Brady Smigiel demonstrates off his 'Chosen One' capabilities in dominant Newbury Park get

When you exit the 101 Freeway at Wendy Push, you know you’re getting into Panthers territory, residence of Newbury Park High. It was homecoming on Friday evening. The alumni are employed to looking at major quarterbacks, from Wayne Cook to Keith Smith to Cameron Increasing.

So envision the anticipation and enjoyment to finally get a glimpse at the Picked One particular, 6-foot-5 freshman quarterback Brady Smigiel, actively playing in a Canyon League opener from Simi Valley Royal.

The bleachers were packed. There was tri-tip from Cronies Athletics Grill smoked to perfection. There were fireworks for the to start with time considering that 2019 exploding in the sky for the duration of halftime. The university student segment was crammed with pupils wearing colourful Hawaiian shirts.

The young quarterback did not disappoint. On his to start with go of the game in shotgun development, Smigiel took the snap and fired a deep spiral to Shane Rosenthal in comprehensive stride, resulting in a 73-yard touchdown. The Panthers (5-) came absent with 55- victory. It was a working clock by the second 50 %.

Smigiel, participating in only in the 1st 50 percent, completed 15 of 21 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a landing. Rosenthal caught 7 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

These are Conejo Valley neighborhood kids competing towards other neighborhood youngsters. The Newbury Park roster quantities less than 40. There is quite a few multisport athletes and most critical, best buddies taking part in alongside one another and having fun with the significant school experience.

“This is specifically the substantial school experience in entrance of the neighborhood profitable games,” stated Rosenthal, a sophomore who has been participating in with Smigiel considering that they were 7.

The existence of Smigiel and a team of confident-handed receivers is surely making excitement and some thing to create all over.

Newbury Park’s to start with-calendar year head coach, Joe Smigiel, is Brady’s dad. He graduated from Newbury Park in 1990, gained a football scholarship to Arizona and is again having fun with the neighborhood experience that comes from coaching young ones from the group.

“Oh my gosh,” he mentioned. “How can you inquire for everything more? We don’t have any transfers. Our children are Newbury Park kids. And which is for a great deal for educational institutions in our place. It’s a exciting league. All the coaches are cool.”

Six of the seven faculties in the Canyon League — Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Agoura, Moorpark, Camarillo and Newbury Park — have alumni as their head coaches. Only Royal coach Mike Puopolo stands apart. He went to Oak Park.

“It’s tremendous awesome,” Oak Park mentor Casey Webb said previously this 7 days. “They carry a prolonged enthusiasm representing their colleges. I have identified a large amount of these kids since second quality when I taught them in elementary faculty.

“It’s what substantial faculty soccer must be about and was about back again in the day. There is almost nothing greater than lacing up subsequent to another person you’ve acknowledged given that kindergarten.”

In 1989, when Joe Smigiel was blocking for Newbury Park, the star linebacker at Thousand Oaks was Lance Martin. This season, the star linebacker for the Lancers is Chase Martin, Lance’s son. Future week, when 5- Thousand Oaks performs 5- Newbury Park, it will be Smigiel vs. Martin for the very first time in 33 several years.

“He desires to continue to be away from my son,” Smigiel reported chuckling.

The elder Smigiel rarely talks to his son for the duration of game titles.

“He likes to continue to be away all through the game,” Joe explained.

Brady’s twin brother, Beau, is a receiver out for the time just after ACL operation, but he was swinging all over his crutches to halftime songs.

“One of the entertaining items with this condition I’m a father and coach, but I’m not a coach to my young ones at residence,” Joe mentioned.

“My kids’ close friends are always at the home. I’m a hard man on the field, then they appear to my residence I’m feeding them grilled cheese.”