RETURN TO ELITE A SURPRISE FEW EXPECTED WESTLAKE TO REACH DIVISION FINAL.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer WESTLAKE VILLAGE - If his football career stalls after high school, Westlake senior Dan Adams could make it on the lounge-act circuit. One by one, from defensive coordinator A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League or college football who is in charge of the defense. This position aids the head coach a great deal in many ways by delegating play calling to other coaches and allowing the head Mike Leibin's backward-cap rants and head coach Jim Benkert's philosophical speeches, the offensive lineman's impersonations of Warriors' coaches after Tuesday's practice were Rich Little hilarious. It was time to have fun and poke See peek/poke. poke - The BASIC command to write a value to an absolute address. See peek. fun at Westlake, where the football wasn't what it was expected to be in September: The Warriors were 1-2 entering their Marmonte League The Marmonte League is a high school sports league primarily made up of schools from Ventura County. The Marmonte Leauge is part of the CIF Southern Section. Click here to view the league schedule. opener. Given up for dead, or at least gasping for its playoff survival, Westlake dug in and slugged its way to the Marmonte League title and possibly a Southern Section Division IV title. The latter will happen with an upset of top-seeded St. Bonaventure of Ventura in tonight's 7:30 game at Moorpark High. The Seraphs (12-1) are a deserving favorite. There's much more than nationally recruited wide receiver/running back Whitney Lewis Whitney Lewis (born August 13, 1985, in Corpus Christi, Texas and raised in Oxnard, California) is an American football wide receiver. He is entering his senior season at the University of Northern Iowa. . Former Royal of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. linebacker Lee Martin and Tony Castaldi command a swarming swarming 1. a phenomenon observed in cultures of Proteus spp. on solid media in which there is progressive surface spreading from the parent colony. 2. the periodic bee migration of the old queen and accompanying workers and drones from a full original hive which is defense. But third-seeded Westlake (11-2, with a 10-game winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" ) can play with the Seraphs. Westlake needs its balanced offense to challenge the Seraphs' defense and its relentless defensive ends Jimmy Miller and Michael Stuart Michael Stuart (born January 9, 1975 in New York City) is a salsa singer and actor of Puerto Rican descent. Early years Stuart's parents emigrated from Puerto Rico and settled in New York City in the 1960s. Stuart received his primary and secondary education in there. to put pressure on quarterback Brian Stevens. And it must hold Lewis to an ordinary game. These might be big ifs, but if Westlake stays close into the fourth quarter, the Warriors could find a way. ``We're the heartbreak kids. We keep games close but win them,'' senior guard Zach Verdin said of five Westlake victories by no more than a touchdown, including 36-29 over Paso Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
``Five times this year, it's been the defense that has been out on the field (at the end) to win the game,'' Leibin said. ``There's a lot to be said about the character of these kids. I tell them every week, `You guys exceed my expectations.' '' Westlake always thinks big and had high hopes in September after losing two of three. But did they expect to be playing on the season's final week in December? ``It's been a great season. I think we've overachieved at times, and we've become a pretty good football team,'' Benkert said. ``Am I surprised to be where we are? At the beginning of the year I'd tell you, `Yes, I'm very surprised.' '' --Notes: Westlake junior middle linebacker Greg Newman has played with a broken left hand throughout the playoffs. He started with a full cast but took it off during the Paso Robles quarterfinal. He now wears a less-constricting brace. ``He hasn't missed a practice,'' Benkert said. ``They don't come any tougher than Greg Newman.'' ... Running back Merrill Mullaly promised he'll get a Mohawk haircut Noun 1. mohawk haircut - haircut in which the head is shaved except for a band of hair down the middle of the scalp mohawk haircut - the style in which hair has been cut after the game if Westlake wins tonight. ``He'll probably do it,'' teammate Kenneth Mackins said. ``He had one in eighth grade.'' WESTLAKE (11-2) vs. ST. BONAVENTURE (12-1) 7:30 p.m., at Moorpark High Player to watch: Jimmy Miller, TE/DE, Westlake Whether it's forcing fumbles, sacking sack·ing n. A coarse, stout woven cloth, such as burlap or gunny, used for making sacks; sackcloth. sacking Noun coarse cloth woven from flax, hemp, or jute, and used to make sacks Noun or batting down the passes of QBs or making clutch receptions, Miller has a habit of stepping up when the Warriors need. Key stat: 16 Minutes elapsed e·lapse intr.v. e·lapsed, e·laps·ing, e·laps·es To slip by; pass: Weeks elapsed before we could start renovating. n. before RB/WR Whitney Lewis touched the ball on an offensive play in St. Bonaventure of Ventura's semifinal victory at Moorpark. As Nick Pierson (two long touchdown catches) showed, the Seraphs have other offensive options. Why Westlake will win: RB Merrill Mullaly approaches the 224 yards Moorpark's Cliff Cardwell torched St. Bonaventure for and QB Erik Vose complements the run game with some big passes. The Warriors' ability to win close games is something St. Bonaventure of Ventura hasn't needed in four nearly flawless years of blowout victories. While not one of coach Jim Benkert's most talented teams, there is something magical with this Westlake group. Why St. Bonaventure will win: The Warriors' tackling problems will doom them when Lewis gets the ball. If he lines up at WR or in the backfield, he's a threat to break an 80-yard gain when a defender can't wrap up on a tackle at the line of scrimmage line of scrimmage n. pl. lines of scrimmage Football Either of two imaginary lines extending across the field parallel to the goal line at the ends of the ball as it rests prior to being snapped and at which each team lines up for . The Seraphs' defense is stout despite some shaky moments at Moorpark. Last week: Westlake beat Oxnard 24-21; St. Bonaventure beat Moorpark 46-40 Perspective: With juniors Miller, Michael Stuart and LB Greg Newman all returning next season as probable major-college prospects, a young Warriors team is probably a year ahead of schedule. Outlook: Several observers expect one of two results: Westlake and St. Bonaventure play a classic game decided in the waning seconds, or St. Bonaventure's multiple offensive weapons can't be contained in a blowout. The Seraphs should win, but don't count out what has been a gritty Westlake team. CAPTION(S): box, map Box: WESTLAKE (11-2) vs. ST. BONAVENTURE (12-1) (see text) Map: Moorpark High |
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