The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week

SHAKE AND BAKE-Westlake's Byron Sells makes a cut during last weekend's 28-27 win over Hart. Sells and the Warriors host Newbury Park Friday night in the Marmonte League opener. It looks like Westlake has its swagger back.

Following a pair of disap- pointing seasons in which they failed to qualify for the playoffs, the Warriors are off to a 3-0 start thanks, in part, to an opportunis- tic offense and a defense that's al- lowing only 13.6 points per game.

"We have a lot of momentum, but we're not going to get big- headed," junior wide receiver Curtis Peterson said. "We've got to try and keep our game plan and get Coach (Jim) Benkert his re- spect back because we love him and he's our coach. We want to put Westlake back up on top."

From 1999 to 2003, Westlake won four Marmonte League titles and a pair of CIF-SS cham- pionships. The past two seasons, WHS has posted an 8-12 over- all record.

The Warriors kept their per- fect start intact last Friday at home with a thrilling 28-27 vic- tory over Hart.

Senior quarterback Ryan Campbell completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Peterson with 2:41 remaining in the fourth quarter to stake WHS to a 28-21 lead late in the game.

Hart quickly drove downfield and scored with just over a minute to go. But rather than attempt the extra point to try and tie the game, Hart went for two and the win. When Westlake's Justin Lilley in- tercepted the conversion attempt, all the Warriors had to do was run out the clock to secure victory.

"We swarmed like there was no tomorrow," senior defensive tackle Tyrone Duncan said. "Every player was going at the ball, and that's what kept us in the game. That's what we do."

The three teams Westlake has faced so far-Basic, Saugus and Hart-all like to use multiple- receiver formations. So, as league play gets underway tonight against Newbury Park, Benkert said his team should be well pre- pared to handle the Panthers' air- it-out passing attack.

"We've played three of the same style offensive teams," Benkert said. "They all spread the field in shotgun formations, and it's a very, very difficult thing to stop because of the matchups.

"You've got to match up ath- lete for athlete. If you pull your- self out of the box, then you can't stop a good athlete running the ball or a quarterback that can take off," he said.

Junior quarterback Colby Cameron will direct the Newbury Park offense. In his first three starts, Cameron has completed 54-of-119 passes for 611 yards, with six touch- downs and seven interceptions.

Cameron's favorite targets have been Anthony Leonardi (14 receptions, 165 yards) and Scott Takeguma (15 receptions, 152 yards, two TDs).

Brian Koenig leads NPHS with 156 rushing yards on 41 attempts (3.8 yards per carry). In each of the Panthers' last two games, Koenig's been held under 50 yards on the ground.

Campbell's numbers haven't been flashy, but he's been effective. He's completed 34-of-62 passing attempts for 411 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Campbell's also rushed for 84 yards.

With junior wideout Brent Moore sidelined for several weeks with an injured right shoulder, Peterson and Michael Streck- Woodard now have a larger role in the Warrior offense.

Campbell said his team is con- fident as kickoff approaches.

"I expect to win. I always ex- pect to win," he said. "Our guys work hard and there's no reason we shouldn't come out with a win."