Football: Notre Dame-Oaks Christian should draw lots of fans
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One of the best opening matchups on Friday in the Pac-5 Division is Oaks Christian playing at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
The Marmonte League was rated ahead of the Serra League and this will be a chance to see whether that was a good reading on things. There’s another Marmonte-Serra matchup featuring Moorpark playing at Alemany.
Oaks Christian has never played Notre Dame in its 12 years of varsity football. The teams played in a summer passing tournament last summer, and there was a brawl. The teams scrimmaged in August, and there were no problems.
Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney and Oaks Christian assistant coach Mark Bates were having a friendly conversation at the Southern Section office on Sunday not knowing at the time that the two teams would play.
Notre Dame is 7-3 and has its offense in high gear, led by running back Khalfani Muhammad and the improved passing of quarterback Kelly Hilinski. Oaks Christian (8-2) let a 21-0 lead over top-seeded St. Bonaventure get away on Friday night, so the Lions certainly can play with top teams, led by quarterback Brandon Dawkins.
It would be fun just seeing the famous alumni of the two schools argue in the parking lot. Dayne Crist (Notre Dame) and Giancarlo Stanton (Notre Dame) could debate Jimmy Clausen (Oaks Christian) and Chris Owusu (Oaks Christian).
-- Eric Sondheimer