Column: Westlake eyes playoffs after defeating St. Bonaventure, 45-28

The Pac-5 Division in high school football is loaded with top teams. From defending champion Bellflower St. John Bosco to 19-time champion Long Beach Poly to no-huddle offense king Corona Centennial, there’s going to be plenty of teams to avoid in the playoffs.

Count Westlake Village Westlake as another team capable of rising up if the Warriors can play like they did Thursday night in routing Ventura St. Bonaventure, 45-28, in a Marmonte League game.

Offensively, the Warriors have a group of skill-position players who one day are going to be spending Saturdays creating excitement in college stadiums.

“Our big guns came out and took over,� Westlake Coach Jim Benkert said.

St. Bonaventure (5-4, 1-1) was supposed to offer the Warriors (7-2, 2-0) a challenge. Instead, there was running clock. Three touchdowns by the Seraphs in the fourth quarter against Westlake reserves made the game look competitive.

In truth, it was a mismatch from the outset. Behind Malik Henry’s passing, Chase Jasmin’s running and the catching of Andre Baccellia and Theo Howard, Westlake cruised to victory.

Henry, considered one of the top junior quarterbacks in the nation, completed 14 of 23 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Jasmin, a junior running back with lots of speed, rushed for 175 yards in 18 carries and scored on runs of 14 and 60 yards.

The Washington-bound Baccellia had touchdown catches of 49 and 52 yards. Howard, a junior who keeps picking up Pac-12 offers, caught four passes for 70 yards.

Westlake led, 31-7, at halftime. The Warriors defense, led by linebacker Quincy Bennett, wasn’t too shabby either. USC-bound quarterback Ricky Town of St. Bonaventure was three for six passing for zero yards in the first half. He finished with 92 yards passing and had fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Darius Vines and Ladell Atkins.

The Warriors are starting to benefit from playing Long Beach Poly and Santa Ana Mater Dei earlier in the season. Although they lost in close games, the experience gives Westlake much better preparation for what is coming when the playoffs begin in two weeks.

“Poly prepared us well for the rest of the season,� Henry said. “So did Mater Dei. Their defenses are exceptional. They got after us. After that, we regrouped well.�

Now the Warriors just have to figure out how to maintain consistency.

“It all starts with practice,� Henry said. “Sometimes we’re joking around, and the coaches have to get into us. I think once we focus and do what we’re supposed to do, we’re good, a well-oiled machine.�

First, though, Westlake has to earn a playoff spot. The Warriors need a win over neighborhood rival Oaks Christian next week. Oaks Christian defeated Moorpark, 35-21, on Thursday. A loss to the Lions, and there could be a three-way tie for first, leaving coin flips to decide two guaranteed spots.

“Oaks Christian won, which means we’re still not in the playoffs,� Benkert told his team late Thursday night.

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