Simi Valley, St. Bonaventure football play for state championship berths Saturday night

Izak Simpson is certainly built like a football player.

It’s something the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Simi Valley High sophomore is used to hearing.

“I hear it a lot when I’m playing basketball,” Simpson said. “People would say, ‘You look like a football player.’ ”

After some convincing from Simi Valley head coach Jim Benkert, Simpson has donned pads for the first time this year. The result, after an initial transition, has been spectacular.

“At the start, I had zero clue what I was doing,” Simpson said. “I didn’t know how to get into my stance. I didn’t know what moves I should use.”

Just months into his football career, Simpson leads Ventura County with 13 sacks and 25 tackles for a loss for the Pioneers, who won the first CIF-Southern Section title in the program’s 99 years of football last Saturday.

Simpson had eight tackles and two sacks in the 44-38 overtime win over Mira Costa in the Division 6 final.

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“He’s such a pup in the game,” Benkert said. “He just came out as a raw specimen. He’s learned step-by-step how to be a football player, starting in the spring, through the summer.

“He has progressed every week. He’s better this week than he was last week.”

Simpson’s first football season is now the longest in Simi Valley’s near century of football.

“We’re banged up and tired,” Benkert said. “Are our kids ready to respond like they’ve been the last few weeks? Are we done or are we not done? I don’t know. That’s the key to these games.”

The will to earn a 16th game for a state championship next week will be tested this Saturday, when St. Bonaventure and Simi Valley both go on the road to play CIF-State Southern California regional finals.

Simi Valley (10-4) will play Visalia-Central Valley Christian in the Division 2-A regional final. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

“I think it’s a good pairing,” Benkert said. “I think it’s going to be a real good football game.”

St. Bonaventure (11-3) will play San Diego-St. Augustine (10-4) in the Division 1-A regional final at San Diego Mesa. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

“Usually this time of the season you see wear and tear,” St. Bonaventure defensive coordinator Nathan Page said. “Maybe they don’t want to practice anymore. This group is still really eager to get out here and be around each other every day.”

St. Bonaventure’s postseason run has been founded upon consistent performances by its defense.

The Seraphs have played four opponents who were averaging 30 or more points per game and have allowed less than 20 points per game in the postseason.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without the defense,” St. Bonaventure head coach Joe Goyenenche said. “They’ve been incredible.”

The Seraphs’ postseason opponents have been held under their season averages by 7 (Etiwanda), 11 (Cajon), 24 (San Juan Hills) and 15 (Warren) points.

Page’s defense has 13 takeaways — nine interceptions, four fumble recoveries — and 10 sacks in the four playoff wins.

“They play very well together,” Page said.

Safety Max Peters has an interception in three of the four playoff games. Cornerback Drew Cofield and linebacker Jeremiah Barrios have two interceptions apiece.

“The linebackers are very smart,” Page said. “Max is a super-high football IQ. Drew is a super athlete.”

Sophomore Matt Perez, who has only played nine games due to the sit-out period following his transfer from Hueneme High, has 5.5 of his 11.5 sacks in the postseason.

“Last year, we were missing that dominant (defensive tackle) and Matt has really solidified that,” Page said.

Barrios, another sophomore, has been a breakout performer for St. Bonaventure. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound linebacker has 117 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss, three sacks and three interceptions.

“He’s incredible,” Goyeneche said. “I can’t believe he’s a sophomore.”

In last Saturday’s 24-21 win over Downey-Warren in the Division 3 final, Barrios had a red-zone interception, a sack and, on offense, even caught a key third-down pass to extend the game-winning drive.

“He’s really been a key to the whole thing,” Page said. “He does it on offense and defense.”

St. Augustine’s young roster includes at least four players who are the sons of former NFL players. Freshman Paisios Polamalu is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, the former USC and Pittsburgh Steelers safety.

The three-pronged rushing attack of freshman Honor Faalava-Johnson, freshman William Flores and sophomore Parker Johnson, have combined for more than 1,700 yards and 27 TDs. Receiver Parker Johnson, who leads the team with 60 catches for 1,167 yards and 11 TDs, is a rare senior.

“They’re very young and talented,” Goyeneche said. “They’re really well-coached.”

Central Valley Christian (13-1) is powered by senior running back Bryson Donelson.

The Fresno State commit has 3,259 yards from scrimmage and a state-leading 50 TDs as a senior.

“He’s a concern,” Benkert said. “Obviously, we have our work cut out for us to stop a good running back. They have their work cut out for them, too.”

Central Valley Christian came from behind to win both its second semifinal (43-42) and final (27-26) by one point. Donelson caught the 53-yard game-winning TD pass with 4:26 left in the 27-26 final win over Lemoore.

“They’ve had their issues through the playoffs like we have,” Benkert said. “They’ve played some tough games. They’ve won games at the end like we have.”

The game will be Simi Valley’s first game of the season on grass. The temperature in Visalia is expected to dip down into the 30s.

Joe Curley covers high school, collegiate and professional football for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Simi Valley, St. Bonaventure play for state title game berths Saturday