Westlake, St. Bonaventure go for rematch after memorable first meeting

Perhaps the most memorable game of the 2010 season so far will be replayed Friday when third-seeded Westlake Village Westlake plays host to second-seeded Ventura St. Bonaventure with a trip to the Northern Division championship game at stake.

The two teams became instant Marmonte League rivals the last time they met, Nov. 5, with the visiting Seraphs pulling off a 32-31 victory in double overtime.

Since then, both have dominated division opponents on journeys that pointed to a collision in a semifinal game ever since the Southern Section released the playoff bracket. St. Bonaventure defeated Canyon Country Canyon, 45-21, and Westlake beat Palos Verdes, 49-28, on Friday.

Still, St. Bonaventure and Westlake are used to meeting in the playoffs. The Warriors beat the Seraphs in the semifinals last year and each squad came away with a title after meeting in the 2003 and 2002 Division IV championship games.

But they aren’t the only teams looking for some intra-season revenge this week.

Colton will be eager to avenge its loss to San Andreas League champion Cajon in a Central Division semifinal game and Freeway league rivals La Habra and Sonora meet up in a Southwest Division semifinal matchup. Boron and Vasquez meet up again in a Northeast Division semifinal game and the Mid-Valley Division games featuring Whittier Christian-Granada Hills Village Christian and Monrovia-San Dimas are rematches.

Players are pepper sprayed

Several people were pepper sprayed by Los Angeles school police after a scuffle broke out in the handshake line following Venice’s 35-10 victory over San Pedro in a City Section Division I quarterfinal game.

Venice Coach Angelo Gasca said the incident started when a San Pedro player pushed a Venice player in the line, prompting enforcement officers and coaches to separate the teams. San Pedro Coach Mike Walsh confirmed at least two of his players were pepper sprayed, but said he did not know what trigged the incident.

“It just takes one disgruntled person for something like this to escalate out of control, and that’s exactly what happened,� Gasca said. “We have the utmost respect for Walsh’s program and what happened is in no way a reflection of how he runs his team.�

For the record: Richard Mullaney of Thousand Oaks had 19 receptions on Friday, it was determined by coaches after studying game film. It was originally reported as 20. Mullaney finishes one reception short of tying the state record of 121 in a season.

While none of his players were pepper sprayed, Gasca said a team sideline assistant was pepper sprayed.

Gasca said none of his players will face disciplinary action and their status won’t be affected for Friday’s semifinal game against defending champion L.A. Crenshaw.

Serra fan remains in critical condition

Alfred Burke, a longtime Gardena Serra fan who has attended Cavaliers games since 1968, remains in critical condition at a hospital after suffering a heart attack during Serra’s 40-7 victory over Camarillo in a Western Division quarterfinal.

The game was stopped for 40 minutes in the third quarter while Burke was administered CPR by Serra Principal Michael Wagner before being taken from the field by ambulance.

“The kids are really shook up about it,� Coach Scott Altenberg said. “He’s a big part of our program and we’re all praying he gets through this.�

Burke, known for his signature “Let’s goooo, Serra� chant, has the school’s athlete-of-the-year award named after him.

Top performers

Richard Mullaney caught 20 passes in Thousand Oaks’ 57-34 Northern Division quarterfinal loss to Westlake Village Oaks Christian, tying a 33-year-old state record for most receptions in a season with 121. … Vernon Adams passed for 143 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown in Mission Hills Alemany’s 42-21 Pac-5 Division semifinal victory over Lakewood. … Chyl Robinson had 257 yards in 39 carries as La Quinta rallied from a 28-0 halftime deficit to defeat Chino, 42-41, in a Central Division quarterfinal game. … Quarterback Bernard Porter scored on an eight-yard run with 22 seconds left in Fontana Summit’s 29-22 Eastern Division quarterfinal victory over Norco Heritage.

[email protected]