The Acorn's High School Football Game of the Week

TITLE AT STAKE-Byron Sells and the Westlake Warriors travel to Moorpark High Friday night to take on the Musketeers. Power vs. speed. Winner takes all.

The Marmonte League football championship is at stake Friday night at Moorpark High.

The host Moorpark Musketeers are the defending league champions. Junior running back Darrell Scott, the secondleading rusher in the state with 2,048 yards, effectively runs the ball behind a massive offensive line.

Moorpark is big and physical in the trenches.

"No matter how big you are or how fast you are, whoever is the most physical is probably going to come out on top," said George Halamandaris, Moorpark's 6foot7, 315pound offensive tackle.

Many of the MHS seniors have captured a league championship every season they've been in high school. Before last year's varsity title, the Musketeers' JV squad won in 2004 and its freshman team took home the league's top prize in 2003.

"We've won three so far," Halamandaris said. "So this is a big game for us."

Challenging Moorpark for its title are the undefeated Westlake Warriors. Although Westlake has missed the playoffs the past two seasons, WHS has long been a league powerhouse, winning four titles from 1999 through 2003.

Westlake has allowed a leaguelow 118 points this season. They are quick on defense, and behind quarterback Ryan Campbell, the Warriors are opportunistic offensively.

"We're just going to use our speed, that's our biggest advantage," said Westlake linebacker Chase Calderon, the team's third-leading tackler behind Justin Lilley and Bradley Wangerin.

"It's all about who wants it more. It's all about heart, speed."

Westlake head coach Jim Benkert said because of his team's hard work and preparation throughout the season, the Warriors are now being rewarded with a chance to play for a championship.

"We are right where we want to be and we have our destiny in our hands," Benkert said.

"But they are big and physical and they have a great back," the coach said. "It's a tremendous challenge for us. We've played against big, physical football teams before, and I think we're going to be up to the challenge."

Scott's scored 28 touchdowns this season and has rushed for more than 150 yards in every game. Limiting him will be vital to Westlake's success, Benkert said.

"We've got to limit that back and try not to let him beat us," Benkert said. "If we can do that, we'll be in good shape. But a lot of people have tried and haven't been successful. It'll be a tremendous challenge for us."

Opening holes for Scott on Moorpark's offensive line are 6-foot-7 Kyle Rainer and Halamandaris. Pat Carter and John Martinez both get it done on the interior, while tight end Jake Lins is an effective blocker as well.

MHS quarterback Adam Barry has weapons at his disposal with speedy wide receivers Josh Smith and Nick Karam on the outside.

Westlake's defense is strong up the middle.

Senior nose tackle Tyrone Duncan uses his 6foot2, 290pound frame to snuff out opposing running games, while Lilley, a sophomore safety, continues to make plays all over the field.

In addition to Campbell, running backs Byron Sells and Cooper Shockley, along with wideouts Michael Streck-Woodard and Curtis Peterson, are all essential to the Warriors' success on offense.