Football: No contest in Westlake-Taft meeting

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There was much intrigue to the passing competition Tuesday at Ventura High that had Westlake Village Westlake playing Woodland Hills Taft in a seven-on-seven game. After all, Taft’s quarterback, Michael Bercovici, transferred from Westlake last season.

But it was Bercovici’s former teammates who took the match a little more seriously and sent a message to the Taft players that if you don’t play with intensity against a top team, you’re going to get dominated. Westlake scored five consecutive touchdowns to start the game, with Taft getting none.

Westlake’s Nelson Spruce had a touchdown reception and interception. The revelation from the game is that Westlake might have the best backup quarterback around in sophomore Justin Moore, who threw a pair of touchdown passes. Moore was the hero of Westlake’s championship game last season as a freshman when starter Nick Isham was injured.

Taft was missing two injured receivers, but Westlake’s solid play on offense and defense was another indication how strong the Warriors have been all summer.

-- Eric Sondheimer