Westlake prepares for rematch against league-rival Moorpark

Acorn Sports Writer


MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn  ALMOST A GREAT CATCH-Michael Stuart is unable to hang onto the ball as it's knocked away by Julian Reyes, a Redondo Union defender, during Friday night's playoff game at Westlake.

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn ALMOST A GREAT CATCH-Michael Stuart is unable to hang onto the ball as it’s knocked away by Julian Reyes, a Redondo Union defender, during Friday night’s playoff game at Westlake.

The Westlake Warriors advanced to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division IV football playoff semifinals when they beat Redondo, 27-3, in a game at Westlake High School last Friday night.


The win improved the Warriors to 12-0 and sets up a rematch against Moorpark (9-3), a third-place finisher in the Marmonte League, in a 7:30 p.m. game that will be played at Moorpark High School on Saturday night. Redondo ends its season at 8-4.


Jim Benkert, Westlake head coach, said he doesn’t think there will be a repeat of the 49-14 rout that took place on Nov. 13 when his Warriors easily defeated the Musketeers (coached by Tim Lins) in a regionally televised game.


"A lot of good things went on when we played Moorpark the last time," Benkert said. "It all kind of went our way. (But) I worry about playing a team two times. They’re a good football team and they’re well coached, so it’s going to be a heck of a football game. It’s not going to be like the first time."


In the first encounter, Westlake made big plays, said Benkert. A win this time would give his team its second straight appearance in the CIF finals (the Warriors lost against St. Bonaventure last year).


"We worked real hard the week we played Moorpark and we changed everything and came out with different stuff and it was successful for us," said Benkert. "Now you wonder, ‘Should you change it, should you not change it?’ You begin playing guessing games with yourself."


Benkert expects a dogfight this time.


"I’m anticipating playing four quarters of football this Saturday, as I did against Redondo," said Benkert. "Anybody that’s playing in semifinals is a good football team. (Moorpark) didn’t play well the first time we played them, and we played extremely well and we made plays.


"But now you start from scratch," added Benkert. "It’s 0-0 and I know Moorpark has the people to make plays and I know they’re going to give us the best of Moorpark."


John Kidder, formerly an assistant under Benkert at Westlake, is now an assistant under Lins at Moorpark. The Musketeers were runnersup in the Marmonte League last year, behind first-place Westlake. The Warriors came in first again this year, with Agoura finishing second.


Moorpark played well against St. Bonaventure in the CIF semifinals last season, but they came up short, as they did in the league race with Westlake last year and this year.


"We seem to be the nemesis that keeps taking the (Marmonte League) title away from them, so they’re going to play inspired football," said Benkert.


If Moorpark had beaten Westlake this season, it would have set up a potential three-way tie for first place with Westlake, Agoura and Moorpark. The Westlake win gave the Warriors the title outright.


"And they’re a big school with a big following and we’ve got to play at their place, which is a big change from when they had to come here," said Benkert. "This time, they get to play at home."


Moorpark is a dangerous team right now, said Benkert.


"I think they’re a football team with nothing to lose," he said. "They’re going to lay it all out on the field and they’re going to play their best game, and we’ve got to play our best game, too. We’ve gotten the best out of most teams, including Redondo last week."


Against Redondo, Westlake battled back from a second quarter 3-0 deficit, and behind senior running back Tahj Mowry, who gained 102 yards and rushed for three touchdowns, the Warriors scored 27 unanswered points.


"We’ve got to play well in a big game this week," Benkert said, looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup with Moorpark. "So far, we’ve done that. We’ve responded well. We wouldn’t be 12-0 if we weren’t making plays. Now we’ve got to do it again."


Benkert said he’s not concerned about individual statistics, but about wins and losses.


"We don’t worry about Rudy statistically or Tahj statistically," he said about quarterback Rudy Carpenter and running back, Mowry. "All I care about is winning football games."


It helps, though, to have a balanced attack, passing (Carpenter) and running (Mowry), added Benkert.


"I think we have the ability to do either (run or pass), so that makes us pretty dangerous," said Benkert. "We’ve had balance all year."




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