Oaks Christian football earns road win against Simi Valley

SIMI VALLEY — Simi Valley football fans were given treats by their team after halftime. The Pioneers faced an early deficit, and on the first drive of the second half, Simi Valley drove right down the field, scoring a touchdown.

The Oaks Christian Lions spoiled the treat instantly with a trick up its sleeve – speed. All night long, the Pioneers made sure not to kick it to the Lions’ talented returners, but on the ensuing drive after the Simi Valley touchdown, they did.

Lions’ Christian Butler fielded the kickoff on the 5-yard line, and in his white jersey, he moved like a true ghost down the field. In a matter of seconds, Simi Valley was chanting, and moments later, silence. Butler took the kickoff 95 yards to the house, delivering a crushing blow to Pioneers fans in the stadium.

Oaks Christian (4-6, 3-2 Marmonte League) used the momentum from the return beating Simi Valley (3-7, 1-4 Marmonte League) 27-14.

“It just speaks to the resilience of this team,” Oaks Christian head coach Charlie Collins said. “We’re not dead at all. We had a tough start. But I always tell the guys, it’s not how we start, it’s how we finish. And we finished the right way.”

Butler gave the Pioneers a scare, but the haunting presence Simi Valley faced all game was Lions running back Deshonne Redeaux, who finished with 26 carries for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Throughout the entire game, his speed gave Simi Valley nightmares. The USC-commit displayed it during his longest carry of the game on a speed option play in the middle of the second quarter. It’s clear he’s a staple of the Lions offense, with the first five plays being handoffs to him.

He didn’t have many open creases or holes, but when he did, he zipped through them in a flash.

“We were a semi-finalist team last year, and that’s the same kid that almost had 300 yards rushing,” Collins said. “So he’s been resilient for three years. It’s just a matter of us keeping him healthy and staying healthy, but there’s never a doubt that he was gonna play well. We knew it, we expected it, and he didn’t let us down.”

The Lions’ passing attack was steady throughout the game, but when they went deep, receiver Jaxon Sharp usually was underneath the ball. Sharp showcased his speed on what would’ve been a 64-yard touchdown pass on a go route late in the third quarter, but a holding penalty brought the play back.

Sharp still finished with three receptions for 68 yards, including a 33-yard catch in the first half, setting up the first Redeaux touchdown of the game. Lions quarterback Niko Bladow finished the game going 18-for-29 for 202 yards.

“He’s amazing,” Collins said of Bladow. “First year having to start at varsity. I can’t say enough about the kid’s character, but his resilience as well. But I’m just happy for him.”

Oaks Christian’s defense shut down the rushing attack from the Pioneers, limiting them to under 100 yards and starting quarterback Dawson Armstrong. Armstrong finished 13 for 28 with 99 yards, leading his offense to only seven points through two and a half quarters.

The Pioneers knew a change had to happen, and they opted to put in sophomore quarterback Connor Petrov, who gave the offense an instant spark. He threw two strikes of 35 and 24 yards, with one going to wide receiver Quentin McGahan.

Later, Petrov found McGahan along the left sideline in the corner of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 27-14.

Petrov shone, but the stifling defense of the Lions was still too tough to overcome later in the fourth. He threw an interception to Lions Davon Benjamin, who all but sealed the game for the Lions. Petrov finished 9 for 20 with 124 yards, a touchdown and one interception.

It wasn’t the season either team expected to have after the results of the 2024 season. The Lions’ losing their quarterback earlier this season to a transfer led to unexpected adversity. While the season finale was played on a night meant for scares, Oaks Christian faced enough horrors for one season. So what did they do? The Lions made sure to end the regular season with smiles and triumph.

“We never wavered when we were 1-5,” Collins said. “We just knew we would get to this point. And I would say this, wherever they put us in the playoffs, they better watch out, because we’re not scared of nobody.”