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Prep talk: Freshman QB Ford Green makes impressive debut for Westlake

Freshman quarterback Ford Green of Westlake High prepares to take snap during a passing drill.
Freshman quarterback Ford Green of Westlake High completed 15 of 18 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns in the Warriors’ season-opening game last week.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

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Coming off an 0-10 football season, Westlake High unveiled a new look, a new coach and a freshman quarterback in a 38-14 win over Golden Valley in the Warriors’ season opener.

Most impressive was the play of freshman quarterback Ford Green, who moved here from South Carolina. He’s also a baseball player and A student. He started with an A game, completing 15 of 18 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns.

First-year Westlake coach Rick Clausen, who played quarterback in college along with brothers Casey and Jimmy, said of Green: “Me, Casey and even Jimmy weren’t doing the stuff we were asking him to do, making checks at the line, getting people in places. He managed the game well. He did a really good job getting us in and out of the huddle. The game was not too fast for him.”

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Clausen had been an assistant for 14 years, so it was his first win as a head coach. But he was more focused on getting his players to experience success for the first time in a long time.

“Kids were happy. Kids were excited,” he said. “It’s really important for them to get confidence.”

Next up is a road game against Agoura on Friday night.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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