Linebacker Lorier Has Big Hand in Victory

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Everyone wanted a piece of Ben Lorier, from teammates to classmates to the seven wackos in the stands who went shirtless on a cold, windy night at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Who could blame them?

Lorier had a big part of the biggest play in Westlake High football history, blocking a 24-yard field-goal attempt by Nate Bass with 1:47 left to play.

The block preserved a 24-21 victory for the Warriors, who won the Southern Section Division IV championship on Friday, the first football title in school history.

The championship wasn’t the only first of the night--Lorier, a senior linebacker, lined up at the outside spot on the left side of the Warriors’ field-goal defense for the first time all season.

He took the place of Josh Golden this week in practice as the flier on the special-teams unit.

“They finally gave me a chance,” said Lorier, who was exhausted as the Tigers lined up for the field goal.

“I was panting and I was tired. But I prayed and got strength and I got off the ball like I never had before. I got a clean block. It feels great.”

The Warriors (13-1) needed help in the fourth quarter.

The team that scored 143 points in three playoff games could barely get a first down.

Their Penn State-bound quarterback, Zac Wasserman, was hampered by a sprained right ankle and had completed only 13 of 28 passes for 128 yards with three interceptions when the Warriors began a critical drive with 8:17 to play.

When the drive started, the Warriors’ top-notch receiver, Michael Brignac, had caught exactly one pass.

Their running back, Julian Lambert, had 52 yards rushing. That all changed quickly.

Wasserman found Chris Catalano down the left sideline for a 31-yard gain, the Warriors’ biggest pass play since early in the game.

Four plays later, Wasserman connected with Brignac on an improbable 27-yard touchdown pass with 6:20 left.

The ball was deflected by defensive back Bobby Speicher, but Brignac caught it for a touchdown and a 24-21 lead.

“I knew it was my very last game and my concentration had to be on,” said Brignac, who finished with two catches for 42 yards. “I knew if I kept my eyes on it, I would catch it. We just wanted to go out champions.”

The Warriors almost didn’t.

Westlake, which entered surrendering fewer than nine points and 180 yards per game, allowed top-seeded San Luis Obispo (12-2) to march down the field.

The big play was a 54-yard reception on third-and-11 by Scott Dodge, who brought the ball to the Warriors’ 12-yard line with 4:14 left.

Westlake, however, kept San Luis Obispo out of the end zone, giving up only four yards on three running plays.

Then it was Lorier’s time.

“I’m sure it’ll hit me later,” he said. “I just can’t wait to get my ring.”

Perhaps Wasserman, who completed 16 of 33 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns, summed it up best.

“We wanted this so bad nothing that could stop us,” he said. “All four years of high school football finally paid off. We got it.”