The super-sized Marmonte League has three of the Top 17 teams in this week's CalHiSports' state rankings -- No. 1 Oaks Christian, No. 11 Moorpark and No. 17 St. Bonaventure.

Two weeks ago, prior to St. Bonaventure's upset to Bishop Amat, the poll had Oaks Christian at No. 1, St. Bonaventure at No. 3 and Moorpark at No. 13.

The total jumps to four teams in Rivals.com's Southern Section rankings -- No. 2 Oaks Christian, No. 4 Moorpark, No. 7 St. Bonaventure and No. 24 Westlake.

This week's CIF-SS rankings features No. 1 Moorpark, No. 3 St. Bonaventure, No. 4 Westlake and No. 5 Newbury Park in the Northern Division and No. 1 Oaks Christian in the Northwest Division.

"There's more bad news here," Simi Valley High athletic director Matt La Belle told Moorpark athletic director Rob Dearborn Thursday evening.

It looks like the Marmonte League added more state powers than playoff berths Thursday.

Originally, it was thought that 10-team league would split up into two divisions, each with three combined playoff berths. But it appears only 40 percent of the league will be guaranteed postseason berths, rather than 60 percent of a typical five-team league.

"We're in a 10-team league with nine league games," said Dearborn. "That's what's voted on and it can't be changed.

"We're not an association. We're a league. Big difference.

"We could split the league in half but we still only get four playoff spots, so it doesn't make much sense."

That would mean each school would have a single non-league game to schedule each season.

"We all have contracts for games that we're going to have to break," said Dearborn. "This is set by CIF. That's the way it is unless there's some new ground broken.

"It's a big, big mess."

Ventura High football coach Brad Steward on St. Bonaventure leaving the Channel League to join Oaks Christian in the new super Marmonte League next fall:

"I haven't any input in this thing at all. My response today was 'Wow, that's huge news!'

"I kind of have mixed emotions. I feel like... It's a difficult thing to express, isn't it? I've always enjoyed being able to prepare against the best team around. We'll have one more time. It's just been difficult coming out on the short end of it again and again.

"I'll miss that opportunity to play the best team in the state of California. We got to do that because they were in our league. It's exciting for our guys to put in the preparation like that.

(Is this solving anything? Isn't the Marmonte League just being put in the position the Channel League has been in?)

"Maybe those guys are better suited to having them than we are. I do feel like we've had our turn."

"Things change. I think we need to do as good a job as we can, frequently, to make sure we do the best job we can for kids."

Ventura High athletic director and Channel League representative David Hess on St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian joining the Marmonte League for the 2010 season, which proposed Thursday in Long Beach:

"I was pretty surprised. We're happy in that our goal from the start of this process was to find a more competitive place for St. Bonaventure football... We feel that we have done that... As it played out, my ultimate obligation was to take care of kids in the Channel League and at Ventura High.

"As (the) meeting approached, nobody was talking to us, which was an indicator that people were talking in a way that was not going to go well for the Channel League... So we needed to look at the process and what was available to us. 

"What do we think will work if whole lot of schools that are not in Ventura County are voting? How do we tell the story?

"We did not want to bring St. Bonaventure in for all sports... Ultimately we felt that would not be good for all sports for St. Bonaventure."

"We didn't want to do something that was simply punative... If we supported St. Bonaventure coming into the league for all sports, we were saying that it was alright for St. Bonaventure to be in the Channel League for football and we're not... We wanted to stand on that principle."

Agoura High football coach Charlie Wegher on St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian joining the Marmonte League for football beginning in 2010:

"I was a little surprised because I had heard that proposal floated. I didn't think it had much of a chance to succeed. But that's not how it went.

"Before I can fully react, I need to know how we're going to break down the league."

(Are you against a full 10-team league with nine league games?)

"Oh yeah, that can't be. That's not right. You can still schedule the same teams (prior to league play). But I think if you're going to do what's right, you need to have four league games and six preseason games.

"I haven't done a lot of thinking on what is best, but I have a feeling they'll probably try to make two competitive leagues."

Royal High football coach Kevin Flye's reaction on St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian joining the Marmonte League for the 2010 season:

"You don't want to hear my reaction. It's obviously not a good thing. I'm with the majority that feels that private schools have no business in our leagues.

"It's not a good day. One of them coming in would have been bad enough. But two? There's not one good thing about it."

(is it a surprise?)

"From what I hear, there are different scenarios. We knew this might happen. I hear now that the Thousand Oaks schools may be trying to put something together.

"It depends on what half (of the league) you're in how you really feel about it.

"It may be a full-power league. Now teams that don't make the playoffs won't make the playoffs. It's not a good deal.

"It's something we thought might happen. It hoped it would."

(What about if the top five were put in one side and the bottom five put in another)

"Let's be honest. That benefits us, if we're in the right half of the league. But I have friends coaching at those other schools. It's just not right."

Shocking events today from The Grand in Long Beach, where a late proposal to lump Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure into the Marmonte League for football was passed by the CIF-Southern Section council.

Here's David Lassen on the events:

LONG BEACH - Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure will end up in the same football league after all - but it will be a 10-team Marmonte League,  not a proposed four-team private-school football league.

Endorsing appeals by Ventura and Calabasas high schools, the CIF-Southern Section council voted Thursday to move the area's private-school powers into the Marmonte League for football only, while leaving all other schools intact.

In doing so by a 41-21 vote with nine abstentions, the council - a body representing one vote for each Southern Section league - overrode a vote by the nine leagues in the Northern Area that would have had Oaks Christian and Calabasas change places, with Oaks Christian joining the Marmonte League for all sports, while moving Calabasas into the Tri-County Athletic Association.

Coming at the end of a long and contentious releaguing process, the decision is final and will take affect for four seasons, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.

"As football in Ventura County goes, I believe it's a good thing," said St. Bonaventure principal Marc Groff. "Since it's football only. ... I'm certainly very interested to see what these other configurations are. I need to digest it a little bit."

The 10-team league will be split into two five-team units, details of which are uncertain.

"From a football interest standpoint, I think people in Ventura County should be excited that the best teams are all going to play each other."

The plan to put Oaks and St. Bonaventure in the same league was floated early in the releaguing process but did not gain traction within the Northern Area's releaguing procedure. So its reemergence, as a proposal introduced at Thursday's meeting, created a wide range of reaction.

Lassen's live Twitter updates are available here. More to come at VCStar.com later in the day.

Marmonte League

Westlake 43, Thousand Oaks 17: Westlake takes the long route to victory by Loren Ledin in Westlake.
Newbury Park 55, Simi Valley 12: Roberson can't be stopped by Sean Ceglinsky in Newbury Park.
Royal 34, Agoura 28: Royal holds off Agoura charge by Brendan Malloy in Simi Valley.
Moorpark 35, Calabasas 7: Moorpark rolls past Calabasas by Lance O'Fallon in Moorpark.

Northern Division non-league

Bishop Amat 24, St. Bonaventure 23 (OT): Seraphs can't pull out another OT win by David Lassen in La Puente.
Buena 29, Pacifica 26: Comebacks carry Buena past Pacifica by Ted Cotti in Ventura.
Camarillo 26, Ventura 25: Camarillo holds rally at Ventura's expense by Derry Eads in Ventura.
Oxnard 28, San Marcos 0: Oxnard cruises to shutout of San Marcos by Rich Romine in Santa Barbara.
Atascadero 29, Hueneme 21: Hueneme suffers first defeat by Jeffrey Dransfeldt in Port Hueneme.
Santa Paula 43, Santa Clara 7: Santa Paula drops Santa Clara by J.J. Rivera in Santa Paula.
St. Francis 41, Rio Mesa 0

Northwestern Division non-league
Oaks Christian 33, Venice 13: Jones runs wild in Oaks Christian win by Joe Curley in Venice.
Fillmore 28, Carpinteria 21: Both sides of ball key Fillmore win by Bob Buttitta in Fillmore.
Twentynine Palms 6, Oak Park 0: Oak Park shut out by Twentynine Palms by Richie Wohlers in Oak Park.

One thing that stuck out in Thursday night's prep football results was the collective performance by the Pacific View League, which went 3-1 against the Marmonte League.

The only PVL loss was Rio Mesa's loss at Newbury Park and there were times in the first half in which the Spartans looked like eventual league champions.

On the other hand, the Marmonte League was a disappointing 2-5 Thursday night, including Thousand Oaks' loss at Buena in one of the night's key interconference showdowns.

The Marmonte League held its league meeting today and decided to extend an invitation to Oaks Christian School to participate in its league while leaving Calabasas to find another league pending CIF-SS approval. This was the official press release issued a few minutes ago:

"The Marmonte League has extended an invitation to Oaks Christian High School to join the members of the Marmonte League which include:  Agoura High School, Moorpark High School, Newbury Park High School, Royal High School, Thousand Oaks High School and Westlake High School to participate fully in all league sports.

"While the Marmonte League recognizes Calabasas High School and the contributions it has brought to the league it regrets the affects this decision will have on them; however, it is in the best interest of the League to extend this invitation to Oaks Christian High School to have full participation in all sports."

Here are The Star's top 10 high school sports stories for Jan. 12-18, not necessarily in order of importance:

Alexis Lee scored two twice, Alisa Argend added another and goalie Jessie Smit made 11 blocks, but the Ventura High girls' water polo team (7-2) opened Channel League play with 4-3 loss against Santa Barbara.

In the first round of Marmonte League play, Agoura swampted Thousand Oaks 14-4 and Royal edged Westlake 6-3 on Casey Creek's three goals.

Congratulations to league champions Moorpark, St. Bonaventure, Oxnard, Oaks Christian and Santa Paula. Plaudits also go to Friday's rivalry winners Thousand Oaks, Royal, Oxnard, Camarillo and Channel Islands.

Here's the weekend's box scores.

Here's how the playoff picture looks.

Marmonte League

Moorpark 35, Westlake 0: Moorpark takes it all for itself by Loren Ledin in Moorpark
Thousand Oaks 27, Newbury Park 26: Game-winning grab seals thrilling TO win by Joe Curley in Newbury Park
Royal 24, Simi Valley 0: Royal completes season with Simi win by Richie Wohlers in Simi Valley
Agoura 49, Calabasas 18: Agoura finishes with win by Lance O'Fallon in Calabasas

Channel League

St. Bonaventure 50, San Marcos 0: St. Bonaventure hits its number by Rich Romine in Ventura.
Ventura 52 Santa Barbara 28: Ventura picks its spots by JEffrey Dransfeldt in Ventura.
Dos Pueblos 17, Buena 9: Dos Pueblos holds on to beat Buena by Dan Shiells in Ventura.

Pacific View League

Oxnard 33, Pacifica 14: Oxnard scores a perfect 10 by Derry Eads in Oxnard
Camarillo 14, Rio Mesa 13: Big-play Baca the difference for Camarillo by Zachary McVicker in Oxnard.
Channel Islands 20, Hueneme 6: Channel Islands finds inspiration by Ivan Yeo in Oxnard

Tri-Valley League

Oaks Christian 62, Nordhoff 8: Oaks Christian rolls on short field by David Lassen in Westlake Village
Santa Clara 14, Carpenteria 13: Santa Clara backups carry it to second-place finish by J.J. Rivera in Oxnard
Oak Park-Bishop Diego cancelled: Billingsley quietly ends career by Rhiannon Potkey

Frontier League

Santa Paula 42, Grace Brethren 40: Santa Paula claims Frontier by Bob Buttitta in Santa Paula.
Villanova 25, Malibu 14: Villanova commits to winning finale by Jeffrey Dransfeldt in Ojai

Marmonte League
Moorpark 33, Calabasas 0: Moorpark clinches Marmonte title by Lance O'Fallon in Calabasas.
Thousand Oaks 28, Westlake 16: TO plays power ball by Loren Ledin in Thousand Oaks.
Newbury Park 34, Simi Valley 14: Roberson, Newbury Park run past Simi Valley by Richie Wohlers in Simi Valley.
Agoura 42, Royal 17: Arias directs Agoura victory by Brendan Malloy in Agoura Hills.

Channel League
Ventura 27, Buena 19: Ventura powers by Buena by Bob Buttitta in Ventura.
St. Bonaventure 56, Dos Pueblos 9: St. Bonaventure romps by Dan Shiells in Santa Barbara.

Pacific View League
Oxnard 49, Channel Islands 0: McCowan carries Oxnard over CI by Jeffrey Dransfeldt in Oxnard.
Pacifica 27, Camarillo 7: Pacifica ready for Oxnard showdown by Zachary McVicker in Camarillo.
Rio Mesa 10, Hueneme 7: Rio Mesa wins battle of winless teams by J.J. Rivera in Oxnard.

Tri-Valley League
Oaks Christian 49, Santa Clara 6: Oaks Christian in a league of its own by Derry Eads in Westlake Village.
Nordhoff 20, Oak Park 13: Nordhoff rallies past Oak Park by Ted Cotti in Ojai.

Frontier League
Santa Paula 26, Malibu 7: Santa Paula holds off Malibu by Rich Romine in Malibu.
Fillmore 49, Grace Brethren 46: Fillmore outslugs Grace Brethren by Ivan Yeo in Fillmore.

Santa Paula shocked host Fillmore, 34-14, Friday night in a special rendition of the county's oldest rivalry. Derry Eads was there.

Here is this weekend's prep football boxes. Here is the rest of the coverage:

Marmonte League
Moorpark 17, Agoura 6: Defense leads Moorpark victory by Loren Ledin in Moorpark.
Thousand Oaks 21, Royal 7: T.O. able to fend off Royal by David Lassen in Simi Valley.
Newbury Park 35, Calabasas 0: Newbury Park blanks Calabasas by Richie Wohlers in Newbury Park.
Westlake 34, Simi Valley 10: Westlake beats Simi by Loren Ledin in Westlake Village, Thursday.

Channel League
Ventura 31, Dos Pueblos 7: Second-half outburst lifts Ventura by Ivan Yeo in Ventura.
Buena 35, San Marcos 10: Davis carries Buena by Dan Shiells in Santa Barbara.
St. Bonaventure 51, Santa Barbara 21: St. Bonaventure rolls by Dan Shiells in Santa Barbara.

Pacific View League
Oxnard 42, Rio Mesa 3: Oxnard breaks away from Rio Mesa by Rich Romine in Oxnard.
Pacifica 38, Channel Islands 7: Moraga lifts Pacifica by Lance O'Fallon in Oxnard.
Camarillo 24, Hueneme 6: Camarillo holds of Hueneme by Zachary McVicker in Camarillo.

Tri-Valley League
Oaks Christian 54, Oak Park 0: OC shows OP what a difference a year makes by Joe Curley in Agoura Hills.
Santa Clara 42, Bishop Diego 10: Santa Clara maintains its focus by Mike Traphagen in Santa Barbara, Thursday.

Frontier League
Santa Paula 34, Fillmore 14: Santa Paula takes control by Derry Eads in Fillmore

What a Friday night in local prep football, highlighted by Moorpark's comeback over Thousand Oaks in the Marmonte League showdown and Fillmore's huge third quarter at Malibu in the Frontier League showdown.

Here's all the box scores from Friday night's games. Click play on the audio players to hear Star reporters recap games on Friday Football Final on KVTA 1520 AM Ventura and HomefieldSports.com:

Marmonte League

Moorpark 20, Thousand Oaks 17: Moorpark alone at the top by Loren Ledin in Thousand Oaks
Westlake 50, Royal 21: Westlake too much for Royal by Brendan Malloy in Westlake Village
Newbury Park 32, Agoura 30: Roberson finds short cut to victory by David Lassen in Newbury Park
Simi Valley 21, Calabasas 10: Simi Valley struggles but beats Calabasas by Richie Wohlers in Simi Valley


Channel League

St. Bonaventure 24, Ventura 6: Hall's run helps Seraphs hold off Ventura by Zachary McVicker in Ventura
Santa Barbara 35, Buena 18: Buena remains winless in league by Ivan Yeo in Ventura
San Marcos 24, Dos Pueblos 17

Pacific View League

Oxnard 41, Hueneme 0: Oxnard rolls past Hueneme by Jeffrey Dransfeldt in Port Hueneme

Pacifica 31, Rio Mesa 14: Pacifica picks apart Rio Mesa by J.J. Rivera in Oxnard
Camarillo 28, Channel Islands 7: Mathews passes Camarillo past CI by Rich Romine in Oxnard


Tri-Valley League

Oaks Christian 56, Carpinteria 0: Oaks rolls past Carpinteria by staff reports
Santa Clara 21, Oak Park 7: Perfect scenario possible by Derry Eads in Oak Park

Nordhoff 14, Bishop Diego 10: Backup plan works for Nordhoff by Ted Cotti in Ojai

Frontier League

Fillmore 49, Malibu 29: Fillmore overwhelms Malibu by Joe Curley in Malibu.

Santa Paula 29, Villanova 14: Santa Paula earns first league win since '04 by Lance O'Fallon in Santa Paula

Sometimes where you start has a whole lot to do with where you end up. Which is another way of saying It would be hard to overstate the significance of field position in Newbury Park's 32-30 win over Agoura on Friday night.
It wasn't just that all five Newbury Park scoring drives were 59 yards or less. Overall, the Panthers' average starting position was their own 42 -- their own 46 in the first half -- while Agoura's average start was at its 24 in the first half and 26 overall.
You can win a lot of races with a 20-yard head start.
"That means the defense did its job," said Newbury Park coach Gary Fabricius. "People are going to look at 32-30 and think it there wasn't defense, but our guys made some big plays at some big times."
It also helps explain why Newbury Park led from start to finish even though Agoura finished with more yards, 347 to the Panthers' 281.
The field-position issue was particularly tough for Agoura with sophomore Gerrard Poutier making his first varsity start at quarterback. Poutier showed a lot of poise in his baptism by fire, completing his final seven passes as part of a 15-for-24 night, but when the Chargers started at their 6, 33, 18 and 6 in a four-possession stretch in the second and third quarters, they were obviously working from a drastically shortened playbook.
Poutier started because senior Justin Arias is still recovering from a concussion suffered against Simi Valley, but the Chargers did everything they could not to tip their hand. Arias dressed out and warmed up, but one week after sustaining that concussion, he was never going to play. Coach Charlie Wegher was simply trying not to tip his hand about the QB change any sooner than he absolutely had to.
 

Here is today's coverage in the Star of Friday night's prep football, complete with a few updates from our reporters on Friday Football Final on KTVA 1520 AM Ventura and HomefieldSports.com:

Marmonte League

Westlake 35, Newbury Park 12: Westlake has all phases covered by David Lassen in Westlake Village
Moorpark 40, Royal 14: A transfer of power by Loren Ledin in Simi Valley

Simi Valley 34, Agoura 31: Simi Valley ends difficult week by ending losing skid by Joe Curley in Simi Valley

Thousand Oaks 49, Calabasas 9: Lister's 4 TDs lift TO by Rich Romine in Calabasas


Channel League

St. Bonaventure 44, Buena 6: Buena learns valuable lessons by Bob Buttita in Ventura
Ventura 41, San Marcos 16: Ventura routs San Marcos by Jeffery Dransfeldt in Ventura

Pacific View League

Oxnard 49, Camarillo 0: Oxnard looks invincible by Derry Eads in Camarillo

Pacifica 35, Hueneme 13: Moraga, Pacifica roll past Hueneme by J.J. Rivera in Oxnard
Channel Islands 23, Rio Mesa 20 (OT): Channel Islands adds to Rio Mesa's frustration by Zachary McVicker in Oxnard

Tri-Valley League

Santa Clara 21, Nordhoff 16: Wood has the answer by Ted Cotti in Ojai

Oak Park 21, Carpinteria 14: Oak Park rallies from 14-point deficit by Brendan Malloy in Oak Park
Oaks Christian 61, Bishop Diego 0: Oaks Christian routs Bishop Diego by Dan Shiells in Santa Barbara

Frontier League

Malibu 51, Grace Brethren 50: Grace Brethren falls just short by Ivan Yeo in Moorpark
Fillmore 49, Villanova Prep 6: Fillmore runs by Villanova Prep by Mike Traphagen in Carpinteria
Santa Paula 43, Grant 7: Santa Paula has plenty of ways to get Grant by Lance O'Fallon in Santa Paula


You can listen to Friday Football Final in its entirety here:

Keith Williams' third TD catch of the night gives winless Simi Valley a 34-24 lead over visiting Agoura with 9:53 to play.

The Agoura High football  took a 10-point lead on Kyle Dungandzic's 29-yard field goal and Arias' 35-yard scoring strike to Bryce Majdick, but Simi Valley fought back to take a 20-16 halftime lead on Jared Zahorik's 24-yard scoring strike to Keith Williams and Tim Ferralli's 5-yard touchdown pass to Brent Keys.

Three different Pioneers have taken snaps at quarterback. Agoura QB Justin  Arias completed 12 of his first 14 passes for 274 yards and a TD.

Lucky Radley, who has nearly 600 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in five games,  is in uniform, but has yet to take the field offensively.