SOUTHERN SECTION ROUNDUP : Agoura Surprises Westlake In Finale

Agoura High completed its season with a preview of the future, as junior tailback Jason Gordon and sophomore quarterback Ryan McCann led the Chargers to a 28-22 upset of Westlake in a Marmonte League football game on Thursday night at Agoura.

Last-place Agoura (2-8, 2-5 in league play) built a 28-0 lead midway through the third quarter and stopped a valiant rally by Westlake (5-4-1, 4-3) with a drive that consumed the final 4 minutes 42 seconds of the game.

McCann, who completed 10 of 14 for 138 yards, connected on his first eight passes, including three for touchdowns. McCann threw touchdown passes of 44 and 12 yards to Shayne Sobel, and threw a 21-yard scoring pass to Joel Weiss.

But it was the workhorse Gordon who surprised Westlake, rushing for 192 yards in 26 carries. Gordon’s 56-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Chargers a 14-0 lead. Gordon’s 28-yard run within the final two minutes sealed the victory.

Westlake mounted a comeback, scoring on a three-yard touchdown run by Jamal Harris late in the third quarter and a pair of touchdown passes by Casey Preston in the fourth quarter.

Preston completed 17 of 28 for 185 yards and threw an interception. Preston’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Elliott Kane with nine minutes to play narrowed the gap to 28-15. Preston threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Steve Aylsworth with five minutes to play to close out Westlake’s scoring.

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Thursday’s Yardstick

Measuring the top performances of area high school football players Thursday:

Passing

Chris Czernek, Newbury Park: 19 of 34; 337 yards

Scott McEwan, Th.Oaks: 14 of 29; 255

Charles Merricks, Ch.Islands: 10 of 26; 236

Bryan Paul, Moorpark: 21 of 30; 208

Casey Preston, Westlake: 17 of 28; 185

Rushing

Ronney Jenkins, Hueneme: 30 carries, 619 yards

Laffayette Bailey, Littlerock: 34 for 293

Akil Anderson, Montclair Prep: 27 for 228

Leaford Hackett, Poly: 27 for 208

Quincy Wright, El Camino Real: 18 for 204

Receiving

Barrett Grindle, Th.Oaks: 5 catches, 129 yds

Patrick Reddick, Newbury Park: 5 for 91

Jeff Russell, Ventura: 8 for 88

Eddie Patterson, Newbury Pk.: 6 for 83

T.J. Stafford, Buena: 6 for 76