After a prosperous rookie season, Jostradamus is focused on avoiding the sophomore jinx

In 2009, Nick Isham completed a county-record 74.1% of his passes.

Isham was a senior, a veteran starter sharpened over four years by coaching, experience and sheer will, who led Westlake to the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division championship.

In 2024, Jostradamus completed 76.4% of his predictions.

Despite being a rookie in the high school football prognostication game.

Despite the boos of overzealous fans in the stands, the snarky emails of keyboard warriors and the childish nickname repeated by a jealous editor.

But Week Zero is no time to spike the proverbial football.

The glories of last season are in the past.

The peace of the offseason is over.

The rigor of training camp is complete.

This season, Jostradamous is focused on avoiding the sophomore jinx.

And it starts with perhaps the toughest week of the entire year.

New players, new coaches, and new teams mean theres no data to guide the mind.

Only a notebook full of facts, figures and hunches to nudge the gut.

Heres to a memorable and healthy 2025 season for all area teams.

On to the Week Zero picks.

Lets see how much Joe Knows.

Moorpark 35, Rio Mesa 34: Cant get any closer than last years meeting, which Moorpark won 42-41 on a controversial late conversion keeper.

Agoura 31, Oak Park 21: Gavin Gray can make the Kanan Bowl his welcome back celebration.

Royal 21, Fillmore 20: Adam Brubakers Wing-T offense meets Nate Pages new defense.

Thousand Oaks, 31, Hueneme 7: Betcha Hueneme coach Alex Morfin is studying Newbury Park film preparing for Branden Andersons offense.

Santa Paula 31, Grace 30: The Lancers have won the last six meetings between the schools, dating back to 2009.

Simi Valley 28, Valencia 21: After an opener ruined by the center-quarterback exchange, the Pioneers are focused on the basics this week.

Oaks Christian 28, Chaminade 21: With Hayden Lowe now at the University of Miami, 6-foot-4 senior Logan Panthier joins the Lions fearsome defensive line.

St.

Bonaventure 24, St.

Francis 21: Jayce Franco can pick up where Koen Glover left off.

Pacifica 42, West Ranch 17: The Tritons return all five starters on the offensive line.

Santa Barbara 20, Camarillo 17: Nearly an entirely new starting offense will mean a more methodical, possession-hungry style for the Scorpions.

Long Beach-Millikan 27, Newbury Park 20: Millikan was reportedly missing upwards of 10 starters yet to be cleared by the CIF-SS transfer process in last weeks season-opening win over Santa Ana-Foothill.

Calabasas 28, Bishop Alemany 21: Calabasas running back Kayne Miller ran for more than 100 yards in eight of 11 games as a junior.

Westlake 24, Golden Valley 21: The Warriors have 10 seniors ready to forget the last 10 games and 18 of the last 19 to make room for new memories.

Oxnard 21, Mission College Prep 17: Senior Gavin Liston takes over as Yellowjackets quarterback.

Saugus 31, Buena 21: Buena quarterback Blake Eberhard ran for an 80-yard TD in last years 38-34, season-opening loss to Saugus.

Nordhoff 21, Taft 13: Desi Canfield and Brody Dvortcsak give the Rangers a 1-2 punch in the backfield.

Viewpoint 21, Channel Islands 10: Basketball player Rajai Moody gives the Raiders a red-zone target.

Lynwood-Firebaugh 21, Santa Clara 14: The Saints' first 11-man game since a loss at Hueneme on Oct.

26, 2018.

San Marcos 28, Del Sol 7: Focused on the long term, the Jaguars begin varsity history with a tough test on the road.

Last season: 149-46 (.741).

This season: 0-0 (.000).

Joe Curley aka Jostradamus writes The Stars high school football picks column.

He can be reached at [email protected] .

Follow him at @vcsjoecurley on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads and Facebook..

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