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The Acorn Camarillo Acorn Moorpark Acorn Simi Valley Acorn Thousand Oaks Acorn |
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The Acorn’s High School Football Game of the Week
Westlake Warriors (1-2) at Royal Highlanders (2-1) Friday, 7 p.m.
That was before several devastating injuries threatened to derail both schools’ championship dreams right out of the gate. Royal lost starting quarterback Kevin Harrington to a broken left arm during the second quarter of the first game of the year and won’t have the senior back behind center again this season. Since Harrington’s injury, Highlander quarterbacks Michael Long and Joseph Butitta have combined to complete 16-of-32 pass attempts for 154 yards and one touchdown in just over 10 quarters of play. Long is now the starter, but couldn’t get his team in the end zone during last Friday’s 21-0 loss to Ventura. For Westlake, the injury news heading into tomorrow’s matchup against the Highlanders is even worse. The Warriors are going to be without defensive end Jeff Miller (foot), running back Jeff Rapoport (ankle), wide receiver/cornerback Marlon Bills (hamstring), defensive tackle Tyrone Duncan (ribs), offensive lineman Jose Navarro (undisclosed) and defensive back Ben Cochran (undisclosed). “It’s like I’ve never seen before,” head coach Jim Benkert said. “It’s tough. It’s real tough. But we’ve got enough guys and we’ll be competitive in some way.” Rapoport suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter of the team’s Week Three loss to Hart. He had an X-ray earlier this week that was inclusive, said Benkert, but is expected to miss several games if not the remainder of the season. AiWqMiller, a national recruit on defense, hasn’t played a down this year and won’t visit the doctor until Friday for an update on his injured foot. Benkert said Miller could still be several weeks away from returning to the field. The injury woes for Westlake mean other players are going to have to step up, said Benkert. Running back Derek Scammahorn will see the bulk of the carries in Rapoport’s absence, with Brock White and Byron Sells also mixing in a few carries. White, wide receiver Erik Schneider and tight end Evan Christiansen will be counted on to make plays in the passing game with Bills sidelined because of a pulled hamstring. It will be quarterback Ryan Campbell’s job to hold the offense together and find ways to put points on the board. “We just need to come together as a team,” Campbell said. “Injuries happen, that’s football. But we have a lot of good depth at running back, so we’re not too worried about the running game.” After pitching a shutout against Hueneme in the season opener, the Warrior defense allowed 83 combined points to Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and Hart over its last two games—granted those team’s do possess explosive offenses. Nevertheless, injuries or no injuries, the unit has to step up and play better football if Westlake hopes to right its ship and still make a run at a league title, said Benkert. The Warriors will get their first opportunity for a league victory against a Highlander squad that will look to run the ball with running back Curtis Marsh (157.5 rushing yards per game), and slow down the Warrior offense with a defense that is allowing 15 points per game. “We’ve got to try and limit their run game and keep it from beating us,” Benkert said. Players to Watch Westlake Royal QB Ryan Campbell RB Derek Scammahorn RB Curtis Marsh OL/LB Steven Flandez DL OL Scott Matheson Tonio Celotto LB Chase Calderon Outlook With so much talent on the sideline, the Warrior offense could have a difficult time moving the ball against a stingy Royal defense that’s led by an outstanding group of linebackers. Campbell showed signs of improvement against Hart, and will have to provide leadership and make plays down the field in the passing game for Westlake to have a shot on the road. OL Tim Brown |
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