Westchester Is Earning the Best Revenge

Westchester High’s football players and coaching staff were angry when the Comets were seeded fourth for the City Section playoffs after losing only their season opener against nationally ranked Long Beach Poly.

Van Nuys Birmingham, Crenshaw and Carson were seeded higher than the Comets, who won the Western League and ended the regular season with a nonleague victory over powerful Newport Beach Newport Harbor.

Westchester (9-1) took out its frustration on Chatsworth in a 41-10 first-round playoff victory and is aiming to do the same against Dorsey (7-3) tonight in a quarterfinal.

Multitalented quarterback Brian Johnson, who missed the Chatsworth game because of a concussion, will return as the Comets try to earn a possible semifinal matchup with Birmingham.

“Other people have told our kids all year long that they are no good because of that first game against Poly,” Westchester Coach Larry Wein said. “They’ve overcome that with a great attitude and hard work. They know it doesn’t matter what people say, it’s what you do on the field that counts, and they have been proving people wrong week after week.”

Westchester features game-breakers Sam Calhoun, Mike Sanford and Kenny Franklin, who line up at either running back or receiver. They also are part of productive special teams.

“We can’t let them hit those 50-or 60-yard plays on offense and we can’t give them anything cheap off special teams,” Dorsey Coach Paul Knox said. “If you give them opportunities on punt or kickoff returns or blocked kicks, things like that, they usually turn them into points.”

Like Westchester, Dorsey is vastly improved from the start of the season. The Dons ran past defending City champion Wilmington Banning, 34-22, in the first round.

“It’s going to be a very physical game,” Wein said. “One of the better quarterfinals.”

Here’s a look at the other Championship division quarterfinals:

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Los Angeles Fremont (8-2) at Van Nuys Birmingham (10-0)--Top-seeded Birmingham got a huge confidence boost from defeating San Pedro of the Marine League, 33-21, in its opener.

Quarterback Scott Jensen and running back Dennis Keyes are only two of the Patriots’ weapons on offense. The defense, thought to be the Patriots’ weak link, waged a goal-line stand in the final 2:30 against San Pedro.

Birmingham, clobbered by Carson in the quarterfinals last year, gets no breather against a Fremont team that defeated Franklin, 42-34.

Woodland Hills Taft (8-2) at Carson (9-1)--Taft sped past Roosevelt, 42-13, without receiver and defensive back Steve Smith, who was nursing an injured shoulder. Noah Smith, no relation, stepped up and caught three touchdown passes from quarterback Cary Dove and rushed for a touchdown. Both Smiths are expected to play against Carson, a 35-28 winner over Granada Hills. The Colts are driving toward their third consecutive championship-game appearance under Coach John Aguirre with an offense that last week featured eight ballcarriers.

Sylmar (8-2) vs. Crenshaw (9-0) at South Gate--Sylmar should be encouraged by the play of its defense in a 14-3 first-round victory over Gardena, but the Spartans will need a big game from running back Daniel Burney against Crenshaw. Crenshaw defeated overmatched Van Nuys Grant, 48-6. Quarterback Corey Hudson scored on runs of 24 and 45 yards and connected with Daymeion Hughes on a 45-yard touchdown pass.