The Notre Dame football team was lined up for a routine 7-on-7 football drill on Wednesday evening. Everything was executed as orderly as usual — until an assistant coach zipped across the field and intercepted a pass from quarterback Steele Pizzella.
“Them being involved definitely makes us feel a lot more welcomed at Notre Dame,” Notre Dame safety Carson Brewster said with a smile. “I feel like we’ve got guys who think they’re in their prime still out here running with us. It definitely gives us a good look like going against some adults who’ve played college ball or even at the pro level.”
The Knights (5-5) have built up and relied on a close-knit environment to help them get through one do-or-die situation after another this season. Their latest challenge is at Simi Valley (9-1) Friday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.
Five of the Knights’ games have been decided by a touchdown or less, and after they lost to Chaminade in their penultimate Mission League game, they beat Loyola by one point in a game that helped them secure a spot in the playoffs.
“That’s what makes us so close together — because we play fighting to the last very last second,” safety Carson Brewster said. “There’s been last plays deciding the game and stuff like that. That’s really what makes football fun.”
Player connections between Notre Dame and Simi Valley add another layer to Friday night’s game. Pizzella previously played for the Pioneers and running back/corner Zane Tryon used to play for the Knights.
“Steele is, like, the nicest guy. There’s no bad blood there,” Brewster said. “Me and the guys have been talking about how we wanted to play Simi all year because we have friends there. It’s been a game I’ve been praying for and waiting on.”
Notre Dame’s Steele Pizzella, #6, runs for a gain with Bishop Amat’s Isaac Pichardo, #19, and Jimmy Ojeda, #61, in pursuit during first quarter action at Notre Dame High on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Notre Dame head coach Evan Yabu, who previously coached at Thousand Oaks, coached against Jim Benkert and Simi Valley when the Lancers and Pioneers competed in the Canyon League.
“You’re going up against, first and foremost, the winningest head coach in Ventura County history, who’s gone on dozens of playoff runs and had all kinds of success at all levels,” Yabu said.
“Playing against Jim and coaching against Jim in years past, I know how dynamic the teams that he prepares always are. So we’re just doing our best to be as ready as we possibly can.”
Simi Valley running back Brice Hawkins averages 120.4 yards per game and has scored 21 touchdowns this season. He’s also caught 29 passes for an additional 315 yards and four touchdowns.
The Knights’ defense is paced by Ehimen Oyamendan’s 80 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Six different players average 4.9 tackles or more per game and Notre Dame returns a linebacker this week in senior Patrick Chumo.
“He’s been dynamic, both running the football, catching it out of the backfield and in the return game,” Yabu said of Hawkins. “We’re going to be super aware of where he’s at on the field at all times.”
A tough Mission League schedule has prepared Notre Dame for Friday night. League opponent Sierra Canyon is a Division 1 team, Serra earned a spot in Division 2 and Loyola is in Division 3. It’s added to the Knights’ gritty mindset.
“We’re just gonna go in with the mindset of 1-0 every week and just do our job and play as a team,” Brewster said. “(Simi Valley) is definitely a team that we cannot underestimate, but we’ll definitely play as a family.”
In other playoff games Friday:
CIF-SS Division 1, first round
Servite (6-4) at Sierra Canyon (7-3)
The Trailblazers begin their second playoff journey as a CIF-SS Division 1 team against the Trinity League’s fifth-place team. Servite running back and San Diego State commit Quaid Carr rushes for an average of 110.2 yards per game and has scored 12 touchdowns. Sierra Canyon can rely on defensive linemen like Mikhal Johnson and Richie Wesley to help stop the run as well as linebackers like Nevada Miller and Rosen Zamorano.
Sierra Canyon wide receiver Jae’on Young runs with the ball during the Trailblazers’ away game against Serra High on Nov. 1st, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
City Division I, first round
Granada Hills (3-7) at North Hollywood (10-0)
East Valley League champion North Hollywood enters the L.A. City Section Division I playoffs with an unbeaten record. Its offense is led by running back Omar Muhammad, who could surpass 2,000 rushing yards this season. He currently stands at 1,798 yards and 24 touchdowns and averages 199.8 yards per game. Jagger Belson provides support on the ground and has collected 866 rushing yards. Granada Hills finished in a three-way tie for third place in the West Valley League and had big wins over Taft and Chatsworth while losing to Cleveland and El Camino Real by one point in each game.
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CIF-SS Division 6, first round
St. Francis (3-7) at Calabasas (6-4)
The Golden Knights won three of their last four games to earn a spot in the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs. Quarterback John Sanders has completed 59.1% of his passes this season for 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Deveon Blaylock has been his primary target and the receiver has caught 57 passes for 660 yards and six touchdowns. Calabasas closed out its Conejo Coast League season on a two-game win streak. Senior safety Tanner Magbanua leads the Coyote with 11 tackles for loss and defensive lineman Simon Lazarovits has three sacks. Both could be crucial to stopping St. Francis through the air.