Thousand Oaks’ Richard Mullaney, Westlake’s Nelson Spruce can bowl over opponents

An expected sold-out stadium, live television and Conejo Valley bragging rights add to the intrigue of Thursday night’s Marmonte League football opener between Thousand Oaks and host Westlake Village Westlake.

But the story line gets better. All summer, there has been a debate among the teams’ fans: Who is the better athlete, Thousand Oaks receiver-safety Richard Mullaney or Westlake receiver-safety Nelson Spruce?

Thanks to investigative reporting, I’ve discovered that Mullaney and Spruce have been keeping a little secret. It turns out that they are good friends and during the summer, they took their girlfriends on a double date that included bowling.

Guess who came out victorious? No, it wasn’t Mullaney. And no, it wasn’t Spruce.

The champion bowler turned out to be Spruce’s girlfriend, McKenna Lee, a Westlake student who doesn’t play sports.

“We felt bad,” Mullaney said.

“We got outperformed that night by a girl,” Spruce said.

It doesn’t change the fact that Mullaney and Spruce are perhaps the most versatile two-way players from a league that has four teams ranked in the top 25 by The Times.

Each is a two-sport standout who gets A’s in the classroom. Each will be playing NCAA Division I-A football next season. The 6-foot-3 Mullaney, an Oregon State commit, caught 80 passes and made seven interceptions as a junior. He also starts for the Lancers’ basketball team. The 6-2 Spruce has 10 scholarship offers after catching 18 touchdown passes last season. He’s also a starting infielder in baseball.

The two met early in their high school days and have come to respect and appreciate their respective skills.

Mullaney on Spruce: “I appreciate how he goes hard every play and is just a playmaker. Wherever the ball is, he’s likely to get it.”

Spruce on Mullaney: “He’s just one of the best receivers around.”

At times, the two will be trying to tackle each other, and that’s going to be tough. Spruce caught two touchdown passes in Westlake’s season-opening win over Oxnard. Mullaney caught five passes for 86 yards and one touchdown in the Lancers’ opening win over Hueneme.

Mullaney has a small problem to consider for Thursday’s rivalry game. His girlfriend, Lissa Gallucci, is a Westlake student.

“She wants Westlake to win because it’s her school,” he said. “But she wants me to do good.”

If Mullaney and Spruce decided to switch uniforms, it would be interesting to see if the result would really change because they are almost twins.

“I always hear from a bunch of Westlake players and kids from my school, ‘You and Nelson are the same person,’ ” Mullaney said.

Said Thousand Oaks Coach Mike Leibin: “I think both are incredible receivers and incredible safeties who are great in the classroom. They’re mirror images of each other.”

Win or lose, the two players intend to remain friends.

“On the field, you have to look at it as a game,” Mullaney said. “But off the field, you go back to regular life.”

Added Spruce: “We respect each other, but during the game, we both want to win. After the game, I’ll talk to him.”

If there’s another double date, the girlfriends should beware. The boys are promising a better bowling performance next time.

“I better start practicing,” Spruce said. “I don’t want to get embarrassed.”

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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