WESTLAKE VILLAGE — From the start of things, Pioneer Valley football looked doomed on Friday night. Doomed to the same fate as that of most opponents that have come into the mighty Lion’s den at Oaks Christian High.

To begin, the Panthers offense took to the field at the 20, after a booming opening kickoff left them no option but a touchback.

The Panthers ran three running plays. All stuffed. Then the punt was blocked, leaving 19 yards to the endzone for the Oaks Christian offense - a high-flying act that has outscored opponents 559-69 this season, captained by the son of Joe Montana.

Soon thereafter, Nick Montana’s golden arm reached back and fired a bullet into the endzone.

However, a peculiar thing happened to the defending CIF Southern Section champions of five years running: They were intercepted.

Pioneer Valley pushed back on Friday, standing up to the glitz, the gaudy numbers, the short but vaunted history, putting the scare into Oaks Christian during an inspiring 21-0 stand, albeit a loss in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Northwest Division playoffs.

Panthers fans gave their players, particularly their seniors, a standing ovation as time expired.

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“This was the best team we have played in two years,” Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell said. Since 2000, Redell has led Oaks Christian — most known for once being quarterback Jimmy Clausen’s personal playground — to six CIF titles.

This year, with Montana the newly annointed quarterback, the Lions tore through the regular season unchallenged, even against the formidable Santa Clara.

Pioneer Valley’s defense, however, had Oaks Christian — a team with aspirations of a State bowl berth — scrambling.

Were the Panthers ever intimidated?

A resounding “No,” according to defensive standout Nick Leyden.

“They put their pants on one leg at a time, like everyone else,” he said.

Leyden nearly knocked them out of their jerseys altogether.

Pioneer Valley left the Oaks Christian fans with rarely seen images: Montana throwing interception after interception, field goals botched under pressure, punts kicked instead of extra points and looks of confusion along the sideline.

In the end, the Oaks Christian defense was just too overpowering. Pioneer Valley quarterback Nick Rucobo put in a valiant effort, often scurrying for short yardage on the run. He finished with 34 yards rushing, which bettered running back Dan Ando’s output. Ando was held to just 10 yards.

“You can’t judge a season by the last game of the year,” Pioneer Valley coach Greg Dickinson said. “Especially against a team that doesn’t belong in the division.” And against a defense that Dickinson labeled, “junior college” level.

Pioneer Valley came in as the No. 2 team out of the Los Padres League, led on defense by linebacker Leyden and on offense by Ando.

After the early interception, the Panthers again went three-and-out on offense. And it appeared Oaks Christian might score on its second offensive try, but the kicker slipped and sent the field goal wide right.

The Lions did convert just before the end of the first quarter (on Montana’s 22-yard throw to Ryan Landseadel). However, by that time, whispers along the Lions sideline were already growing about the lack of production. In all, it turned out to be Oaks Christian’s lowest point total this season, by far.

“Our offense has been like the stock market,” Redell said. “Up and down. Tonight it was down. But it had a lot to do with Pioneer Valley.”

Montana continued to struggle in the second quarter, and finished just 9-of-22 for 124 yards with three interceptions. For one stretch, he had eight straight incompletions, including two of his picks.

Leyden, Albert Squires, Jesse Ibarra, Sergio Salazar and Eric Prado had a lot to do with it on defense for the Panthers.

And it was Kyle Coleman that came up with another wild interception to preserve just a seven-point deficit going into halftime. The Lions lined up for a field goal, but the snap was off-target, leaving the holder to improvise. He threw the hot potato back to his kicker, who heaved a hopeless pass into Coleman’s arms.

To start the third quarter, Ibarra made a sliding interception of Montana. However, it wasn’t long before the offense was punting, and Oaks Christian got another blocked kick.

Two Jordan Morrison runs, the second for three yards into the endzone, put the Lions up 14-0.

November 29, 2008