Oaks Christian football drops opener to Chaminade

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — If Oaks Christian playing Chaminade to open the football season sounds familiar, that’s because it is.

The two teams, separated by about 10 miles on the 101 Freeway, met on Friday night for the ninth time in 10 years, with the last four games being split.

What felt unfamiliar, however, was the elite play from the quarterback for Chaminade, a team that struggled at the position last year.

Cameron Pooley, a junior who was forced into action as a sophomore last year due to injuries, looked like a completely different player than he did last season.

Pooley was collected in the pocket, made smart decisions with the football, and most importantly, kept the turnover battle in Chaminade’s favor.

Pooley led the Eagles to a 42-27 win over the Lions with 143 passing yards and two touchdowns, but more importantly, no turnovers.

“Confidence,” Pooley said. “The whole offseason, showing that I’m the best at my position and I can be any guy, day in, day out. I came in with that mindset in this game and I’m proud of my teammates who supported me.”

Chaminade built an early 35-14 lead heading into halftime, behind its stout offensive line and rushing attack.

The five offensive linemen, Harout Agazaryan, Shane Katz, Jordan Ward, Chase Mason and Mateo Bilaver held the line steady, allowing for big holes.

Chaminade’s trio of running backs, Marquis Jones, Shilo Beavers and Cameron Blackman, followed their blockers to near-perfection, using the ground and pound game to ice the game.

The Eagles used a 15-play drive that burned more than eight minutes off the clock late in the fourth quarter, culminating in a 5-yard touchdown run by Beavers

“We want to run the ball down their throat,” Agazaryan said. “We knew we had to come together and take the clock off the board. We just ran the ball down their throat.”

After a slow start, USC commit Deshonne Redeaux and the Lions’ offense started to pick up steam in the second half. Redeaux scored two touchdowns, including an 80-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, to bring the Lions within two scores.

Chaminade’s offensive line was too much to handle, though, and the Eagles were able to hold off the surging Lions.

Chaminade head coach David Machuca, to his motto, said after his team enjoys the win tonight, it’s on to Valencia next week.

“I said enjoy until we get in at 10,” Machuca said. “Then 1 p.m., it’s over.”