Westlake prepares for huge showdown vs. Notre Dame

MORRIS COHEN/T.O. Acorn SRAMBLING FOR A GAIN--Quarterback Rudy Carpenter of Westlake does his best to out run Fabian Mauricio of Santa Paula before being brought down during the first quarter of Friday's game at Westlake High School.

By Wayne Harrison

Acorn Sports Writer

The Westlake football team hopes to get some retribution for a loss at the hands of Notre Dame last year.

The Warriors, who defeated Santa Paula 42-0 in their regular season opener last Friday, were defeated by Notre Dame, 35-21, last year, one of three losses Westlake had in 2002.

MORRIS COHEN/T.O. Acorn GETTING THE NECESSARY YARDAGE--Michael Stuart of Westlake runs for a first down just before being pulled to the ground by Kevin More of Santa Paula during the first quarter of Friday's game at Westlake High.

"There’s definitely a revenge factor," said USC-bound tight end/defensive end Jimmy Miller. "I think everyone definitely wants to beat them this year because they beat us last year."

Westlake head coach Jim Benkert said he isn’t certain yet if his squad is ready to play a full four quarters because against Santa Paula at home last Friday, the starters only played about half the game.

"We’re going to have to be able to play four quarters against a solid football team," said Benkert. "We did a nice job (vs. Santa Paula) and I think that was a good win for us from the standpoint of executing what we wanted to do. (But) we have to move it up to the next level to be prepared this next week."

Miller said he and his teammates would be prepared.

"I think we’ll be ready. Most of us only played a half last game," said Miller (referring to Santa Paula). "But I think everyone will be ready to do a full four quarters this game. It’s a tough game because they’re really good.

"Last year," added Miller, "it was real close, and they kind of pulled away at the end. This year I think we’re ready to go four quarters with them and hopefully win."

If his players want some measure of revenge to offset last year’s loss, Benkert isn’t fueled by the same energy. But he’s glad to face tough competition. Westlake plays perennial powerhouse Hart, which beat the Warriors 35-14 last year, next week on the non-league schedule.

In the L.A. Times poll of high school football teams, which came out Monday, Notre Dame was ranked seventh while Westlake was ranked 12th.

"We’re playing a quality opponent and it’s going to be two good football teams coming together," said Benkert. "And hopefully it’s a whale of a football game.

"We anticipate a four-quarter battle. They (Notre Dame) won the CIF Division III title last year, so obviously we’re going in there as an underdog," added Benkert.

Notre Dame was 14-0 last year and like Westlake, which ended 11-3 and lost in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals against St. Bonaventure, they’re 1-0 so far this season.

"They’re rated No. 11 in the state of California and they’re rated ahead of us in the L.A Times poll, so they’ve got things going," said Benkert. "They’re a highly-disciplined, fundamentally-experienced football team and we’ll have to play our best game to beat them."

What else will it take?

"We’re going to have to make plays against a real good football team in order to be successful this week," said Benkert. "And we’re going to have to play good defense because we can’t give up 35 points and expect to win the football game.

"Last year we beat Santa Paula 45-0 (in week one)," added Benkert, "and went in and gave up 35 points to Notre Dame. Our kids have to forget about last week and start worrying about this week."

"I would imagine it’s an exciting game, maybe the most exciting game in the state this year with two teams ranked in the Top 15 playing each other," said Benkert.

In the opener against Santa Paula, both Jason Soporito, who started, and Rudy Carpenter, who’ll start vs. Notre Dame, were productive at quarterback.

Soporito was 7 of 9 passing for 67 yards, Carpenter was 8 of 11 for 116 yards, with one touchdown pass and one TD run. Both are seniors.

Also against Santa Paula, sophomore Jeff Rapoport ran for 87 yards on seven carries, Tahj Mowry, a senior, had 74 yards on 10 carries and Carpenter ran for 59 yards on five carries. Senior wide receiver Michael Stuart had five receptions for 54 yards, Miller had four catches for 55 yards and senior wide receiver Daniel Tromello had two receptions for 28 yards.

"The thing that was exciting for us is that we really limited our penalties," said Benkert.