Simi Valley football outlasts Thousand Oaks in high-scoring affair
SIMI VALLEY — On a cool evening in Simi Valley, things heated up quickly on the football field, as both the Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks football teams put on an offensive showcase in the first half, totaling 55 points between them.
The second half was relatively quiet offensively compared to the first, but Simi Valley was able to build on its halftime cushion with two scores in the third quarter, including an 84-yard touchdown catch and run by Quentin McGahan that put the game out of reach.
The 48-28 victory for Simi Valley improves its record to 2-3 after starting the season losing its first three games.
“The first thing is we stayed together. We could have quit at 0-3 with our daunting schedule that we have in front of us,” Simi Valley head coach Jim Benkert said. “But our kids stayed working hard. It’s been a work in progress and we saw flashes of what we can do. We played five really good football teams and I’m really proud of how they stayed together.”
McGahan’s 84-yard touchdown in the third quarter was a highlight for the wideout, but he was putting on a receiving clinic all game.
The senior displayed his flawless route-running ability and elusiveness with the ball in his hands whenever he caught a pass.
McGahan finished with six catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns and was one of quarterback Conner Petrov’s favorite targets all night.
“Q gets open, he’s a game-changer out there,” Petrov said. “He runs crisp routes and all I got to do is get him the ball. He makes my job easy.”
Senior running back Zane Tryon led the Pioneers on the ground with over 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Petrov also scored two rushing touchdowns, including a 45-yard scamper with 30 seconds left in the first half that gave the Pioneers added momentum heading into halftime.
“You saw what that kid can do. He’s special,” Benkert said of Petrov. “His teammates believe in him. They believe he can make the throws, make the runs, run the offense. They believe in him and that’s a big part of being successful.”
For Thousand Oaks, it was a night of firsts that the Lancers would like to have back.
It was the first loss of the season for Thousand Oaks and quarterback Jackson Taylor threw his first interception of the season.
But Taylor also set the record for most touchdown passes in school history after throwing four on Friday.
He now has 71 total career passing touchdowns, surpassing Max Gilliam’s record of 69.
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“It means a lot. There’s some really good names and some really successful people that came out of here,” Taylor said. “To be in the same conversation as those guys reminds me that the work that I’ve spent years doing is working. There’s a lot more to be done, but I won’t pretend that I’m not proud because I am. I have spent a lot of time, blood, sweat and tears preparing.”
Two of Taylor’s touchdown passes went to senior wideout Hayden Vercher.
Running back Jordan Johnson also scored a receiving touchdown and Luke Sullivan caught a touchdown pass.
Both teams will head on bye before starting league play on Friday, Oct. 3.