Camarillo Goes to War, Topples Westlake, 10-0

Camarillo High, on the brink of playoff extinction, needed a rallying cry for Friday’s battle with Marmonte League leader Westlake, and the Scorpions got it when their coaches declared the game “World War III” and showed up wearing military fatigues.

The motivating ploy apparently worked, as Camarillo defeated Westlake, 10-0, knocking the Warriors (6-2, 4-1 in league play) from the Marmonte’s unbeaten ranks and snapping their five-game winning streak.

Camarillo (5-4, 3-2) closes out the regular season next week against Royal.

It was a war won in the trenches--the Scorpion defense held Westlake to 165 total yards, 96 on the ground.

“They just outhorsed us,” Westlake Coach George Contreras said. “They controlled the line of scrimmage, both offensively and defensively. They wanted it a little bit more.

“There’s an old coaching saying: It’s not luck when they shut you out.”

While the Camarillo defense had Westlake marching to its tune, the Scorpions’ Bill Bell was launching an offensive of sorts. Bell, Camarillo’s all-time leading rusher, ran for 146 yards in 29 carries on the muddy turf. He also caught a screen pass for 14 yards, accounting for 160 of Camarillo’s 263 total yards.

Westlake was dealt a crushing blow midway through the third period when starting quarterback Bob Grandpre went down with a shoulder injury. Grandpre, who also starts at linebacker, did not return.

Senior quarterback Greg Cox was pressed into action, but he completed just 1 of 5 passes for 15 yards.

Camarillo got its lone touchdown in the first period after J. R. Enriquez recovered Ryan Behrens’ fumble after a punt at the Westlake 25-yard line. Three plays later, Joe Bosman scored from 12 yards out, and Earnest Rittenhouse’s kick gave the Scorpions a 7-0 lead with 5:45 to play in the quarter.

Camarillo clinched the victory with 2:53 remaining when Rittenhouse kicked a 19-yard field goal.

Camarillo, led by Trent Spangler and James Hand, limited Westlake to 90 yards in the first half, 59 on the ground.

Westlake, behind the defensive play of Chris Millan, Rich Choate and Chris Choich, held the Scorpions to 117 yards in the first two periods.

Bell, the Valley area’s fourth-leading rusher, had 63 yards in 13 carries in the first half.

Westlake had an excellent opportunity to tie the score after Grandpre intercepted a Donald Dodson pass and returned it 18 yards to the Camarillo 14 midway through the second quarter. The Warriors got three cracks from inside the four and failed to punch it in, then Behrens missed a 24-yard field-goal attempt.

Camarillo nearly scored again just before halftime, marching from its 20 to the Westlake six with 15 seconds to play. But Rittenhouse’s 23-yard field-goal attempt, partially deflected by Grandpre, was wide left.

C--Bosman 12 run (Rittenhouse kick)

C--FG Rittenhouse 19