High school football: Westlake downs Mountain View for first home victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS – It wasn't Westlake's first win, but it was the first time the Thunder came out on top on its home turf.

After a Week 2 blowout at Maple Mountain marked the new school's inaugural victory, a 28-26 squeaker over winless Mountain View (0-5) was significant, as Westlake students poured onto the field and celebrated their second victory.

Things didn't go well for the Bruins early. They had to use a timeout prior to their first play and burned all three of their allotted first-half time stoppages just six minutes into the game.

On top of that, they lost the ball on a muffed punt attempt and two more fumbles – in the first quarter. Despite all that, the visiting team found itself tied 7-7 going into the second quarter.

It was obvious almost from the beginning that Mountain View's game plan was to pound the ball, and almost exclusively with one player – running back James Emerson. By halftime, the junior had already tallied 174 yards and a score on 22 rushes.

"He definitely is a player," Westlake (2-3) head coach Jason Walker said after the game. "And (as a result) our defense showed its inexperience at times."

Offensively though, the Thunder caused some sparks of its own. Sophomore quarterback John Ursua at times had his way with the Bruins defense – through the air and on the ground – en route to three first-half scoring strikes, two of them to Tre Ofahengaue, who ended the game with eight receptions for 106 yards.

With Mountain View trailing 21-14 coming out of halftime, it was much of the same strategy, with Emerson consistently ripping off chunks of yardage.

Midway through the third quarter, Ursua busted out of the pocket and outsprinted everyone for a 54-yard touchdown run that put the Thunder up 28-14. Ursua ended the game 11-of-20 with 199 yards and the three passing touchdowns. He added 104 yards on nine carries and the score on the ground.

On the Bruins' next possession, Emerson added an 8-yard scoring run, and with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, tacked on his third touchdown – a 4-yarder. Along with his three scores, Emerson ended the game with 341 yards on 44 carries.

The ensuing two-point conversion – a sweep left by Emerson – failed when he slipped on the 3-yard line.

"I told them (defense) to stay to the outside, and they did," Walker said, in reference to the two-point try. "And the inside guys did a good job."

Picking up the win in league play was big, according to Walker.

"We talked all summer about region play, and so this one feels good," he said, adding that his team is still learning every week. "Because of our inexperience, our football IQ isn't where it needs to be."

But in winning a close game, Walker feels his team made good strides.

"In our last two games, we've lost close ones (34-27 to Payson and 28-23 to Provo), but we've been playing hard, so it was good to see it pay off," he said.