Westlake on Fast Forward : Football: Warriors score on their first play of each half, clinch tie for league title, 48-7.

THOUSAND OAKS —  Westlake High Coach Jim Benkert wanted to keep his team looking sharp and get off to a fast start in Thursday night’s Marmonte League game against Channel Islands.

Benkert got exactly what he asked for. The Warriors scored on their first offensive play of each half en route to a 48-7 victory over the Raiders at Thousand Oaks High.

With the victory, Westlake clinched a share of its first league championship since 1982. Westlake (8-1, 6-0 in league play) can win the championship outright by defeating Agoura next week.

Running back Craig Walendy scored on a 67-yard run on Westlake’s first play from scrimmage for a 6-0 lead.

Westlake continued its offensive success, building a 41-0 lead by halftime.

Quarterback Scott Spruill passed for 143 yards and four touchdowns in the first half. Spruill, who did not play after the second quarter, threw three of the touchdowns to wide receiver Billy Miller, pass plays that covered eight, 42 and 16 yards.

Spruill also connected with Scott Siegel on a 43-yard scoring play.

Channel Islands opened the game in an aggressive manner, recovering an onside kick.

Channel Islands (1-8, 0-6) attempted a run on a fourth and one at the Westlake 31-yard line, but Tony Moore was dropped for a two-yard loss.

On the next play, Walendy went the distance.

“We came out with our bread-and-butter play and Walendy broke it,” Benkert said. “It was a nice way to start off. We are trying to get our team to peak right now.”

The Raiders scored in the third quarter on a two-yard run by Mookie Boyd, who had 89 yards in 21 carries.