Newbury Park, CA — Brady Smigiel was just 8 years old, but he’ll never forget the mud of Paso Robles. “It was fourth-and-4 and we don’t get the first down and the game was over,” Smigiel said. “I remember me and (twin brother) Beau falling to our knees in the mud.” The last time Newbury Park reached a section final, it fell 13-10 in the rain at Paso Robles in the 2014 Northern Division final. Newbury Park will host Perris-Orange Vista in the championship game Saturday night. Before he was a record-setting quarterback, or even former Panthers star and current University of Utah quarterback Cameron Rising’s ball boy, Brady Smigiel was a young fan watching his father coach. He remembers what it felt like to lose a section final. “We were crying,” Smigiel said. “Someone had to help us up. … That’s the last time we were in the CIF championship and that’s how much Newbury Park football has meant to me since we were born.” Smigiel will have a lot more say over the result Saturday night, when Newbury Park (10-3) hosts Perris-Orange Vista (10-3) for in the CIF-SS Division 5 title. “Our team believes in what we’re doing and we’re so excited to be playing right now.,” Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel said. “You go through a very long season and you have the most energy you’ve had all season. “We’re having fun. That’s what it’s all about. It’s kids having fun.” Brady Smigiel, who has completed 265 of 432 passes for 3,859 yards, leads the state with 49 TD passes. Junior Shane Rosenthal leads the state in receptions (118), receiving yards (1,819) and interceptions (12). But Orange Vista, the Ivy League champion, brings its own constellation of stars. Quarterback Khalil Abdul-Aziz has thrown for 2,866 yards, 30 TDs and 17 interceptions. Running back Sire Gaines has rushed for 1,023 yards and 16 TDs. “We have to be good,” Joe Smigiel said. “This team is pretty good. We’re going to have some issues with them. They have athletes everywhere. It can easily be a shootout.” Orange Vista has eight returns for scores this year, including four punt returns. “This is the most athletic team we’ve played, hands down,” Joe Smigiel said. “The team speed is the best we’ve seen all year long.” But the coach has been boosted by how his team handled the emotion of the 22-19 semifinal comeback win over Conejo Valley rival Thousand Oaks. “Our kids stayed calm and didn’t turn the ball over,” Joe Smigiel said. “When things were against us, we still fought and believed we were going to win. “The linemen just fought their butts off. We controlled the line of scrimmage. … That was the line wanting to get it done. We’ve got guys who aren’t the biggest or the strongest, but they’re sure fight.” Although the Panthers will host a section final for the third time, it’ll be the first time at Hurley Field. Newbury Park hosted the 1993 and 1995 Division III finals at Moorpark College. When Hurley Field hosted its only previous section finals in 2005 and 2007, Oaks Christian was the home team. Hosting the game is a big advantage, considering Orange Vista is looking at a five-hour roundtrip commute of nearly 250 miles. “It’s a big advantage being at home,” Joe Smigiel said. “Never in the history of the school have we played a final at home.” Let get the W tonight Panthers! Good Luck 🏈