The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SUPER SOPHOMORE—Westlake High quarterback Nick Isham, right, has filled in well for injured senior Ben Conlin. No matter how you say it, 2-1 sounds a whole lot better than 1-2.

Westlake and Newbury Park were co-champions of the Marmonte League in 2007, but, barring a tie, one team will find itself 1-2 in league play after Friday night's game at Westlake.

"Every week, you kind of take each game as a must-win," Newbury Park head coach Gary Fabricius said.

"If you win five games, however, you're probably in the playoffs. We'd just much rather have to win three of our next four games rather than run the table."

Although the two squads shared a league title last season, they don't have much else in common.

Through the first five games of the year, the Panthers have been fueled by a defense that's allowed only 69 total points (13.8 per game), while the Warriors have had success with a high-powered offense.

On Friday, one of the two will have to give.

"We hope it's a shootout," Westlake head coach Jim Benkert said. "If it's a shootout, it means we're doing a good job against their defense, which is very strong."

While Westlake wants to light up its fancy scoreboard, Newbury Park is hoping to slow things down with its defense and rushing attack.

"I'm sure our defensive coordinator doesn't want to hear this, but we feel that if it's a game where both teams are in the 20s, it really benefits us," Fabricius said.

"If their offense only scores 20 points, it's kind of a bad day for Westlake, while we feel if they score more than 20, it's a bad day for our defense."

According to Benkert, Nick Isham will once again handle the quarterback duties for WHS.

Although senior Ben Conlin went down with a shoulder injury in Week 3, Isham has been no ordinary replacement. The sophomore has completed 57-of-86 passes for 744 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Isham's favorite targets have been James De La Cerna and Steve Hagy. Tavior Mowry, who's carried the ball 62 times for 312 yards, has led the WHS ground game.

Trying to stop a Westlake offense averaging 38 points per contest will be a Panther defense led by linemen Jackson Powell, Connor Saucier and Nathaniel Roman.

Linebackers Drake Exstrom, Brandon Born and Josh Sackheim, as well as a secondary featuring Phillip Muscarella and Greg Thompson, have also played well thus far.

The Panthers will also get an extra spark this week with the return of senior running back Chris Brown.

Brown, who's been out with a back injury since Week 1, will team up with Cameron Roberson in the offensive backfield. Roberson has carried the ball 111 times for 612 yards and five touchdowns.

While Benkert believes the game's most crucial aspect will be ball control, Fabricius said it'll be the turnover battle.

"If one team dishes the ball up a couple times, it's going to be a huge disadvantage against them," Fabricius said.

"We're going to have a hard time keeping Westlake out of the end zone if we keep giving them easy chances and a short field."

Players to Watch

Outlook

With both teams having already lost one league game, this matchup could be viewed as a must-win in terms of competing for a Marmonte championship. Westlake's quarterback situation continues to bear watching. Sophomore Nick Isham is slated to start behind center.