Westlake football’s postseason hopes in question after loss to Oaks Christian

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE – A lot of great football has been exchanged between Westlake and Oaks Christian over the years. Heading into Friday night’s Marmonte League matchup, the all-time record between the two programs was 5-5, including two meets in CIF finals in 2010 and 2011.

This time around, a second-place league finish was up for grabs, which meant something different for each team.

For Oaks Christian, its guaranteed a playoff game due to this year’s new CIF Southern Section Division 1-2 format, but could improve where it gets seeded on Sunday when the pairings are announced. Westlake, however, needed the win to secure an automatic playoff berth in Division 3.

“You never want to leave a decision like that to anyone else,” Westlake coach Tim Kirksey said before the game.

Unfortunately for the Warriors that will be the case. They’ll have to wait and see if CIF will grant them an at-large berth on Sunday after falling to Oaks Christian 35-14 at home.

Oaks Christian quarterback Jameson Wang threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 22 of 26 passing to lead the Lions back to .500 (5-5).

“Getting back to .500 was a big goal for us,” Wang said. “We also know this win will give us a more favorable matchup in the playoffs. Being in the middle of the back, opposed to getting matched up with a high seed in Division 2.”

Running back Semaj Freeman ran for 146 yards on 15 carries, including a 47-yard touchdown in the first half that gave Oaks Christian a 14-0 lead.

“Our offense is clicking right now,” Wang said. “That’s a good thing heading into the playoffs.”

Westlake, which finishes the season 2-8, is one of 18 teams in the Division 3 field that needs 16 teams for its playoff bracket. Despite not clinching an automatic bid, the Warriors’ flame of postseason play still flickers due to Redlands East Valley’s winless season and Santiago finishing fourth in the Big VIII League.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Westlake quarterback Marco Siderman said. “Our schedule prepared us for anything we may see.”

Siderman threw two interceptions in the first half, but redeemed himself with 18 second left in the second quarter when he connected with Cooper Wallace on a 47-yard touchdown to cut the Oaks Christian deficit in half, 14-7.

Siderman later punched in a three-yard touchdown run to make it 21-14 in the third quarter, but two Derek Boyd short-yardage touchdown runs put Oaks Christian out of reach.

Siderman, who thrived on a cold 50-degree night, threw for 289 yards and a touchdown on 19 of 30 passing. Wide receiver Carson Kuhl, a lacrosse player committed to Yale, hauled in nine catches for 144 yards.

Siderman is committed to Holy Cross in Massachusetts.

“I’m a Patriots fan,” Siderman said laughing. “As for the weather, I’ll adjust.”

The Southern Section playoff pairings are scheduled to be posted at CIFSS.org at noon.