Darrell Scott vs. Marc Tyler

After Friday’s Moorpark vs. Thousand Oaks game, I have watched Moorpark’s Darrell Scott and Oaks Christian of Westlake Village’s Marc Tyler from the sidelines twice this year.

I came away very impressed each time, and believe they are both potential Division I stars, but there is no question who the best back in the area is.

Tyler, who has committed to USC, has the best field vision I’ve ever seen from high school football player. Oaks Christian’s Jimmy Clausen is the top-ranked senior in the nation, but Tyler would be my pick.

His cutting ability is phenomenal. He is an intelligent football player, and us newspaper guys love him because he is not afraid to speak his mind. The only knock on him – and this could prove to be a big one in college – is he lacks top-tier breakaway speed.

Scott, on the other hand, is faster and stronger than Tyler. I watched him take over last night against Thousand Oaks to finish with 277 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries in Moorpark’s come-from-behind victory.

There was one play early in the fourth quarter where Scott ran over six Thousand Oaks defenders like they we bowling pins for a game-changing 40-yard touchdown. I’d compare Scott’s punishing running style to Jamal Lewis, while Tyler is more in the mold of Marshall Faulk.

Keep in mind that Scott has clocked a 10.66 in the 100-meter dash despite his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame.

It’s scary to think what will happen next season when Scott, a junior, has another year under his belt. He already has Division I offers from 16 schools including USC and Michigan, but the Florida native may be defecting to his home state with the USC backfield already loaded with young talent.

The other two backs I have been most impressed with this year are Birmingham of Lake Balboa junior Milton Knox Jr. and Grant of Van Nuys senior Fred Winborn.

I’m glad I don’t have to tackle any of those guys.