Camarillo Defense, Not Offense, Earns Title

With the spotlight focused on quarterback Joe Borchard all season, the Camarillo High defense spent its time in the shadows getting better and better.

And it was the defense that beamed the brightest after the Scorpions’ 20-14 victory over Notre Dame in the Southern Division III final before 9,300 Friday night at Camarillo High.

“The improvement of our defense is phenomenal,” said Andy Kroneberger, a senior cornerback who had an interception. “I can’t believe what we did here.”

Not after yielding 47 points in an early loss to Rio Mesa and having to outscore several Marmonte League teams in shootouts.

But Camarillo (13-1) held Notre Dame (12-2) in the first half while building a 17-0 lead, and after allowing two scoring drives, stiffened again on the Knights’ last two possessions.

“We knew they’d play good defense,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “If we would have played in the first half like we did in the second, we would have won.”

Knight tailback Justin Fargas, who came into the game with 2,774 rushing yards. But he was held to 201 yards in 31 carries, averaging 6.6 a carry, far less than the 11 yards he averaged coming in.

“This caps a fantastic season,” said Camarillo Coach Carl Thompson, who also was coach when the Scorpions won a Southern Section title in 1984. “These kids kept improving. That was the key.”