HS FOOT: Thousand Oaks ready to hold that line

Thousand Oaks should be strong defensively this season, particularly up front, led by defensive linemen Dereck Jester and Eddie McGilvra.

Jester totaled five sacks last year and has immense physical skills, a 6-foot-4, 236-pounder who benches 325 pounds and squats more than 500. McGilvra we know less about, other than he's a 6-2, 250-pound transfer from Texas who missed all of last season because of an injury. But coach Mike Leibin really likes him, and McGilvra should be primed for a breakout senior season.

Besides quarterback Ian Shultis and running back John Lister -- profiled in earlier Blog -- watch out for receiver/defensive back Curtis Dempster. He returns after totaling 21 receptions for 314 yards last year, and he has looked good as a cornerback during summer passing-league competitions.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com