Late Touchdowns Lift Westlake Past El Camino Real

When Jim Benkert shows up for his 25-year high school reunion in 2001, he might want to keep the events of Friday night under wraps.

The Westlake High coach returned to his alma mater, El Camino Real, and despite superior talent on his squad, endured a rough three quarters in a confusing, almost surreal nonleague football game that offered quirky game-clock operating and officiating.

Eventually, Westlake pulled away for a 31-10 victory with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, perhaps making the present-day Conquistadores wish Benkert had taken up ballroom dancing or fluid mechanics instead of football during high school.

Westlake (2-1), still banged up from a loss last week to nationally ranked Clovis West, had problems without running back Julian Lambert, who was bothered by a sprained ankle and carried the ball one time for one yard in the second quarter.

The Warriors got it together in the fourth quarter, scoring touchdowns on all three of their possessions.

Chris Catalano caught touchdown passes of eight and 21 yards from Zac Wasserman to put the Warriors up, 24-10.

Frustration could be felt on both sidelines, especially during a sequence of events early in the second half.

Jonathan Graham recovered an onside kick for El Camino Real, though Benkert immediately appealed to the referees, claiming one of his players called for a fair catch.

El Camino Real (1-2) was given possession of the ball, but not where it was recovered, at the Westlake 45-yard line.

El Camino Real Coach Rick Hayashida was flagged for back-to-back unsportsmanlike penalties, pushing the Conquistadores back to their 25.

“I think I cost my team the game,” Hayashida said. “We lost the momentum because of the two personal fouls. I’ve been involved in high school football for 14-15 years and I’ve never had a 15-yard penalty.”

El Camino Real still managed to move the ball to the Westlake one-yard line, in a drive that consumed 9:20 and ended with Ian Kogan kicking a 17-yard field goal to tie it at 10-10.

Twice during the drive, the clock continued to tick when time should have been stopped.

Catalano finished with seven catches for 111 yards for Westlake. Brignac had seven catches for 96 yards. Wasserman, who has committed to Penn State, completed 10 of 16 passes for 159 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Justin Graham, Jonathan’s twin, was the leading ground gainer for El Camino Real, finishing with 55 yards in 23 carries. The Conquistadores finished with 152 total yards, 111 on the ground.