HITTIN’ TIME—Westlake High’s Adam Lazar, right, and Dylan Ray prep for Friday’s regular-season opener against Oxnard. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers It’s not just another game at Westlake High School.

Yes, the reigning CIF-Southern Section Northern Division football champions play Friday.

Yes, it’s their first game of this season.

Yes, there will be offensive fireworks from quarterback Nick Isham, running back Tavior Mowry and wide receiver Nelson Spruce, as well as big stops from a punishing defense.

But it’s more than just a game.

Westlake will honor a fallen Warrior, former middle linebacker and 2008 graduate A.J. Castro.

A U.S. Army specialist with the 101st Airborne Division, Castro, 20, was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 28.

Castro’s funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 32032 W. Lindero Canyon Road in Westlake Village.

The team will attend.

Westlake varsity head coach Jim Benkert and freshman head coach Norman Hames are expected to speak at the funeral.

Castro will be buried at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake.

That same day, Benkert will prepare the Warriors for the 7 p.m. opener against Oxnard.

“It can’t get more emotional,” Benkert said.

Although most of the current Warriors never had a personal relationship with A.J. Castro, many know his father, Hector.

Hector Castro has been active with the Westlake Braves youth football program for more than a decade, and he’s also involved with the high school team’s booster club.

Hector Castro still watches WHS practice almost every day.

“Hector’s like a brother to me, and A.J. was like a son to me,” Benkert said. “Hector stayed at my house the night he found out about his son.”

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a statement expressing his condolences.

“The death of Specialist Andrew Castro is a sad and sobering reminder of the dangers our men and women in uniform face each day to protect our freedoms,” Schwarzenegger said.

“The great courage he displayed in the line of duty is an example of true patriotism.”

The Castro family will be honored before Friday’s game. A slideshow of A.J. Castro will play on the school’s video scoreboard.

Hector Castro will don A.J.’s No. 45 jersey and be named an honorary captain. Players will sport a “45” sticker on the back of their helmets all season.

Benkert said he has been in e-mail contact with Gen. John Campbell, the commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan.

The Warriors are trying to get permission to wear 101st Airborne patches on their jerseys.

In a moment of bittersweet serendipity, the Warriors invited an original member of the Band of Brothers—U.S. soldiers who served in the 101st Airborne during World War II—to the Sept. 16 home game against Thousand Oaks. Veteran Ed “Doc” Pepping, who parachuted into Normandy, will be honored.

Offensive line coach Andy Flores said A.J. Castro’s death has unified the community.

“When times are tough, we come together and rally and lean on each other,” Flores said. “There are bumps along the road. We have to endure the good with the bad. How you come back from that adversity makes you stronger.”