Westlake heads to playoffs unscathed

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn BIG CATCH-Michael Stuart of Westlake catches a pass while Sam Hollis of Moorpark provides the defense during last Thursday night's game at Westlake. Both teams are going into the playoffs.

The Westlake football team beat visiting Moorpark 49-14 last Friday and allowed the Warriors to finished the regular season undefeated for the first time in school history.

Westlake (10-0, 7-0) will host San Marcos in the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division IV playoffs. Moorpark (7-3, 5-2) will travel to Arroyo Grande for its first-round playoff game.

"It feels fantastic," said senior linebacker Greg Newman. "We’ve got that unblemished 10-0 record—the best record in Westlake High School history. It’s real satisfying. But now it’s all about going 4-0 and playing hard in the playoffs."

To win a CIF championship, Westlake will need to extend this year’s winning streak to 14 games. The Warriors won a CIF title in 1999 when they finished the season 13-1.

Jimmy Miller, a senior tight end/defensive end, agreed with Newman. Westlake’s goal is to continue playing until the second week of December, he said.

"This is definitely a great moment," Miller said about being 10-0 at the onset of the playoffs. "But honestly, there’s still four games left. It’s nice to get a piece of hardware and the league title, but it’s important to emphasize that we have four more (games)."

Michael Stuart, a senior wide receiver/defensive end, said despite being unbeaten, the Warriors are still a work in progress.

"That’s way cool, we’re the first Westlake team to ever go 10-0," said Stuart. "But we gave up 14 points tonight, we shouldn’t let that happen because we shut out Agoura and Agoura shut out Moorpark. We’re taking it game-by-game. We’ve got to practice hard each week."

Against Moorpark, sophomore running back Jeff Rapoport ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns. He said he appreciates the leadership of the Warrior veterans.

"The seniors are absolutely awesome people on and off the field," Rapoport said. "Everyone on this team is so good on both sides of the ball. I’m very thankful to all of them."

Senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter threw for 246 yards and three TDs in the win over Moorpark. He noted that having a balanced attack—running and passing—presents challenges for defenses.

"Anytime you can go 50-50 with the run and pass, that’s hard to stop," Carpenter said.

The QB describes the attributes of his two primary runners, Tahj Mowry, a senior who ran for 152 yards against Moorpark, and the sophomore sensation Rapoport.

"They bring a different style—Rap goes straight ahead and is a speedster and Tahj goes side to side with quickness," said Carpenter. "Defenses don’t know what they’re going to get. And our passing game is there, too. Hopefully, by the playoffs next week, we’ll be clicking on all cylinders."

Longtime quarterback coach Darryl Smith is pleased with the progress of Carpenter and his receivers. Smith said things have fallen into place the latter part of the season.

"He began to get his timing routes down about five weeks ago," Smith said of Carpenter. "If the quarterback is doing that, he starts conditioning the receivers, too. Rudy picked up our offense so fast."

Against Moorpark, Stuart had four receptions for 104 yards and two TDs, and Miller had four receptions for 68 yards.

Head coach Jim Benkert praised all of his playmakers and those protecting them.

"Tahj was running like a greyhound and Jeff Rapoport was running like a greyhound, and the offensive line was opening holes," said Benkert. "Rudy was throwing balls to everyone and (Miller) and (Stuart) had a great game.

"In big games," added Benkert, "the big guns have got to come through—and this was a big game. This put us in first place in the Marmonte League, undefeated with a chance to get a good seed going into the playoffs."

Benkert said his team hopes to have a chance to avenge last year’s championship loss to St. Bonaventure, this year’s No. 1 seed in the division. Westlake is the No. 2 seed.

"By the time the title game came around last year, I think we maybe ran out of gas a little bit," he said. "I don’t know if we were a little scared of St. Bonaventure, but we just didn’t play well in the title game.

"When we had a chance to win all the marbles, we didn’t play well," Benkert said. "I think the guys want another chance."