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High School Sports

Brea Olinda (11-0-1) vs. Western (7-4-1)

By BEN BOLCH

7 TONIGHT WESTERN HIGH

While Brea Olinda’s 21-21 tie with Western in the regular season was dramatic--the Wildcats rallied from a 21-0 deficit--tonight’s game should be a real treat. Both teams are playing their best football of the season. Western, which has been hampered by injuries all season, is back to full strength and has thrived since the return of halfback Jamiah Williamson, who came back for the playoffs after missing all but one half of the Orange League season. Brea is playing in the semifinals for the third consecutive year, while Western is making its fourth appearance in seven seasons.

KEY PLAYERS

Brea Olinda

QB Steve Stagnaro

42.8%, 774 yds., 9 TDs

RB Kenny Washington

1,748 yds., 7 TDs

DB Nick Stagnaro

11 interceptions

Western

QB Mike Hicks

46.2%, 1,255 yds., 16 TDs

RB Will Ruffin

943 yds., 9 TDs

WR Jon Wittman

456 yds., 7 TDs

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High School Sports
Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

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