Calabasas’ Performance Is No Close Shave, 41-14

Tailback Robby Coppola and several other key members of the Calabasas High football team got mohawk haircuts Thursday in anticipation of Friday night’s nonleague showdown against Harvard-Westlake.

But when the game was over, Harvard-Westlake was the one that was scalped.

Calabasas crushed the visiting Wolverines, 41-14, behind 154 yards and three touchdowns in 20 carries by Coppola. Calabasas (4-0) could have done more damage, but dropped three Wolverine passes that likely would have been returned for touchdowns.

The Coyotes also had a touchdown nullified by penalty and were penalized seven times for 100 yards in the first half.

Harvard-Westlake (3-1) got its best performance from tailback Sam Hornblower, who rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown in 20 carries.

The Coyotes began their first possession at the Harvard-Westlake 49-yard-line and scored in six plays. Coppola ran for a three-yard touchdown after taking a pitch from quarterback Scott Quigley.

Late in the first quarter, Harvard-Westlake drove to the Calabasas 28. However, quarterback John Terzian’s pass was intercepted by defensive back Kevin Wang, who returned it 41 yards to the Calabasas 46.

Five players later, Coppola scored on a 16-yard run. David Rosenberg’s second successful conversion kick made the score 14-0.

With 10 minutes to play in the first half, Terzian dropped back to pass at his own 34, but fumbled after being sacked by defensive end Shariff Hasan. Coyote Brandon Parker scooped up the ball and ran untouched into the end zone.

The Coyote defense caused another turnover midway through the second quarter. Harvard-Westlake’s Odo Avizienis caught a short pass from Terzian but Coppola, playing linebacker, jarred the ball loose with a fierce hit and Parker recovered.

Two plays later, Quigley threw a 31-yard scoring pass to Wang.

Jeff Wilk caught a 46-yard scoring pass from Quigley for the Coyotes’ last touchdown of the half and a 34-0 lead.

Quigley completed seven of 11 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns.