Newbury Park, CA — Practices weren’t exactly a day at the beach for the Newbury Park High football team last week. More like hard sessions filled with focus, intensity and the desire to put last week’s tough loss behind it. "It was a really tough loss (to Moorpark) so we were ready to go hard," said junior wide receiver/defensive back Shane Rosenthal. "Practices were tough and that helped us get ready. We've learned we can never let up. It's about playing hard and finishing games." The lessons paid dividends Friday night. On a night Agoura High proved its definitely for real, the Panthers, for real, dug way deep to post a 35-14 gritty and wholly necessary Canyon League victory over the Chargers. Rosenthal, seemingly elevating his game week by week, hauled in touchdown receptions of 53, 21 and 13 yards and notched a pair of interceptions. He finished with eight catches for 137 yards. Rosenthal does everything but man the ticket booth before kickoff. His coach, Joe Smigiel, is among his biggest fans. "He knows nothing but hard work," Smigiel said. "He goes hard all the time, always does the right thing. I've coached him a long time in all the different sports and I've never had to tell him how to get ready to play. He's a thousand miles an hour in everything he does. "Some kids are just special and it's obvious he's one of those. He's a pleasure to coach and he'll get better and better." Rosenthal said success is predicated on putting in the effort. "It's all about preparation," he said. "Not just by me but by the entire team. It's takes a group effort and that's what made the difference for us." Balen Betancourt rushed for touchdowns of 3 and 5 yards and Brady Smigiel's three TD passes hiked his total to 35 for the season. Newbury Park moves to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in league. The Panthers will finish no lower than second with closing wins over Oak Park and Camarillo. Agoura, taking its first loss, is 6-1 overall and 2-1 in league. A week ago, Newbury Park yielded a 28-7 lead in the fourth quarter to fall to Moorpark, 35-28. On this night, there was no fall back against an undefeated opponent. The Panthers, leading 21-14 heading into the final quarter, cemented the win with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. Rosenthal's 13-yard scoring pass from Smigiel produced a 28-14 lead with 7:28 remaining. Betancourt’s 5-yard scoring run with 4:34 on the clock accounted for the final margin. "Last week was just the perfect storm," Smigiel said. "We coughed the ball up in ways we never do and that cost us. Players don't want to make mistakes, but it happens. That's football. We just went back to work to get ready for a very good Agoura team." Newbury Park’s victory was hard-earned against an Agoura squad that hung tough through three quarters. The Panthers seemingly took charge on the game’s opening possession with an eight-play, 68-yard touchdown march that ended with Betancourt’s 3-yard run. In nontypical fashion for pass-happy Newbury Park, all the plays were runs, including seven carries by Noah McArthur. "We know we need to get better running the football," Smigiel said. "We need that to take the pressure off our passing game. We're working hard to do that." On Agoura’s subsequent possession, on the very first play, Harrison Novak was intercepted by Rosenthal at the 40–yard line. "I watched a lot of film and I had an idea what was coming," Rosenthal said. "They're running hitches, and my man runs a hedge. I see it and get the pick." The Panthers marched all the way to the 1-yard line, apparently on the verge of early control. But Agoura’s defense put up the stopper. On fourth down, Miles Hull corralled Rosenthal for a 2-yard loss. The game settled into a gritty back and forth. Agoura tied the game with a 73-yard drive ended by Michael Longo’s 1-yard run at the top of the second quarter. Newbury Park regained the lead, at 14-7, on Rosenthal’s 23-yard scoring catch with 3:32 left in the first half. Again, Agoura responded in its second series of the third quarter. Novak’s 5-yard scoring run finished off a 10-play, 69-yard drive. An interception by sophomore Tyler Starling ended one Newbury Park series in Agoura territory. Rosenthal’s second TD, a 52-yard hookup with Smigiel, snapped a 14-14 deadlock for a 21-14 advantage with 3:09 remaining in the quarter. Newbury Park finished with a 35-14 win. 🏈