Simi Valley ready for its return to the Marmonte League with trip to Westlake
Jess Norton arrived dressed for the occasion.
Simi Valley High's best offensive lineman was garbed in casual gear, of course, as he prepared to enter the team's locker room prior to practice Tuesday. Featured was a T-shirt that was oh-so appropriate.
The shirt lauded the "Marmonte League" because, yes, this is Marmonte League week for the Simi Valley football team. It's also the beginning of a milestone stretch that's not only a history-maker but will ultimately determine the success for the Pioneers this season.
Simi Valley (3-2) will play its first Marmonte game in nine years, or since 2013, when it takes on host Westlake (2-3) on Friday night. It's also a homecoming of sorts for head coach Jim Benkert, who directed the Warriors program for 26 years before moving over to Oaks Christian in 2015.
Norton said, yes, the Pioneers know an important game as they get ready to play one.
"I'm excited. Everyone's excited," said the 6-foot, 290-pound senior. "It's a big jump for our program to move into a league as good as this one with good teams and players. We need to win this for ourselves, and for coach. We know it's important for him."
Carson Mott, the Pioneers' stellar senior defensive end, concurred.
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"Every team is good and every team has great players," said the Colorado commit. "But we want that challenge. I know the best way for me to get better is to play against the very best players, and that's what happens in the Marmonte League."
He added: "We want to win it for coach, too. He basically built that program. He made Westlake what it is today."
Benkert, who took over the reins at Simi Valley, downplays the significance of taking on a program he last coached in 2014. He did say the return to the Westlake stadium will pull some emotional chords.
"For me personally, it will be more about sentimentality than the competitive aspect," Benkert said. "I'll look up in the stands and see those blue seats we had installed. Those were where my mom would sit for games all those years. It will be memories like that will be on my mind before the game."
The main focus for Benkert and the Pioneers is reversing a two-game losing skid just in time for the start of the Marmonte League chase.
After rolling to wins in three straight contests to open the season, Simi Valley has dropped back-to-back games vs. Saugus (16-14) and Yorba Linda (33-14).
Tough opponents coupled with an injury and illness wave tested the Pioneers to the max. Norton, running back Caleb Alvary, cornerback Sean Brown and defensive end Robert Dixon either saw minimal action or were sidelined for two weeks.
"We had guys hurt. We had guys struck down by the flu. It was too much to overcome," said Benkert. "The good news is a lot of our guys got good experience filling in. We're also getting healthy.
"We had a good week of practice for our bye week, and we're off to a good start this week."
Three of the top players said adversity should prove beneficial.
"It's definitely made us hungrier," said Mott. "To take those losses is not a good feeling. We've gone back to work and we're focused. This team remains confident and we want to prove what we can do in the Marmonte League."
Sophomore quarterback Steele Pizzella said the Pioneers have absorbed the lessons.
"It's a wakeup call for all of us," he said. "We learned that we have to work that much harder and we need to take what we learned to become a better team. It's going to help us reach our goals."
Pizzella, as the quarterback, said he's been focused on keeping his teammates upbeat.
"I always want to create a positive feeling for the team," he said. "If I need to point out to teammates things we can do better, I will do that. But I will also leave everyone with a positive vibe. It's important that we stay confident and believe in each other."
Andrew Rezinas, a junior linebacker, has emerged as the Pioneers' leader in tackles after moving from nose guard a year ago. He's racked up 46 tackles, including 33 solos, along with three tackles for losses.
"We know we have a lot to prove about ourselves and we can do it in league," Rezinas said. "We're going to be challenged, but that's what we want. We believe in each other."
Simi Valley's long years as a Marmonte League entry before moving to the Canyon League in 2014 often produced harsh results.
The one league championship was won in 1985. The Pioneers were a combined 0-9 in league play in 2012 and 2013, including a 48-13 loss to Westlake in 2013.
Simi Valley is 4-30 all time vs. Westlake, with its last victory coming in 2005 with a 29-23 verdict. The Pioneers have lost 21 of their last 22 games against the Warriors.
Guess what Benkert has brought up to his players — repeatedly — in team meetings this week?
"They know all about that 1-21 record," said Benkert. "They know this program has never won in the Westlake stadium."
Benkert's arrival at Simi Valley in 2018 has coincided with the emergence of the Pioneers among Ventura County's best teams. The Pioneers have won the past two Canyon League championships, thus producing a move up to the Marmonte League this fall.
Simi Valley was 10-0 last year in the regular season, with its only defeat coming to eventual CIF-SS Division 2 champion Orange Lutheran in postseason.
Benkert also knows a thing or two about coaching Marmonte League victories. In 29 seasons at Westlake and Oaks Christian, his teams piled up 257 wins and five CIF-SS championships.
Does Simi Valley now belong with the best? Pizzella is confident.
"As a player, you always want to compete against the best," he said. "I want to see what I can do. I look forward to the opportunity to improve."
WEEK 6 SCHEDULE
Thursday
Hueneme at Nordhoff
Friday
Rio Mesa at Buena
Dos Pueblos at Oxnard
San Marcos at Ventura
Pacifica at Channel Islands
Simi Valley at Westlake
Calabasas at Oaks Christian
Bishop Diego at St. Bonaventure
Thousand Oaks at Royal
Moorpark at Newbury Park
Agoura at Oak Park
Carpinteria at Santa Paula
Camarillo at El Toro
Loren Ledin is the Prep Editor for The Star. He can be reached at loren.ledin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0285.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Simi Valley ready for its return to the Marmonte League
