Westlake Rolls Up 529 Yards in 47-21 Win

Westlake Coach George Contreras had heard the critics.

His Warriors could match any team point for point. They could also give up just as many points on defense.

“There were some potshots taken at our defense,” Contreras said. “But they did a tremendous job tonight. They came of age.”

And how.

After giving up two early touchdowns to Santa Monica, one on a kickoff return, the Westlake defense shut down the Vikings until the final quarter for a 47-21 win Thursday night at Thousand Oaks High.

Santa Monica (3-2) had come into the non-league game ranked No. 3 in the Coastal Conference. Now the Warriors (4-2) figure to occupy a spot in the Top 10.

It was a typical night for the Westlake offense. It rolled up 529 yards, and at one point scored 40 unanswered points.

“Westlake outplayed us in every phase of the game,” Santa Monica Coach Tebb Kusserow said. “We made a lot of mistakes in this game, but Westlake sure does deserve the win.”

Santa Monica scored first, on a one-yard run by Cedric Burris with 15 seconds left in the first quarter.

Six plays after Santa Monica scored, Steve Sidler tied it with a one-yard run. The key play in the drive was a 60-yard pass from quarterback Brad Gossen to Todd Thompson. Gossen completed 5 of 6 passes, but the aerial attack gained 228 yards.

After Westlake’s first touchdown, Santa Monica’s London Sattiewhite returned the kickoff 87 yards for a score, putting the Vikings in the lead, 14-7.

Westlake then went on a 40-point scoring rampage.

Gary Wellman, who rushed for 128 yards on 16 carries, scored from 12 yards out. The extra point was missed and Santa Monica led, 14-13.

With 38 seconds left in the half, Gossen hooked up with Wellman on a 69-yard scoring play for a 19-14 Westlake lead.

Two plays into the third quarter, Westlake shocked the Vikings again. Gossen hit Chris Mann on a 64-yard pass for another score.

On Westlake’s next possession, the Warriors moved 88 yards on nine running plays. Sidler, who ran for 121 yards on 18 carries, scored the second of his three touchdowns from the one.

After three quarters, Westlake led, 33-14.

In the last quarter, Wellman ran 24 yards for a touchdown with 5:52 left.

Following a Wellman interception of a Pat O’Hara pass, Sidler went in from the 11.

Santa Monica scored last with four seconds left on a four-yard pass from O’Hara to Antoine Holland.