Calabasas Football Has Work Cut Out at Westlake

Not to offend anyone, but Calabasas is about as big an underdog as you can be tonight for the Marmonte League opener at powerful Westlake -- yet that’s OK with the visiting Coyotes.

They’re going to approach the game like they have nothing to lose because in reality, they don’t. No one expects anything less than total domination by Westlake (1-0), a program that has won 62 games over the past seven-plus seasons compared to just eight for Calabasas.

So if you believe in moral victories, Calabasas (1-0) has a chance to make a good impression merely by moving the ball a bit and making some plays on defense.

“I don’t see a downside,” Calabasas coach Christian Pierce said. “We play an outstanding Westlake team tonight, and the only thing we have to do is to play within ourselves and not worry about the enormity of the game or the reputation of Westlake.”

Everyone says Westlake is going to roll up the Coyotes, but Pierce and his players, riding the momentum of coming from nine points down in the second half in a 19-13 opening win over Granada Hills, are not so sure.

“We are prepared, we’re a solid football team, and we’re going to give it our best shot,” Pierce said. “We plan on going out and playing sound, hard-nosed football. You ask if I’m concerned about all their good players? Well, I hope they’re concerned about some of our players, too.”

Tyson Jones rushed for two touchdowns in the win over Granada Hills. The junior running back/defensive lineman is among the league’s top players, and he figures to play a key role tonight if Calabasas wants to keep it close. Some of Calabasas’ other players to watch are quarterback Brandon Marin, receivers Caleb Madden and Matt Guttridge and linebacker Jordan Pierce.

Westlake counters with quarterback Justin Moore, receiver Cody Tuttle, defensive linemen Justin Solis and Johnny Stuart, linebacker David Ortiz, defensive back Dashon Hunt and kicker Alex Ball – all of whom are All-Southern Section candidates and top college prospects.

VIEWPOINT LOOKS TO HEAD OFF L.A. BAPTIST AT THE PASS

Like Calabasas, Viewpoint (1-1) also has a challenging  game, as the Patriots play host to high-powered L.A. Baptist (1-1) at 4 p.m. today, as the visiting Knights feature Sean Smith, one of California’s leading passers. Smith, who is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, has passed for 591 yards and seven touchdowns and scored two touchdowns, including a 325-yard, five-touchdown performance in an opening win over Arrowhead Christian, but weaknesses were exposed last week in a 37-point loss to Chadwick, and Viewpoint is a 13-point Calpreps favorite on Saturday.

“We’re excited and ready,” Viewpoint coach Chris Adamson said. “L.A. Baptist has the type of program and history that we’re trying to build here. Year to year, they’re competitive and regularly find their way to the playoffs. That’s one of our goals here. L.A. Baptist is the kind of program we need to compete with if we’re truly going to elevate this program.”

Some of Viewpoint's top players are quarterback Joey Verhaugh and running backs Adam Markun and Dakota Williams.

“We feel good about our preparation this week, and we are ready to build on last week’s momentum,” Adamson said. “Both teams are explosive on offense. We need to dominate on special teams and to limit their big plays.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Calabasas (1-0) at Westlake (1-0), 7 p.m. tonight

L.A. Baptist (1-1) at Viewpoint (1-1), 4 p.m.