Westlake Ends Up Short on Long Trip

Westlake High School players and coaches thought the 4 1/2-hour bus ride into Clovis would be their longest this year.

Then came the ride home.

The Warriors battled back from an early 14-point deficit only to have their travel plans squashed when a last minute two-point conversion pass was stopped a yard short of the end zone and Clovis West escaped with a 24-23 victory before an estimated crowd of 4,500.

“It’ll be an even longer ride home, but we know we played as well as we could,” said Ryan Foltz, who caught six passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns.

The game was not all that was lost.

After completing eight of 10 passes for 112 yards, quarterback Cory Miles went down with 1:04 remaining in the second quarter. He was taken to an area hospital where X-rays revealed a broken left ankle that coaches said will likely sideline Miles five to six weeks.

The Warriors trailed by two touchdowns after Clovis West opened with a frenzy in the first quarter.

Clovis West scored on its third play when Michael Rivera scooted around the left end and pulled away for a 70-yard touchdown run.

The Warriors fumbled away their first possession, and the Golden Eagles took over on the Westlake 45-yard line. Seventeen plays later, fullback Brandon Hancock plunged into the end zone from one yard out to give Clovis West a 14-0 lead.

The methodical drive milked 7:40 from the clock and a weary Westlake defense dragged itself off the field. Then came the wake-up call.

Jonathan Contos took the ensuing kickoff and sprinted 80 yards up the left sideline, setting up a 20-yard touchdown pass from Miles to Foltz.

The Warriors forced the Eagles into consecutive three-and-out possessions and the first half ended with Clovis West leading 14-7.

Junior backup Todd Felereisen came on for the Warriors and completed 12 of 17 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. His last pass, however, fell just short of delivering a Westlake victory.

The Warriors started their final drive near midfield with 3:10 remaining in the game. Felereisen completed three passes before finding Foltz in the end zone with 0:59 to play.

Westlake Coach Jim Benkert opted to go for two. Felereisen passed to Joe Lemma, who caught the ball at the one-yard line where he was stacked up.