ANTICIPATION—Simi Valley High football player Joey Vacca waits to play Moorpark earlier this season. Vacca and the Pioneers battle rival Royal at 7 tonight at home. Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers
Dameon Porter is the only man on Simi Valley High’s campus.
The sun’s still tussling with the snooze button, but the Pioneers’ first-year football head coach is eager to get the week started right.
He’s watching film of rival Royal in his classroom when he glances out his window, which overlooks a usually bustling quad.
BUST A MOVE—Royal’s Sean Hoover runs against Agoura during an Oct. 20 Canyon League game.
The Royal-Simi Valley football rivalry inspired the coach to share the moment in time on his Twitter feed.
“Sitting in the dark, it’s quiet, & you can feel it already. #RivalryWeek,” he wrote.
It’s the calm before the storm. The storm arrives at 7 tonight, when Simi Valley and Royal play for second place in the Canyon League and a lifetime of bragging rights.
Royal second-year head coach Matthew Lewis got his first taste of the storied rivalry last year.
THREE KINGS—Royal will count on, from left, Colin Mitchell, Ezekiel Savage and Chris Hulin during tonight’s game against Simi Valley. Mitchell and Hulin are twoway standouts at receiver and defensive back. Savage starts at quarterback for the Highlanders.
“It was quiet but loud at the same time,” Porter said of that Monday morning. “Each day, the intensity grows.”
“The kids came into meetings Saturday morning, and I was really struck with how locked into the details they were,” Porter said. “The energy and focus has been phenomenal.”
The Pioneers have to be locked in. The 49th edition of this rivalry once again comes with playoff implications.
A fourth straight win against Royal will allow Simi Valley (2-6 overall, 1-1 in league) to seize second place and earn an automatic postseason berth. If Royal (5-4, 1-1) can take back the James Tutino Memorial Trophy, the Highlanders will have a spot in the dance.
“You don’t want to lose,” said Chase Hamrick, Simi Valley’s junior strong safety.
“It’d mean a lot, especially since they kicked us out of playoffs last year and they have a chance to do it again this year,” Savage said. “The competition is a lot different. It feels different. You can’t go in there thinking because you won more games than them that you’re going to beat them.”
The Pioneers know this one is anyone’s game.
Riley Hunt, a Simi Valley junior receiver, said it’s hard not to get swept up in the emotions.
“We try to make it the same, but there’s no way around it,” he said. “It’s going to be different than any other game, especially being the last game of the season. It makes it even more important.”
FIND A GROOVE—Simi Valley High’s Brandon Lemoi runs against Moorpark earlier this season. MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers
Simi Valley stopped the skid with a win over Channel Islands on Sept. 29. The Pioneers opened league with a crucial 21-14 victory against Oak Park on Oct. 20.
Hunt, who is also a sprinter on the track and field team, said he’s never felt the sting of defeat against the Highlanders in either sport. He doesn’t want to start now.
“We want to just keep the streak going,” Hunt said. “This game means a lot. It’s not just a rivalry. It’s making the playoffs to keep the season going.”
Blake Adams, Simi Valley’s sophomore quarterback, said the looming clash has brought out the best in his teammates during practice this week.
“All of a sudden it seems like everyone knows football now,” he said. “Usually when we do film everyone is pretty quiet.”
The Pioneers were extra vocal during this week’s film session, pointing out footwork shortfalls in the Highlander secondary and other weaknesses they felt they could exploit.
“They were even asking questions about concepts versus defenses,” Adams said.
Simi Valley’s worked out most of the kinks that hindered the team early in the season. Porter said he believes his team has found its stride in time for the epic clash.
“I think we’ve found spots for guys and guys have settled in,” he said. “Defensively, we’ve been playing more consistently.”
The Pioneers welcome back junior linebacker Sean Weber, the team’s leading tackler who missed last week’s Agoura game with an injury. Fellow junior linebackers Jake Sebring and Brandon Aghassi solidify the defense.
Pioneer defensive linemen Tucker Nicklas, Christian Cavaliere and Anthony Greenberg will be busy in the trenches going up against a powerful Royal offensive line, which features brothers Elijah and Malachi Ae.
Linemen Tyler Delahunt, Koltin Beisel and Jacob Senn must block well for Royal on offense. Savage will try to air it out to receivers Colin Mitchell, Chris Hulin and Edward Fernandez, or hand the pigskin to running back Khyle Shiffer.
Simi Valley, which is dealing with some injuries at the running back position, has playmakers in receivers Traevon Marston, Jack Stafford and Hunt. The Pioneers will rely on senior offensive linemen Eric Sanchez and Dane Gasper to buy Adams time to throw.
Jose Romero, a Royal senior who transferred from Ridgeview High in Bakersfield during his junior year, will also get his first look at this storied rivalry.
“I’ve heard it’s going to be an intense game,” the defensive end said. “Everyone is talking about it in every class. I’m looking forward to beating them and getting the trophy back.”
A tight game could come down to the kickers. Nico Villamizar, a junior, nails field goals for Simi Valley. Seniors Garrett Benavidez-Villaseñor, a Simi Valley transfer, and Angel Cervantes handle kicking duties for Royal.
“I definitely want to win this game and make the playoffs,” Shiffer said. “We want to make a good run during the playoffs.”