Camarillo High’s stadium is a familiar landmark along the 101. The drawing on the stands of the school’s mascot, the Scorpion, can been seen from the freeway.
The unbeaten Bishop Diego football team will be looking for landmark victory Friday when it travels to top-ranked and undefeated Camarillo for a CIF Northern Division semifinal game. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Bishop has been the surprise team of the playoffs, a school of 250 knocking off two much larger schools to reach this point. The 12-0 Cardinals will be up against an extra-motivated group of Scorpions. They’ll be playing for starting quarterback Jake Constantine, who is suspended from the game after getting two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in their quarterfinal win at St. Joseph.
Camarillo (12-0) is expected to go with sophomore Jake Moss.
Constandine is the leader on offense, but the Scorpions have plenty of other weapons and a tough defense. Isaiah Otis is big-play running back. He’s rushed for 1,029 yards and 17 touchdowns. Aaron Lamb has 682 yards rushing and 12 TDs. Frankie Tostado is the leading receiver with 16 touchdown receptions.
The defense is led by linebacker Brett Herron and end Wyatt Zambri. The unit is ferocious on the pass rush. The Scorpions recorded six sacks in a win over Arroyo Grande, the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Camarillo will face a Bishop offense that’s been dazzling in the postseason. The Cardinals have done a terrific job at mixing up their attack. They’ve pounded the ball inside with Mike Soracco and busted John Harris and AV Bennett on the outside. Quarterback Spencer Stovesand has been efficient passing the ball.
The defense has come up big in the playoffs against the potent offenses of Newbury Park and Palmdale. The Cardinals will have their hands full against a Camarillo squad that is playing with a chip on its shoulders. The pick: Camarillo
