Simi Valley football achieves historic win over Oaks Christian
WESTLAKE — Jim Benkert has never been so emotional about a football game.
The Simi Valley head coach addressed his team while wiping tears from his eyes after beating Oaks Christian, 28-23, for a share of the Marmonte League title. It was also the first time the Pioneers had beaten the Lions in program history.
“I don’t think anybody believed we could do this,” said Benkert, who coached Oaks Christian to a CIF championship in 2017. “It was how hard we prepared in all three phases of the game and how hard the kids focused.”
https://www.tiktok.com/@haleymsawyer/video/7432561887532862750
Brice Hawkins scored three times to help Simi Valley (9-1 overall, 4-1 Marmonte League) get the win on Friday night at Oaks Christian (7-3, 4-1).
“It’s a great experience to come out here and prove that I can play with these top dogs,” Hawkins said. “I’m showing that I can stick with the big boys.”
Simi Valley scored twice in the first half while holding Oaks Christian to a 40-yard field goal kicked by Noah LaBerge with 7:25 left in the first quarter. Seth Knight sacked quarterback Trey Towns for a loss of 11 yards to force the Lions to settle for the field goal.
The Pioneers scored on their first possession of the game. Quarterback Tagg Harrison bobbled the snap but gathered the ball with enough time to throw a 4-yard touchdown pass to August Gibbs with 3:32 left in the opening frame.
The momentum slowed as Simi Valley went three-and-out on its final possession of the first quarter but it swung back in their favor when the defense forced a turnover on downs to start the second frame.
Containing four-star running back Deshonne Redeaux was a focal point for Simi Valley and the Pioneers held a full practice on Thursday instead of a walkthrough in order to prepare for the game.
“We knew them inside and out,” Benkert said. “We knew what they had in the running back, we knew how good he was and we really focused on taking him away.”
Running back Brice Hawkins lined up at receiver and the Pioneers brought Salvador Villa to the backfield. Villa rattled off three runs to move the ball 17 yards to the 3-yard line before Hawkins punched the ball in with 1:29 to go, which gave Simi Valley a 14-3 advantage heading into halftime.
“Tonight we decided to switch it up and show that I could play slot receiver,” Hawkins said. “I could play anything but I have to give it up to my o-line and my QB. They’re doing what they need to do.”
Oaks Christian was playing without three-star defensive lineman Joseph Peko and USC commit Hayden Lowe moved from edge to the interior. Lowe was receiving treatment from trainers for the majority of the game.
Simi Valley blocked a punt with roughly two minutes remaining in the third quarter to set up the offense at the 23-yard line. Hawkins went on to score a 6-yard touchdown, keeping his legs moving to grind his way into the end zone. That touchdown and another 6-yard score from Hawkins in the fourth quarter gave the Pioneers a 28-16 lead.
The Lions added one final touchdown with 59 seconds left in the game when Towns connected with Matt Watts on an 8-yard strike.
Both teams will qualify for the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Brackets for the first round of playoffs will be released on Sunday morning at 10 a.m.