Newbury Park football starts fast, cruises past Pacifica

NEWBURY PARK  – The Newbury Park football team got things rolling early in Friday night’s 36-6 blowout win over Ventura County rival Pacifica of Oxnard. On its second play from scrimmage, quarterback and Florida State commit Brady Smigiel ran the ball for a 65-yard touchdown and the Panthers did not look back from there.

Smigiel completed 12 of 23 passes in the game for 170 yards with three touchdowns passes and also the early touchdown run. The Newbury Park defense was also relentless throughout the game, sacking Pacifica quarterback Dominic Duran five times and also forcing four turnovers. Linebacker Balen Betancourt led the way for the Panthers defense with three sacks in the contest.

“We played well. I think the difference between how we were last year and we are this year is we’re taking more of what the defense is giving us,” Newbury Park coach Joe Smigiel said. “They were playing a lot of two-man and dropping eight, so I thought we did a nice job of running the football and completing short passes.”

Smigiel’s favorite receiver in the game was Shane Rosenthal. Rosenthal finished with five catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception in the third quarter on defense which was his fourth interception already in three games this season.

Smigiel’s other touchdown pass in the game went to Alberto Ayon, who like Rosenthal, also had an interception on defense. Three of Smigiel’s four touchdowns came in the first half to help give Newbury a 30-3 halftime lead.

“It feels good to get the win, I thought my guys did a really good job out there,” Brady Smigiel said. “I feel like I’ve been doing a better job this year not trying to be Superman and not trying to take over the game because I know have guys around me and a really good offensive line this year.”

On defense, Newbury Park also got sacks from Michael Guzman and Carter Taylor and Cole Mills had the third interception for Newbury Park.

“The key to the game was to get pressure with three guys and our boys were doing their jobs,” Betancourt said. “We sent blitzes and they hit and we had a spy on the QB and he did a good job of not letting him go anywhere.”

Newbury Park’s offense also did a nice job running the ball with Pacifica dropping eight guys on several plays to worry about the passing threat. The Panthers had 197 total rushing yards in the game and also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run from Kayin Booker in the first half.

Newbury running back Tyler Stromsoe ran the ball 17 times for 78 yards and Ryder Sheehan ran the ball six times for 32 yards. Smigiel also added four carries for 76 yards including the 65-yard touchdown run early in the game. Bohdie Ing also connected on a 31-yard field goal for Newbury in the game.

Newbury Park will look to improve to 4-0 next week when they host St. Pius X-St. Matthias.