for the 51st Big Game at Santa Barbara’s Peabody Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

This game not only is big in terms of winning community bragging rights for a year, it’s important because it’s the first game in Channel League play.

Those two facts have made an impact on the players this week in practice.
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San Marcos coach Jeff Hesselmeyer noticed a difference.

“The intensity is a little better this week,” he said,

Santa Barbara Jaime Melgoza also recognized a spring in the step of his players as they prepared for the Royals.

“We are up this week, yes,” he said. “The kids know it is important to beat San Marcos.”

Melgoza’s Dons lost in last year’s golden anniversary game at Valley Stadium, 35-13.

Santa Barbara still leads the series, 27-23, but San Marcos has won seven of the last 10 games played at Peabody Stadium.

This is the first Big Game of the new decade. San Marcos won the last two decades, going 6-4 from 2000-2009 and 6-4 in the 1990s. Santa Barbara was the team in the 80s with a 7-3 record. The Dons dominated the 1960s with an 8-2 mark, and the Royals came out on top in the 70s with a 6-4 record.

Both Hesselmeyer and Melgoza look forward to a competitive game. The Royals and Dons experienced similar pre-league results, both going 1-5, with the wins coming against teams from south Oxnard — San Marcos over Hueneme and Santa Barbara over Channel Islands.

But that’s all behind them now. Hesselmeyer, in his presentation at the Athletic Round Table Luncheon on Monday, said his team played a forgettable game in its last outing. As he started to mention who the Royals faced, he paused, pondered and then quipped, “I forget.”

He then moved on to talk about the Big Game.

“These rivalry games are the ones (the players) will remember for the rest of their lives, especially the seniors, so that makes them exciting every year.”

Melgoza, who played for the Dons in the 1980s, concurred:

“This is a game you remember for a lifetime.”

Bishop Diego and Carpinteria also open league play on Friday. Bishop travels to Malibu for a 3:30 kickoff in a Frontier League opener. Carpinteria starts Tri-Valley League play with a home game against Fillmore at 7:30 p.m.

Dos Pueblos has a bye this week.

San Marcos (1-5) at Santa Barbara (1-5) — Who will step up and make the plays to help his team win the 51st Big Game? A consistent playmaker didn’t emerged for either team during the pre-league games, but there are players who have shown the potential to be the difference makers. They include quarterback Shawn Ramos, receiver Emilio Gonzalez and running back Bradford Jellison for the Dons. For San Marcos, it’s receiver-kick returner Randee Harvey and quarterback Joe Rivera. The Verdict: The Dons have a slight edge in size on the line of scrimmage and have a dangerous passing combination with Ramos and Gonzalez. Santa Barbara 14, San Marcos 7

Bishop Diego (2-3) at Malibu (1-4-1) — The Cardinals are coming off their best performance of the year, a 50-18 win over St. Genevieve. Sophomore running back Jack Gregson (5 touchdowns) gives Bishop added pop in its offense. Gregson and Brandon Gonzalez should have productive games again as they run against a Malibu defense that has allowed 162 points. On offense, the Sharks like to throw the ball. Quarterback Chris Konkol passed 41 times for 185 yards last week in a 21-14 loss to L.A. Baptist. The Verdict: Bishop cleaned up a lot of the mistakes that hurt it earlier in the season and appears to be jelling as a unit. Bishop Diego 35, Malibu 12.

Fillmore (6-0) at Carpinteria (4-1)— The Tri-Valley League showed its might during the non-league schedule as every team posted a better than .500 record, topped by Fillmore and Nordhoff (6-0). Fillmore has an experienced and explosive team, led by senior quarterback Cory Cole (55 of 88 passing for 828 yards and nine touchdowns), running backs Nick Paz (505 yards, six TDs) and Collin Farrar (531 yards, seven TDs) and receiver Chris De La Paz (36 catches, 646 yards, seven TDs). The Flashes are averaging more than 40 points a game. Carpinteria’s offense also has been productive with quarterback Paul “Munchie” Aguilar, who rushed for 191 yards in last week’s win over a good Grace Brethren team and has 406 yards rushing for the season. The Verdict: Carpinteria’s defense has improved tremendously since giving up 36 points to Morro Bay in a season-opening loss. Look for it to have its best game. Carpinteria 28-20.