Thousand Oaks tops Newbury Park in double-time beyond regulation thriller

Thousand Oaks managing back again Chase Martin grabbed the flag, waving it aspect to side, streaking throughout the area as white shirts poured above the fence from the sidelines.

What took place Friday night at Thousand Oaks Substantial appeared difficult. As Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks ran out the clock on the fourth quarter and a single additional time period, some fans place their heads on shoulders and palms above hearts, declaring this was the craziest football video game they had viewed.

When Martin ultimately burst into the conclude zone, clinching a 41-38 victory, college students and teammates mobbed the gritty senior in a mix of jubilation and relief. Just after decades of mediocrity, two undefeated teams place on a exhibit that ushered in a new era of a storied Thousand Oaks rivalry — scholar sections and sons of coaches going head to head.

“It’s neat that you have obtained that hometown vibe even now, and now it’s probably even a bit a lot more now — it’s generational,” Martin’s father, Lance, reported ahead of the sport.

30 a long time in the past, Martin lined up for Thousand Oaks across the line of scrimmage from Newbury Park offensive lineman Joe Smigiel to perform for a league championship in 1989. On Friday night time, their boys — Newbury Park quarterback Brady Smigiel and Thousand Oaks two-way senior Chase Martin — duked it out all night time.

At first, the roller-coaster appeared like a snoozefest, Thousand Oaks leaping out to a 20- guide. The younger Smigiel threw three picks in the initial quarter — one particular of which junior Silas Kemp ran again for a landing.

“That’s what I’ve been preaching to him for a long time — how do you reply to acquiring hit in the mouth?” Joe Smigiel mentioned pregame.

Smigiel bounced suitable back, orchestrating a hurry-up offense and adapting to the pressure by finding receivers on the run. Jogging back again Nolan Tale finished a couple Panther drives with touchdowns, Smigiel snuck in about the purpose line, and quickly the Panthers had come all the way back again to guide 21-20 in the 3rd quarter.

Then, chaos ensued.

Travis Endicott led a push that ended in a strike to senior Will Halub and a two-stage conversion. Then Smigiel fired a touchdown to Noah McArthur. Then Chase Martin ran in a score. Then Smigiel threw a 52-garden bomb to tie the rating at 35-35.

Remaining fourth-quarter drives by Endicott and Smigiel finished in interceptions as overtime loomed. And as admirers stood, the nicely went dry — a very first overtime turning into a different when neither crew could rating.

Following Newbury Park nailed a field purpose, Endicott maneuvered the Lancers into situation and Martin added the finishing touches with the touchdown operate.

“It was a roller-coaster of emotions, of emotions, of assurance, of spirit,” Thousand Oaks coach Evan Yabu explained.

In Joe Smigiel’s enjoying days, 30 several years in the past, the winding Lynn Road was a border among the west of Newbury Park and east of Thousand Oaks — crossing it intended heading into enemy territory, he reported.

Newbury Park was middling for several years. Thousand Oaks did not acquire a game in 2018 and 2019. On Friday night time, with two courses on the upswing, the atmosphere of a relit rivalry would have a tiny added excess weight, Lance Martin stated.

And for now, with Martin’s burst into the close zone, bragging legal rights lie to the east of Lynn Road.