Westlake’s Nick Isham stars in escapist sequel as Warriors top St. Bonaventure, 37-27

Somebody should give Westlake High quarterback Nick Isham a red cape and a wand, because he was a magician Friday night, improvising and escaping at decisive moments to help the Warriors knock off Ventura St. Bonaventure, 37-27, in a Northern Division semifinal game at Westlake.

“He made plays normal quarterbacks wouldn’t make,” Westlake defensive lineman Johnny Stuart said.

It was Isham’s ability to change plays and avoid tacklers that provided Westlake (12-1) a huge lift against a team it lost to in double overtime, 32-31, in Marmonte League play.

Isham completed 17 of 28 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns. But most important, he and the Warriors benefited from their previous loss to St. Bonaventure.

“We learned from the past,” Isham said. “I saw some escape holes I missed and was able to take advantage this time.”

Westlake was clinging to a 16-14 lead when Isham made the play of the game. He escaped a St. Bonaventure tackler and found a wide-open Tre’shon Wilson in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the third quarter. Then Casey Bliss returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter, and the Warriors were suddenly cruising, 30-14.

“You can’t have turnovers,” St. Bonaventure Coach Todd Therrien said. “We were right there with them.”

It’s extremely difficult to beat a top team twice in a season, and that was the challenge St. Bonaventure could not pull off. Westlake switched up its defense, adding more blitzes, and put more pressure on St. Bonaventure quarterback Marc Evans, who was intercepted twice. Stuart and Justin Solis, who were missing in action the last time, led the defensive charge.

St. Bonaventure did receive an outstanding performance from junior running back Shaun Wick, who rushed for 169 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Westlake held a 13-7 halftime lead thanks to field goals of 39 and 38 yards from Alex Ball and an eight-yard touchdown reception by Nelson Spruce. The big play of the first half was a 60-yard interception return by Westlake linebacker David Ortiz to the St. Bonaventure 15.

St. Bonaventure took a 14-13 lead after an interception to start the third quarter by Cameron Penny and a one-yard touchdown run by Josh Grajeda. But Ball added his third field goal, a 23-yarder, and Isham put on his magic show.

Westlake Coach Jim Benkert sent a clear message that there would be no holding back. For the first time all season, he asked Isham to play extensively on defense. Isham had done it all summer in passing tournaments, playing safety but not with pads on.

“There’s no tomorrow,” Benkert said.

Now, it’s going to be a week of madness in Westlake Village, because the Warriors will play their across-the-street rival, Oaks Christian, in the championship game. Oaks Christian defeated Valencia, 42-33.

The two schools didn’t play for 10 years. Now they’re playing twice this season. Westlake won the first meeting, 31-12. Oaks Christian has gotten a lot better. Tickets are going to be scarce. Oaks Christian auctioned off a sideline pass during the summer for the first game that cost $6,000. That’s how big the game is.

“It’s enormous,” Westlake defensive coordinator Rich Fong said of the rematch. “This is as good as it gets in high school football.”

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