Dos Pueblos Tops Westlake

Goleta Dos Pueblos continued its’ improbable run through the Southern Section Division IV football playoffs with a 42-21 semifinal victory over host Westlake Village Westlake on Friday night.

Shane Lopes completed 20 of 34 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns for Dos Pueblos (11-2), but a big defensive play and two perfectly executed trick plays were crucial in helping the Chargers advance to their first section title game.

Westlake (10-3), which was trying to advance to its second title game in three years, had cut a 14-0 deficit to 14-7 on a one-yard sneak by Todd Feiereisen with 7:39 left in the second quarter; however, defensive lineman Jesus Romero picked up a Feiereisen fumble and returned it two yards for a touchdown with 1:17 left in the quarter to give Dos Pueblos a 21-7 lead.

Westlake, the fourth-seeded team, narrowed its deficit to 21-14 just before the half when Jonathan Contos scored on a seven-yard run, but unseeded Dos Pueblos scored the next 21 points.