Camarillo High School’s football team secured a hard-fought victory over Rio Mesa High on August 29, 2023, winning 22-14 in the 51st edition of the Black and Blue rivalry. Senior running back Shane Feller was the standout player, rushing for 210 yards on 32 carries, scoring two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. This victory marked Camarillo’s first win against Rio Mesa in Feller’s high school career, ending a four-game losing streak against the Spartans.
Feller’s performance was pivotal, as he consistently broke through the defensive line. With support from his offensive linemen, including Brayden Chiapuzio, Jerome Esguerra, David Brandlen, Benjamin Sullivan, and Peyton Bennett, Feller maneuvered effectively, often requiring multiple defenders to bring him down. Camarillo head coach Nate Anderson praised Feller’s aggressive running style, noting, “When he runs with authority and he runs with low pad level, he is a problem to bring down. That wears on defenses.”
Camarillo (1-1) overcame a rocky start, fumbling the ball on their initial possession, which allowed Rio Mesa running back Juan Munoz to score a quick touchdown. The Scorpions responded with a 16-play drive, culminating in a touchdown by sophomore quarterback Dylan Nicholson. After both teams struggled with offensive execution in the second quarter, Camarillo regained momentum with a 79-yard drive that included a successful fake punt, resulting in a touchdown and a two-point conversion by Feller.
The halftime score of 14-14 was set up by a goal-line touchdown from Rio Mesa quarterback Alec Fontyn, who also completed a two-point conversion pass to Nate Warren-Lewis. Fontyn, stepping in for the graduated JJ Bittner, completed 14 of 25 passes for 159 yards, adding a rushing touchdown to his performance. Despite the promising drive to end the first half, Rio Mesa (0-2) found it challenging to maintain momentum in the second half.
Camarillo’s defense played a crucial role, stifling Rio Mesa’s advancement on their opening drive of the third quarter. After a lengthy drive that stalled near the Camarillo 14-yard line, Bittner expressed frustration, stating, “To come away with no points, that hurt. When we don’t score that one touchdown, the momentum shifted.”
Camarillo took advantage of this shift, scoring again to lead 20-14. A safety was added after a bad snap on a Rio Mesa punt, further solidifying Camarillo’s control of the game. Defensive back Carson Machado sealed the victory for the Scorpions with a critical interception late in the fourth quarter. Machado remarked on his play, saying, “I knew they were going to go deep with it. I played over top of him, he threw the ball and I caught it.”
The Scorpions demonstrated their defensive strength by not allowing any points in the second half during their first two games of the season. Coach Anderson expressed pride in his team, stating, “I love our guys; they stepped up to the moment. They battled, they competed.”
Looking ahead, Camarillo will face Saugus at College of the Canyons this Friday, while Rio Mesa prepares to host Ventura. The upcoming matches will be crucial as both teams seek to improve their records.
