Deflated Westlake Still Wins

SIMI VALLEY —  Here’s a scary thought for the rest of the Marmonte League: On a night Westlake High doesn’t play its best, the Warriors are still good enough to win handily.

Westlake was held to its worst offensive output this season by a determined Royal defense, but the Warriors pounded out a 28-7 victory Friday night in their football league opener at Royal.

The Warriors, averaging 417 yards per game, were held to 223 and had only 98 in the first half.

Zac Wasserman, who had more than 1,100 yards passing in four games, was held to 115, completing nine of 18 passes with two touchdowns. He was sacked eight times.

But tailback Julian Lambert and the Warriors’ defense picked up the slack.

Lambert had 140 yards on 17 carries, with a 55-yard touchdown run on his first carry.

Westlake (5-0) had five sacks, caused four turnovers and held Royal (1-4, 0-2) to 217 yards, only 93 in the second half.

“We knew we were up against a good team that had their backs against the wall,” said Coach Jim Benkert of Westlake. “They got after us. I wasn’t surprised to be in a tough game.”

Lambert gave Westlake a 7-0 lead on his first-quarter run.

After an interception by Josh Golden, Wasserman made it 14-0 on a two-yard pass to Chris Catalano, who had four catches for 40 yards, later in the quarter.

The Highlanders made it 14-7 with just under a minute left in the half when Jonathan Palacios hit Kevin Krause with a nine-yard scoring pass.

Wasserman, who was only three of eight for 33 yards in the first half, warmed up in the third quarter, finding tight end Mike Seidman on a 40-yard touchdown pass play on the first possession of the second half to make it 21-7.

Royal drove to the Westlake 31 late in the third quarter, but on fourth and 11, Palacios threw an incomplete pass.

Palacios completed 11 of 22 passes for 137 yards for Royal. Steve Sheehan had 11 carries for 51 yards, and Krause caught five passes for 92 yards.