Warriors not a heavy football favorite

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn RETURN MAN--Bringing back punts and kickoffs this year for Westlake is Marcus Maddocks who practices during a recent intrasquad scrimmage. The Warriors play Santa Paula tomorrow.

As Jim Benkert begins his 14th season as the Westlake football coach there is no consensus on how his team will perform this year after a second-place finish in which Westlake (10-3, 5-1 in 2001) graduated five Division I athletes and made a trip to the playoff semifinals.

Are the Warriors going to contend for a title (which Thousand Oaks claimed last year after Westlake had won the previous two years) or are the Warriors more a middle-of-the-pack Marmonte League team this year?

"I guess they’re ranking us high based upon what other kids have done in the past," Benkert said regarding some of the lofty preseason predictions for Westlake. "But realistically speaking, I have two starters back, a center and a guard, and on defense I have two guys, but neither one of them is playing the position they played last year."

Others have suggested third or fourth in the Marmonte League for the Warriors this year.

Because star running back Jon Contos (Harvard), quarterback Todd Feiereisen (Yale), lineman Steve Hall (UNLV), multipurpose-man Casey O’Brien (Villanova) and team-catalyst Kevin Hames (Villanova) were among those who graduated, much was lost for this season.

"We lost the heart and soul of last year’s football team," Benkert said. "We’ve got a ways to go." Erik Vose, at 6-foot-3, 185, replaces Feiereisen as the starting quarterback having transferred to Westlake from Chaminade after throwing for 1,809 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior last year.

"I don’t really know yet how he’s going to work out," Benkert said regarding Vose’s transition to Westlake. "… We’re a young team and he’s the new kid mixing in with some of the returning kids. But he works hard and I think he has some promise."

At running back, Kenneth Mackins (6-0, 175) is ready to fill the big shoes left by Contos, and if Vose takes a couple of games to adjust to the Westlake offense, the head coach is relying on Mackins to shoulder the load for the Warriors early this fall.

"We’re going to go on Mackins’ shirttails for a while," Benkert said. "He’s going to carry us. He’s the real deal. He’s the next in line. He’s excellent."

Protection for Vose and Mackins should come from an offensive line that does have size and potential in junior tackles Jeff Wurts (6-2, 310) and Steve Gatena (6-5, 230), senior guards Zach Verdin (6-3, 275) and Derek Foley (6-0, 225), and senior guard Glenn Martin (6-1, 230).

"The offensive line is big and physical," Benkert said. "If we can run the football and our guys do mature a bit, I think we could be pretty good when we get to league."

Chris Sparks, a linebacker, and tight end Will Faul (6-3, 215) provide senior leadership, said the Warrior coach. "Those guys were elected by their teammates as this year’s captains," Benkert said of Sparks and Faul, "So the coaching staff kind of looks at them for the leadership."

Also expected to produce on offense are junior fullback Brian Urrea, and wide receivers Marcus Maddocks (5-9, 160), a junior, and senior Rob Daniel (6-2, 185).

The defensive line includes junior defensive ends Jimmy Miller (6-5, 240) and Michael Stuart (6-3, 185), senior defensive tackle Peter Wangerin (6-2, 210), and senior nose guard David Winer (6-2, 220). Junior linebackers Greg Newman (6-3, 235), Kyle Griffith (5-10, 170) and Matt Hileman will all contribute.

In the secondary, Maddocks, who also returns kicks, leads a crew that includes senior cornerback Hal Williams (5-10, 170) and junior safety Ryan Ruel (5-10, 160).

About the prospects for Miller and Newman (and Maddocks), specifically, Benkert said, "(They) are going to be two of the best players I’ve ever had— they’re studs—and Maddocks is a stud, too."

Westlake opens up on the road at Santa Paula tomorrow night, and then comes home for games Sept. 20 and Sept. 27 vs. Notre Dame and Hart. In week 4, the Warriors and Agoura Chargers will face off in the Marmonte League opener for both in a regionally televised game.