Westlake Gets Victory for Old Times’ Sake

MOORPARK —  Unfortunately for Moorpark High, this reunion didn’t include submarine sandwiches, a friendly game of volleyball and lots of chitchat.

It did involve two coaches--Tim Lins of Moorpark and Jim Benkert of Westlake--who were on the same field for the first time since they were assistants at Crespi in 1988.

It also included a 46-0 rout by Westlake, which shut out a Marmonte League opponent for the second consecutive week, Friday at Moorpark.

Westlake receivers Michael Brignac and Chris Catalano were unchallenged by the Musketeer man-to-man defense, getting open on fly patterns or knifing through tackles on simple hitch plays for big gains.

Brignac, who, along with offensive tackle Keith Holt, was being watched by members of the UCLA coaching staff, finished with six catches for 138 yards and a touchdown.

Catalano, who has scheduled recruiting trips to Arizona State and Wisconsin, had eight catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns.

“They tried to play us one-on-one and we took it to them,” Catalano said.

Westlake (7-1, 4-0 in league play) has defeated the top three teams in the Marmonte League, has outscored league opponents, 175-17, and plays its final two regular-season games against basement-dwellers Simi Valley and Agoura.

“I think we put ourselves in the driver’s seat tonight,” Benkert said. “The contenders are behind us.”

Moorpark (3-5, 3-2), which can break out the wing-T as easily as it can a five- receiver spread, appeared more confused than compelling. Quarterback Dylan McLaughlin failed to challenge the Warriors’ man-to-man defense, settling instead for scrambles or short passes.

McLaughlin rushed for 24 yards in 16 carries and completed 21 of 33 passes for 135 yards. Throw out a 31-yard completion to Scott Rollins as the first half ended, easily the biggest gain of the night for Moorpark, and McLaughlin averaged only 5.2 yards per completion.

Penn-State bound Zac Wasserman, by comparison, completed 14 of 20 passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns, with an average of 23.9 yards per completion.

Westlake scored twice in the first half on unusual plays. Catalano opened the scoring on a 31-yard pass from Wasserman that was tipped by Moorpark defensive back Chris Vizzi.

Midway through the second quarter, Westlake benefited on a fumbled lateral in the end zone by Moorpark receiver Scott Rollins. The ball was scooped up by Catalano to give Westlake a 19-0 lead.

“A good team will make those kinds of plays,” Lins said.

As for the reunion, the concept was downplayed by Lins, who was also coaching against two former assistants--defensive coordinator Troy Thomas and linebackers coach Chris Romero of Westlake coached under Lins when he was the head coach at Crespi.

Said Benkert: “No nostalgia. He’s a friend of mine. I know he’s going to go back and make himself silly trying to get ready for their next game.”