On the Spot, Westlake Escapes Simi Valley

SIMI VALLEY —  There were plenty of hugs and smiles passed around at Simi Valley High’s homecoming Friday night, but there were also tears of frustration.

The Pioneers seemed within striking distance of upsetting Westlake, the No. 3-ranked team in The Times’ Valley poll, before losing the Marmonte League game, 17-3.

But it was a bitter homecoming. Simi Valley quarterback Tim Bennett ran five yards to the goal line and appeared to cross it as he was tackled.

The ball was spotted on the one and the Pioneers fumbled it away on the next play.

Instead of being tied, 10-10, the Pioneers trailed by a touchdown with 36 seconds left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Westlake quarterback Scott Spruill turned the ball over twice, on an interception and on a fumble while being sacked.

Simi Valley (5-2-1, 3-2) got the ball on the Westlake 37-yard line on the latter turnover, a sack by Brian Kavanaugh and the recovery by Sean Ginnever. But two plays later Westlake linebacker Eric Guenther intercepted Bennett’s pass and rambled 45 yards to the 14.

On first down for Westlake (7-1, 5-0), Jason Victor ran for a touchdown on a broken play.

The Warriors, who led, 10-0, at halftime, finally put the game out of reach on Victor’s touchdown with 3:01 left.

“It was a dogfight,” said Guenther, a 6-foot-3 senior who previously dropped two interceptions on consecutive plays. “We just came up with the big play. I tipped the ball on the interception, and I’m glad it bounced back in my hands.”

Westlake, with the two turnovers and 18 penalties for 183 yards, was flirting with disaster and it looked like Bennett would give the Warriors their due when he ran to the goal line, helmet, shoulder pads and ball appearing to cross.

“I thought I was in,” Bennett said. “The ball was across. (On the next play we fumbled because) one of their defensive linemen yelled and the center thought it was my cadence. He snapped it early. We beat ourselves.”

The first half was a defensive slugfest for all but the final four seconds.

That’s when Spruill threw a bullet to the corner of the end zone for Billy Miller (six receptions, 100 yards), who leaped over David Martinez and Matt Guzzo for a 29-yard touchdown. That and a 26-yard field goal by Paul Watson with 5:41 left in the half gave Westlake a 10-0 lead.

Miller, the area’s top receiver, was covered like a blanket by Robert Gonzalez until the touchdown. Two big hits by Gonzalez broke up completions and dazed the 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior, who caught three passes for 39 yards in the first half.

Spruill (14 of 28 for 176 yards) threw five consecutive incomplete passes and was often forced to scramble by the Pioneer front four of Matt Rezinas, Justin Thomas, John Slaby and Chris Campagna, who had plenty of help from blitzing linebackers.

But Bennett (12 of 31 for 107 yards) had his own troubles, having three passes batted down by Warrior linemen and a possible touchdown pass dropped by Gonzalez at the 12. He also overthrew some open receivers.