Football: Loss leaves Westbrook ‘stunned’

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Cory Westbrook couldn’t have imagined anything like this.

‘I’m sick,’ the Long Beach Poly running back said after his team suffered a 30-7 defeat against Servite on Thursday night at Long Beach Veterans Stadium. ‘I’m real sick. I’m stunned, sick. It hurts.’

The Friars held Westbrook, a senior who was expected to lead the way for the Jackrabbits’ offense, to 23 yards in 12 carries--fewer than two yards per carry.

‘I don’t even know what to say,’ Westbrook said. ‘We practiced, practiced, practiced and we get here and we just don’t know what to do. A blank. ... We’ve got young guys, but that’s not an excuse. They’ve got to step up and play their game. We practice so much, they’ve got to get it. They’ve got to understand the game now.’

So how do you bounce back from this?

‘Hard work and heart,’ Westbrook said.

Westbrook suggested that playing St. Bonaventure, the two-time defending state Division III champion, next week was a good thing.

‘We can test where these guys’ hearts are at and how long the season’s really going to be,’ he said. ‘We’ve got to practice and we’ve got to get some spots filled. It should be a good week.’

--Ben Bolch