Agoura football prevails in thriller against Westlake

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Less than four miles separate the campuses of Agoura and Westlake High Schools. When the two met on the Warriors Stadium turf, the only gap was an onside kick and a “Philly Special” trick play.

Agoura had a happy 10-minute bus ride home, emerging victorious from a 58-55 Friday night thriller. In a 15 second period near the end of the third quarter, the Chargers scored, recovered an onside kick, then scored again to take their first lead of the game. Westlake nearly recovered an onside kick of its own with just over a minute left, but despite a ricochet back to the Westlake line, Agoura came up with the ball — and the win.

“I’m just so proud of this team, man,” Agoura head coach Dustin Croick said. “This is a really tough place to play. Just a total team effort.”

For Agoura, 334 yards and six touchdowns from junior quarterback Gavin Gray proved to be just enough.  Westlake was led by star junior running back Demanie Bell, who had 17 carries for 312 yards and five touchdowns.

The Warriors started fast. Bell needed just three plays to find the end zone, taking handoffs for 15, 55, and three yards to open the scoring. After an Agoura punt, Bell added another 3-yard touchdown plunge to give Westlake a two-score lead.

Agoura opened its account with a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive led by senior quarterback DC Stevenson and senior running back Jake Mercer. Stevenson found senior wide receiver Brady Dieffenbach on a 5-yard dart for the score, the first of four touchdowns for Dieffenbach. Dieffenbach and fellow senior receiver Connor Luebke combined for seven Agoura receiving touchdowns.

The Chargers and Warriors traded scores for the rest of the first half, with a blocked Agoura extra point and a subsequent failed two-point try leading to a 28-25 Westlake lead.

Just 12 seconds into the second half, Westlake strengthened its lead. Warriors defensive lineman Mason Charles perfectly read a screen pass, bursting through the line and leaping to intercept the throw from Gray, then jogging 20 yards for an uncontested score. A lesser quarterback would have flinched, wary of more picks. Gray didn’t care.

“He’s a freaking dude,” Croick said. “… He’s a true Division One talent, probably the most talented kid next to [Newbury Park quarterback Brady] Smigiel in this area, and I’ll say that. He showed that tonight.”

Gray found Luebke for two 30-yard completions to cut the deficit. Four minutes later, Luebke’s third touchdown cut the Westlake lead to two. Agoura went for it, converting its own version of the “Philly Special” trick play to tie the game at 41.

The Chargers weren’t done with trickery. After a Mercer rush tied the score at 48, Croick called for an onside kick. Kicker Luke Bussiere took a deep breath, kicked it, and watched. Those nerves turned to joy when he saw his team recover it.

“It was just the best feeling in the world to have the whole team just behind me in one kick,” Bussiere said.

One play later, the Chargers led. Gray perfectly placed a 41-yard throw to find Dieffenbach in the end zone, giving Agoura the lead for good. Augora needed a long field goal from Bussiere — and some luck on the final onside scramble — but the Chargers held on.

Agoura faces Thousand Oaks next Friday at 7 p.m. in its first home game of the season. Westlake, still looking for its first win, faces Bishop Diego at home Friday at 7 p.m.