Borchard Lifts Camarillo Past Westlake, 33-29

The surprising Camarillo High football team won its fourth consecutive Marmonte League game Friday, knocking off Westlake, 33-29, after trailing, 21-12 at halftime.

Camarillo quarterback Joe Borchard ran for a touchdown and threw for two more, including a game-winning, 47-yard strike to Justin Denham with seven minutes 30 seconds to play.

Camarillo (5-2, 4-0) remained tied with Thousand Oaks for first place, after going 1-2 in nonleague play. Westlake (5-2, 2-2) dropped into a fourth-place tie with Agoura.

Borchard completed 18 of 29 passes, including nine of 10 in the second half. He finished with 275 yards passing.

“We executed better in the second half, like we have all season,” said Borchard, who was sacked four times and knocked down numerous other times. “We were picked to finish sixth in this league, but that stuff doesn’t mean anything. That’s why we play the games.”

Camarillo scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the second half.

Westlake received the second-half kickoff but on its fourth play, quarterback Casey Preston’s pass was intercepted by Andy Kroneberger and returned 31 yards to the Westlake 44-yard line.

The Scorpions scored in seven plays on Joe Hallowell’s one-yard plunge. Ryan Geisler added the conversion kick to cut the Warrior lead to 21-19.

Westlake turned the ball over on downs at the Camarillo 27.

This time, the Scorpions scored in eight plays, on an 13-yard run by a limping Borchard. Geisler’s conversion late in the third quarter gave Camarillo its first lead since a 3-0, first-quarter advantage.

Westlake regained the lead on an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Tailback Jonathan Weems ran 25 yards for a touchdown. Preston passed to Scott Swaving for the conversion and a 29-26 lead with 10 minutes to play.

Preston completed 17 of 31 passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Weems carried 17 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Joey Cuppari had four catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Swaving caught six passes for 66 yards. Teammate Elliott Kane caught five passes for 110 yards.

Camarillo’s leading rusher was John Howe, with 60 yards in 12 carries. Mike Anger caught five passes for 59 yards. Denham caught four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.

“Everyone stepped up,” Borchard said. “It seems like it takes us a while to get warmed up but we make the big plays when we have to.”