Westlake Limps Into Final

Westlake High, chasing its first Southern Section football championship, could be called the wounded Warriors.

Two of Westlake’s top offensive players, quarterback Zac Wasserman and tackle Keith Holt, have been slowed by injury and illness this week preceding the Division IV title game tonight against San Luis Obispo.

The Penn State-bound Wasserman, who has passed for 34 touchdowns, has been hobbled by a sprained right ankle he suffered Nov. 26 in a quarterfinal victory over Camarillo. He aggravated the injury last Saturday against Arroyo Grande.

“He really hasn’t been able to practice and drop [back] on it,” said Coach Jim Benkert, who is worried about the possibility of rain. “I’m a little concerned with how he’d be able to plant in the mud. He’s still not healthy, but you’d have to cut the ankle off for him not to play.”

Holt, the team’s best offensive lineman, missed practice Monday and Tuesday because of flu-like symptoms.

Holt, who played with a 101-degree temperature against Arroyo Grande, returned to practice Wednesday.

“He’s coughing, they’re all coughing,” Benkert said of his players. “When that sun goes down, it gets cold out there. They’re in their pads, so there’s no way to bundle up.”

The championship game features two teams capable of ringing up basketball-like scores.

In three playoff games, top-seeded San Luis Obispo (12-1) has scored 118 points and No. 2 Westlake (12-1) has scored 143.

Westlake has allowed only 8.8 points and 179.1 yards per game this season. The Warriors’ only loss was a 15-0 setback against Clovis West in the second week of the season.

San Luis Obispo has yet to lose on the field, forfeiting a 28-7 victory over Morro Bay in a season opener because of an ineligible player.

The Tigers’ run-oriented offense is led by tailback Khaled Elmasri, who has rushed for nearly 1,200 yards.

It’s difficult to predict a winner based on common opponents.

San Luis Obispo defeated Arroyo Grande in a regular-season finale, 20-3. Westlake defeated Arroyo Grande last week, 24-7.

San Luis Obispo defeated Newbury Park last week, 27-14. Westlake defeated Newbury Park two months ago, 35-14.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

At a Glance

WHO

Westlake (12-1) vs.

San Luis Obispo (12-1)

WHAT

Southern Section

Division IV

football championship

WHEN

Today, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

FAST FACT

Westlake will take 13 buses to the game--two for the football team, two for the band, four for fans and cheerleaders and five for the choral singers, who will perform the national anthem.