Westlake Controls Camarillo, 42-22

Despite being ahead at the half, 21-9, Westlake Coach George Contreras was hardly pleased with his team’s first-half performance Friday night against Marmonte League rival Camarillo.

“Our offense was sputtering,” Contreras said. “I’m not happy with the way we were playing. We had some nice runs, but we weren’t controlling the ball the way we should.”

In the second half, Westlake controlled the ball enough to beat Camarillo, 42-22.

Actually, Warrior running back Gary Wellman controlled the Scorpions. The 5-9, 160-pound senior rushed for 169 yards on nine carries and scored five touchdowns. He threw for another. Wellman entered the game as the scoring leader among the Southern Section’s Valley-area players. The running back now has 21 touchdowns in seven games.

Camarillo (1-6 overall, 0-3 in league) tried to keep pace with the Warrior offense, but fell short.

After Westlake scored a first-quarter touchdown on Wellman’s halfback pass to Todd Thompson, Camarillo came back to score after an 11-play, 69-yard drive. Kevin Ochs scored from eight yards out.

But on Westlake’s next possession, Wellman ran 50 yards for a touchdown.

Again, Camarillo fought back as the Scorpions drove to the Warrior’s 18, but had to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Danny Eastman.

Before the half ended, the Warriors scored again, this time on a 77-yard touchdown run by Wellman.

To open the third quarter, Westlake (5-2 overall, 2-1 in league) moved the ball 53 yards for another score, a 13-yard run by Wellman.

Wellman scored from six yards out with 7:13 left in the third quarter. He scored again on a 25-yard run with 2:23 left in the third.

From there, the rout was on and the game was over.