CAMARILLO REMOVES DOUBTS : CAMARILLO 47, WESTLAKE 13.

Byline: Bill Schlotter Daily News Staff Writer

They went undefeated through their Marmonte League season, winning the league title, beating all the traditional league powers along the way.

And they got no respect.

They reached Saturday night's Southern Section Division III semifinal against Marmonte rival Westlake with convincing wins over Pasadena and St. Francis.

And still the Camarillo Scorpions got no respect: Many people made Westlake the favorite.

What, they must have wondered, do we have to do to prove we are the best team in this league?

The Scorpions need wonder no more. With a 47-13 crushing of the Warriors at Westlake, the Scorpions proved once and for all they are the best of a classy lot of Marmonte League teams this season.

And next Friday night, they will meet Notre Dame for the chance to say they are the best of Division III.

The Scorpions' (12-1) domination of Westlake (10-3) was total. They outscored them, outgained them and out defended them.

Quarterback Joe Borchard was the leader on offense. Borchard was a highly effective 11 of 16 for 158 yards before leaving the game at the end of the third quarter.

His two touchdown passes helped the Scorpions take a 33-7 halftime lead over Westlake, which struggled in every phase of the game.

Camarillo, which was desperately seeking a running game at midseason, got another big night from junior running back John Howe and its offensive line, gaining 269 yards on the ground.

Howe (16 carries, 158 yards), who scored from 15 yards out in the first half, had touchdown runs of 62 and 27 yards in the second half as the Scorpions took a 47-7 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Once Camarillo's offense had the Warriors down, its defense kept them there.

Lineman Charles Sandlin had three sacks and joined teammates Eugene Jackson and Sam Choi in constantly harassing Westlake quarterback Casey Preston.

Preston ended a remarkable career with a difficult night, completing 19 of 38 passes for 191 yards and no touchdowns. And his two interceptions hurt.

Jonathan Weems, who had 50 yards running and 50 more receiving to cap his Warriors career, scored both Westlake touchdowns, one that tied the scored 7-7 in the first quarter and the other that gave his team a meaningless final six points in the fourth.

Camarillo scored on every possession but one in the first half as it raced out to a 33-7 lead.

Borchard was the key. In addition to tossing TD passes to Bryan Juell (21 yards) and Mike Anger (7 yards), the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder had long runs at important times to keep Scorpions drives alive.

One was particularly impressive, a 57-yard sprint on a quarterback draw to the Westlake 7 on a third-and-9 situation at the Camarillo 36.

Borchard's toughness was valuable in several situations as he fought off the Warriors pass rush until his receivers got open.

But while Borchard and his offensive teammates put Westlake on the ropes in the first half, a 58-yard return of an interception by linebacker Eugene Jackson might have been the blow that put the Warriors down for good.

With 33 seconds left in the half, Jackson picked off a Preston pass over the middle, broke to his left and went untouched into the end zone to send his team to the locker room with a 26-point cushion.

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Photo

Photo: Westlake's Brett Young (12) battles Camarillo's Nic Saum for a pass in a Division III semifinal. Camarillo reached title game with a 47-13 win.

Shaun Dyer / Special to the Daily News