Canyon Hits Wall at Westlake

Westlake High simply had too many weapons for Canyon and put them all to use en route to a 27-17 nonleague victory Friday night at Westlake.

The biggest weapon, one that has perhaps been overlooked this season, was the Westlake defense.

After an evenly matched first half, the Warriors (4-0) managed to stuff the Canyon game plan of grinding the ball on the ground and forced the Cowboys to the air. The result was only 46 yards for the Cowboys in the second half.

“When you play someone with that kind of plan, you have to make sure you don’t allow them to do it,” Westlake Coach Jim Benkert said. “You want to make sure they are doing what you want them to do.”

Mike Seidman, better known for his prowess as a tight end, came up big at defensive end.

After laying out to catch Zac Wasserman’s pass in the end zone to give Westlake a 27-17 lead with 8:22 left in the game, Seidman sacked Jason McKeon on the first play of the next series for an eight-yard loss to put the Cowboys (3-1) in a hole at their 21-yard line.

Seidman put heavy pressure on McKeon several times late in the game, and batted down a fourth-down pass with 2:28 to play.

“I love defense,” Seidman said. “Coach told me before the season that I was going to have to go both ways and I love it.”

Seidman, one of the most heavily recruited tight ends in the nation, also shone on offense. He caught seven passes for 141 yards and the 15-yard touchdown that sealed the victory.

“Zac said just get in the end zone,” Seidman said.

Wasserman completed 20 of 28 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns.

Kevin Howard caught five passes for 113 yards and a 50-yard touchdown. Chris Catalano had six catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

Even receiver Travis Campbell, not expected to play because of a separated shoulder, got in the act. He had two catches for 25 yards.

“That’s a good football team,” Canyon Coach Larry Mohr said. “They have stars on that team.”

The Canyon rushing attack was hampered by the absence of leading rusher Jimmy Perry, who sat out with a bruised thigh.

Still, Canyon stayed close. A 28-yard field goal by Pat Terry pulled the Cowboys to within 21-17 at halftime.

Chris Escobar’s 15-yard touchdown run with 3:33 left in the first half evened the score, 14-14.

But Canyon couldn’t answer in the second half.

McKeon completed 10 of 22 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown, but was just two of 11 for 35 yards in the second half.