Football: Westlake is the team to beat this summer

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Last summer, Huntington Beach Edison went unbeaten in passing competitions and used that momentum to reach the Pac-5 Division championship game.

This summer, it’s looking as if Westlake Village Westlake has replaced the Chargers as the best seven-on-seven team. The Warriors won their second tournament in as many weeks, knocking off Long Beach Poly in the championship game of the Saugus tournament Saturday night.

And it might be time for college recruiters to start paying attention to Westlake’s outstanding receiver-safety, Nelson Spruce.

‘That receiver is good,’ Poly Coach Raul Lara said.

And quarterback Nick Isham isn’t too bad himself.

Long Beach Poly is hardly considered a passing league power, which means when the Jackrabbits are making it to the championship game, beware.

‘I think we’re going to be pretty scary,’ Lara said.

Receivers Richard Smith and Randall Goforth, along with defensive back Kameron Jackson, had big performances over two days for the Jackrabbits, who defeated Oaks Christian in the semifinals. Westlake defeated Canyon Country Canyon in the semifinals.

Westlake, which went 14-0 last season, is showing it has the talent and experience to contend for No. 1 in Southern California this fall.

-- Eric Sondheimer