Five reasons you can’t put a hand on Clausen

There’s not a high school football team in Southern California with better security than Westlake Village Oaks Christian.

Four armed guards patrol the Lions’ sideline and shield players from autograph-seekers, parents and sportswriters who might wander without permission into territory judged off limits.

But as intimidating as the security guards like to portray themselves to be, they’re mere amateurs compared with the group of linemen that protects Oaks Christian’s All-American quarterback, Jimmy Clausen.

After 11 games, Clausen has been sacked only twice. That’s unheard of at any level.

If the Oakland Raiders had Oaks Christian’s offensive line, perhaps Andrew Walter might not have been sacked 41 times in 10 games.

“It’s extraordinary, especially in high school, where pass protection is one of the most difficult things to teach,” Coach Bill Redell said.

Leading the protective detail are tackles Duke Lemmens and Michael Ebbitt, guards Cory Yriarty and Justin Landseadel and center Ryan McDaniel.

But who are the players who actually sacked Clausen and how did they get to him?

Aaron Garcia from Lompoc and Mark Lewis from Simi Valley Grace Brethren each said he will be telling his children and grandchildren one day about the time he sacked the Notre Dame-bound Clausen, considered the No. 1 high school quarterback in the nation.

Garcia got his sack on Oaks Christian’s first possession of the season with help from teammate Zach Wales.

It was a third-and-10 situation. Oaks Christian tried a play-action pass that Lompoc ignored. Wales rushed from his defensive end position, forcing Clausen to scramble in the opposite direction. That’s where Garcia, 6 feet and 235 pounds, was waiting for him.

“I fought through the line,” said Garcia, who tackled Clausen for an 18-yard loss. “It felt great.”

Lompoc never came close to another sack, and its coach, Robin Luken, said he’s not surprised how difficult it is to reach Clausen.

“They’ve got two kids playing offensive tackle who are phenomenal,” Luken said.

Added Garcia: “Their line is huge. They gave us one heck of a game. They were knocking us around the whole game.”

The second sack of the season came against Grace Brethren when Lewis, 5-7 and 160 pounds, slipped through an opening between center and guard and grabbed Clausen shortly after the snap and before he could make a swing pass.

“He couldn’t take him down but got him in a good hug,” Grace Brethren Coach Steve Gourley said.

The referee blew the whistle while Clausen was in Lewis’ grasp.

“I told them all going into the game, ‘Make a memory for themselves,’ ” Gourley said.

And what a memory it has been for Lewis, who said, “When I’m watching him in the NFL, I’m going to tell my kids, ‘I sacked Jimmy Clausen.’ ”

What makes Clausen so difficult to sack is his quick release and his ability to read defenses and make decisions to get the ball to a secondary target while a blitz is coming.

But let’s not forget the two tackles, Lemmens, who’s 6-5 and 240 pounds, and Ebbitt, who’s 6-2 and 258 pounds. Lemmens is committed to Florida, and Ebbitt is headed to Texas A&M.;

“They’re like twin towers,” Luken said.

Landseadel, 6-2 and 250 pounds, is headed to Air Force, and Yriarty, 6-2 and 295, is being recruited by Colorado State, Boise State and San Diego State. The center is McDaniel, 6-1 and 215 pounds.

Redell said it’s not as if Clausen has all the time in the world to pass the ball.

“He’s had to scramble a few times,” Redell said.

But Lemmens said, “It’s motivation when you’re blocking for the golden arm. You don’t want to be the one that gets those crazy Notre Dame fans all mad at you.”

Oaks Christian is 11-0 entering its quarterfinal Northwest Division playoff game tonight at Morro Bay.

Understand that these linemen are as motivated as Secret Service agents in their protective duties.

“We don’t want anyone touching Jimmy,” Lemmens said.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.