VICTORY IS OURS—Westlake High senior middle linebacker Adrian Muguerza celebrates a sack during the Warriors’ 38-14 home victory over Moorpark in Week 10, a win that clinched the Marmonte League championship for WHS. Muguerza led Westlake with 15 tackles on the night. Westlake High’s defense was an afterthought.

Heading into last weekend’s Marmonte League championship showdown between Westlake and Moorpark, high school football fans had heard, seen and read plenty of stories about the highflying Warrior offense and suffocating Musketeer defense.

But when the dust settled on a wintry, made-for-hittin’ night and the two heavyweight programs had ceased doing battle in front of more than 7,000 spectators at WHS, it was the Westlake defense that shone brightest in a resounding 38-14 victory.

In claiming the league crown, Westlake improved to 10-0 and climbed 11 spots in MaxPreps.com’s state rankings, to No. 7 overall, one spot ahead of Oaks Christian.

Moorpark fell to 9-1.

“I’m immensely proud of everybody, every single one of the players—the starters, the reserves and the scout team because they gave us such a great look at Moorpark,” said WHS defensive coordinator Richard Fong. “And we have such a tremendous coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. . . .

“We weren’t as big as Moorpark all the way across the board, but our guys played with a ton of heart. It was never-say-die, and these guys had no quit in them.”

From the outset, it appeared as if the Warriors’ defensive front would be completely overmatched.

Following a quick Westlake scoring drive to start the game, Moorpark got the ball and leisurely drove 80 yards to tie the score at 7-7.

The Musketeers’ opening drive chewed up 9 minutes and 37 seconds on the clock, nearly all of the first quarter.

It seemed like a perfect, timeconsuming offensive march for the Musketeers, but as it turned out, Westlake was executing its game plan as well.

“If it was going to be that hard for them to score on us, then that was our plan, to make them fight for everything,” said Westlake senior linebacker Adrian Muguerza, who tallied a team-leading 15 tackles and added a sack.

“They could have their 10-minute drives, because we were going to go back and score in two minutes. With 20-play drives, they were bound to make some errors, and they did.”

Westlake needed only one play, an 80-yard touchdown strike from junior quarterback Nick Isham to junior wideout Nelson Spruce, to take a 14-7 lead.

After that, the Warriors never looked back.

Senior cornerback Michael Tack had a pair of second-half interceptions, including one that he took to the end zone for a picksix late in the contest. Tack also logged 10 tackles.

Isham, who, like Spruce, also starts at safety, added an interception. Senior linebacker Shane Giraldo contributed 13 tackles.

Moorpark, meanwhile, didn’t score again until 24 seconds remained in the fourth quarter, a stunning turn of events for a Musketeer squad that had posted at least 27 points in every game this season.

“We just had to persevere,” said WHS junior linebacker Max Winsberg, following an eighttackle night.

“It was a total team effort. Give a lot of credit to our defensive line because we made them one-dimensional and we pounced on them. A total team effort.”

The Warrior defensive line continues to be spearheaded by senior Dallas Clayton and a pair of sensational sophomores, Johnny Stuart and Justin Solis.

Coach Fong raved about the season-long contributions of senior Mason Thibo, an undersized but highly competitive defensive end/linebacker.

“That kid is a stud,” said Fong of Thibo. “He can play offense or special teams for us. On defense, he’s all over the field. . . .

“He is smart and he is tough, and he has a motor. If there’s anybody who’s going to go 100 percent for the entire game, it’s (Thibo). He’s my hero.”

Junior Jack Shepherd continues to impress at linebacker, the coach said, while junior Casey Bliss has been a consistent playmaker in the secondary.

“I can’t say enough about these guys,” Fong said. “I don’t want to leave anybody out, but I know there’s only so much room.”

If the Warriors continue to play this well on defense, opposing offenses will have little room for error in the postseason.

“The defense really won this game for us,” Spruce said. “Going into the playoffs, it really sends a message that not only is our offense powerful, but our defense is, too.”