Dos Pueblos defensive lineman Tyler Fletcher reaches for Newbury Park’s Matt Matlock who runs past a block from Zach Okun, an Oregon recruit, on Daniel Hernandez.
Dos Pueblos had nowhere to go on Friday night against Newbury Park as the CIF Northern Division’s top-ranked team smothered the Chargers 51-0 at O’Leary Stadium.
Dos Pueblos, which trailed 37-0 at halftime, was manhandled by the Panthers’ defense and finished the game with a mere nine yards. The Chargers offense never even made it to Panthers territory.
“There’s a reason they’re a No. 1 team and they played like a No. 1 team,” said Chargers head coach Nate Mendoza. “It’s unfortunate we didn’t put up a better fight because I feel like our team is better than 51-0 for sure.”
Newbury Park has averaged 44 points in its four games this season but the defense had given up 50 in its past two contests.
“That was one of our best defensive efforts,” declared Panthers head coach Gary Fabricius.
Newbury Park forced three turnovers, including a fumble recovery in the third quarter that senior Blake Burgess returned 25 yards for a touchdown.
When Dos Pueblos didn’t turn it over, the Chargers struggled to gain any ground.
Dos Pueblos mustered only two net yards on offense in the first half and seven more in the second half for a total of nine yards.
“We play a penetrating defense more than a reading,” Fabricius explained. “Maybe they were facing some read-and-react guys, and our guys are on the move trying to get in the gap. Maybe they weren’t quite ready for that. We did shoot some gaps and maybe that’s what hurt their run game.”
On top of Burgess’ touchdown, the Panthers defense recorded three sacks and a safety.
“We improved greatly on our tackling. They barely crossed the line of scrimmage without getting hit. It was great,” Burgess said of the defensive effort. “We did good on our man coverage and we blitzed a lot. It was greatly effective.”
With Newbury Park’s defense acting like a brick wall, Dos Pueblos’ turnovers and miscues were magnified.
“We needed to create some momentum in the first quarter,” Mendoza said. “You can’t make mistakes against a real talented team like that and unfortunately we made a lot of mistakes.”
While the defense was dominant, Newbury Park’s running game emerged as senior captain Matt Matlock received more carries than he has all season. Matlock, who has been working his way back from injury, scored two touchdowns. The first was a 49-yard run that put the Panthers on the board 7-0.
Matlock’s long run came on Newbury Park’s third possession, which was followed by touchdowns on four of the next five possessions before halftime. Dalton Geringer’s interception set up a 1-yard scoring play by Chucky Smith that made the score 14-0 with 5:05 left in the first quarter.
The safety came on DP’s next possession when a high snap on 4th down sailed over the punter’s head and into the end zone.
Matlock, who totaled 143 yards rushing on 17 carries. scored his second touchdown on an 11-yard scamper in the second quarter.
Dos Pueblos’ inability to move the ball on offense led to repeated great field position for Newbury Park’s offense. Quarterback Daniel Prieto threw for two touchdowns in the second quarter. He found Ryan Mcgee for a 9-yard score followed by a 2-yard lob to Darick Holmes Jr.
“The defense gave us great field position,” Fabricius said. “I mean, short porches in the first half and we finally got our running game going.”
Newbury Park led 37-0 at halftime.
Dos Pueblos was stunned after scoring 42 points the week before.
“We were (mad after the game),” said Chargers defensive back Jeff Uyesaka. “It’s more wood to fire, fuel to the fire to get ready for the next game against Lompoc.”
Uyesaka’s second-quarter interception was Dos Pueblos’ high point.
Newbury Park (4-0) takes on Cathedral Catholic (3-1) next Friday. Dos Pueblos (1-3) travels to Lompoc (4-0) for a Thursday-night game.
BOX SCORE
Newbury Park 16 21 14 0 – 51
Dos Pueblos 0 0 0 0 – 0
FIRST QUARTER
7:14 – Matlock 49-yard run (PAT)
5:05 – Smith 1-yard run (PAT)
2:57 – Safety
SECOND QUARTER
9:20 – Matlock 11-yard run (PAT)
4:10 – Mcgee 9-yard pass from Prieto (PAT)
0:08 – D. Holmes 2-yard pass from Prieto (PAT)
THIRD QUARTER
7:58 – Burgess – 25-yard fumble return (PAT)
0:08 – Juels 1-yard run (PAT)
TEAM TOTALS NP DP
First Downs 14 1
Rushes 39-242 ; 16- -17
Passing 13-25-1-125 ; 7-16-2-23
Fumbles 1-0; 2-1
Penalties 3-45; 4-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RECEIVING – NP – D. Holmes Jr. 7-68, Geringer 1-14, Mcgee 2-30, D. Holmes 2-10, Matlock 1-3. DP – Kanen 3-22, Davison 2- -6, Yee 1-9, Harris 1- -2
PASSING: Prieto – 13-25-1-125 ; Roberts 7-16-2-23
RUSHING – Matlock 17-143, D. Holmes Jr. 2-20, Mello 6-44, Faga 4-7, Juels 6-11, Frovarp 2-16, Smith 1-1, Prieto 1-0. DP – Davison 4-6, Harris 6-22, Roberts 4- -42, Nwosu 1- -3
