Chaminade Wins Title, 44-30, Outpointing Harvard-Westlake

WEST HILLS — Last one out, turn off the stadium lights. The scoreboard, too.

The postgame festivities may still be going on this morning at Chaminade High, where the Eagles defeated Harvard-Westlake, 44-30, and captured the San Fernando League football title Friday night.

The defense didn’t rest much for either team in a regular-season finale that featured 796 yards of offense and 10 touchdowns, but Chaminade, which won its first league championship since winning the Mission League in 1992, didn’t seem to care.

The Eagles (6-4, 3-0 in league play) amassed 307 yards in the second half and scored 30 points to overturn a 20-14 halftime deficit.

“Whatever we do, we know we’re better conditioned than most teams,” tight end Steve Racius said.

“Fourth quarter is ours.”

Chaminade was depleted during practice this week because of various illnesses. On Wednesday, only 22 players practiced for the Eagles.

Chaminade finished with 440 total yards, Lee Grassini rushing for 185 and two touchdowns in 22 carries and Lyle Everett passing for 272 yards and four touchdowns on 11 of 21 attempts.

Harvard-Westlake (7-3, 1-2) will finish third in the league and will have to hope for a wild-card bid, a likely prospect.

The Wolverines never really established their ground game. George Witter, who slipped on a flight of stairs earlier in the day and was questionable with a sprained ankle, finished with 103 yards and two one-yard touchdowns in 26 carries.

Harvard-Westlake made a costly mistake while trailing, 22-20, midway through the third quarter.

Alex Clark scored on an apparent 55-yard touchdown pass play from Matt Felder, but a holding call nullified the play.

Chaminade scored on its next possession to take a 29-20 lead.

“That was a big swing,” Coach Dave Bennett of Harvard-Westlake said.

“We [usually] don’t hold, but it’s a credit to the Chaminade defense. They played aggressive.”

Tight end Alex Holmes of Harvard-Westlake caught four passes for 125 yards and scored on a 53-yard pass play from Felder midway through the first quarter.

The Wolverines had 356 total yards, but only 111 after halftime.