Westlake Braces for Physical Clovis West

Good news for Westlake: The Warriors are not playing Mater Dei on Saturday.

Bad news: They’re playing Clovis West, a team that beat Mater Dei.

Employing a tricky Delaware wing-T offense, Clovis West handed Mater Dei, ranked No. 4 in the nation in one publication, a 24-17 defeat on Saturday in Clovis, near Fresno.

Clovis West, which had three members of the school’s 400-meter relay team in the backfield, scored on runs of 21, 58 and 55 yards.

“They look about as good as a high school football team can look,” Westlake Coach Jim Benkert said. “They are nails everywhere. We’re going to try to keep them under 50.”

Two of the Eagles’ running backs, Ryan Ledger and Ryan Harrick, each rushed for more than 100 yards. The defense intercepted a Mater Dei pass in the final two minutes.

“They’ve got some major-college guys playing linebacker and some defensive linemen that will get after you,” Benkert said. “As Mater Dei will tell you, they are very physical.”

*

Royal, a very young team, experienced a 26-point growing pain Friday.

The Highlanders lost to Saugus, 40-14, and held the ball for more than four plays on only one of its 11 possessions.

“We’re a little shellshocked, but that’s why we have the preseason,” Royal Coach Gene Uebelhardt said. “Unfortunately, we don’t get a rest. We have Granada Hills on Friday.”