True test begins tonight for Musketeers
Team hopes to parlay preseason success into league play
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers GUNSLINGER- In three games, Musketeer quarterback Adam Barry has completed 54-of-109 passes for 758 yards and six TDs.

Moorpark High defensive coordinator Ron Wilford refers to it as "fitting it."

What he's talking about, essentially, is an ongoing expectation level within the football program at MHS. It's high school sports, so the faces often change from year to year- Wilford has nine new starters on defense, for example.

But what remains the same, the thing that serves as the backbone of Musketeer football, is a proud work ethic and the desire of players and coaches alike to perfect their craft both on and off the field.

Hard work is the reason that, despite the graduation of their entire starting offensive line and wide receiving corps, the loss of the aforementioned defenders and the transfer of prep superstar Darrell Scott, Moorpark (2-1) is playing as well as any team in the Marmonte League as the regular season is set to begin tonight.

"A lot of it is mentality and getting the guys to play hard without taking plays off," said Wilford, whose defense earned a shutout in its first game and held Ventura to nine points two weeks ago.

"They also need to have that willingness to get after it and go hard all the time; I think that's part of it. There's also an expectation level at Moorpark that we're going to be a quality program, so I think they want to fit in with that."

Moorpark's defensive success to date begins with its linemen.

Senior Casey Blum and junior Corey Sandoval are returning varsity players and both have made their presence felt in the trenches. Junior Cameron Phillips, at 6-foot-3 and 190-pounds, has joined Blum and Sandoval in the starting lineup.

"We just do our job," Blum said. "We expect to be successful."

Senior Garrett Meadows, a starter on the defensive line in 2006, missed the first three games with an ankle injury but is expected to return for tonight's league opener at Simi Valley.

The Musketeer defense also features three sophomores- safety Joey Eckert and linebackers Marc Palacios and AJ Dettorre. Wilford said he hasn't started that many sophomores since the 1996 season.

Eckert, Wilford added, has been a pleasant surprise. "He's starting to make all the checks and getting us into the right coverages," the coach said.

On the offensive side of the ball, senior quarterback Adam Barry, a three-year starter, has led by example and produced when the lights are brightest.

A running team with Scott in the backfield, the Musketeers have opened up the passing attack in Barry's final campaign. After attempting 183 passes in 14 games a year ago, Barry has already attempted 109 passes in three contests this season.

"I do like the way Adam Barry has kind of taken charge of the offense," head coach Tim Lins said. "We've improved ever so slightly over the past three games in the offensive production department."

Although his completion percentage only stands at 49.5 percent- a number he'd certainly like to improve upon- Barry is spreading the ball all over the field. Nine different receivers have caught passes, including team reception leader Ryan Murry (15), Austin Edmonson (10), Kevin Dimmit (nine) and Tim Vizzi (seven).

"It helps that he's making good decisions," Lins said. "He's working to get the ball to the open guy and not just focusing on one guy. That's good to see, and hopefully we can continue to improve his ability to see the defense and get the ball to the right guy."

Edmonson, a sophomore, has taken over as the starting running back.

At 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds, Edmonson is the type of player football fans fall in love with, regardless of the level of competition. He's compact and fast, and can run between the tackles or catch a pass in the flats.

Through the first three weeks, Edmonson is averaging 94 allpurpose yards per game and has scored twice. He said the biggest difference between playing freshman football and being on the varsity squad is the speed of the game. Still, the transition hasn't fazed him much.

"It's still football," Edmonson said. "There are just more fans and lights."

The spotlight will be on the Musketeers tonight in Simi Valley, where the Pioneers will hold their homecoming festivities.

Simi Valley (2-1) returned its entire defense from last year and has allowed a league-low 31 points this season. Murry, the wide receiver, said he expects a tough crowd and an intense opponent.

"They're going to be fired up; we're going to be fired up," Murry said. "Hopefully we can put up some points."

Defensively, the Musketeers must contain Pioneer senior running back Langston Jackson, a powerful, bruising tailback who's already rushed for 380 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Blum said the defense has a plan of attack to try and limit Jackson.

"We've got to prevent him from going north and south," Blum said. "We have to make him cut and run east to west."

Tonight's kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.