Lampos Churned Out the Big Hits

The mighty Westlake High offense, which averaged 45.6 points per game this season, was stumped.

Another running play was stuffed at practice by the second-team defense.

Coach Jim Benkert was furious, calming down only after a brief conversation with offensive line coach John Kidder, who made a good point.

“We’ll be fine,” Kidder said, “when we play somebody who doesn’t have a Lampos.”

Kidder was referring to inside linebacker Jordan Lampos, a first-stringer who was playing with the second-teamers.

Lampos was unblockable, unflappable and nearly unstoppable for the Warriors, who won their first Southern Section championship with a 24-21 victory over San Luis Obispo in the Division IV final.

Lampos is The Times’ Ventura County defensive player of the year.

You won’t find Lampos primping in the mirror. Or using a conditioner after he shampoos.

“He is a football player going back to the mold of Dick Butkus,” Benkert said. “He was born to play football. He plays every down at practice. Not because we want him in there--because we can’t get him out of there. He loves to get down and dirty.”

The 6-foot, 235-pound Lampos had 121 tackles, the fourth-best season total in Westlake history, and 13 sacks.

He played a large part in helping the Warriors (13-1) allow only 9.7 points and 187.9 yards per game.

His hits were legendary and his ability to draw a double team helped free other players to make plays.

Lampos’ skills on defense also helped the Warriors’ offense.

“He’s so good that in a game I never went against a better linebacker than him,” said offensive lineman Keith Holt of Westlake, a Times’ All-Ventura County selection.

“He’s one of the hardest-hitting people I’ve ever gone against, and that was only in practice. I can only imagine what he’s like to go against in a game.”

Westlake opponents know all too well.