Westview coach Mike Woodward might have been a little upset about having to play in the first round of the San Diego Section Division II playoffs despite an 8-2 record, but the Wolverines' best defensive effort of the year more than made up for it.

Knowing that Deontray Johnson carries the ball nearly every play for Hoover, Westview was ready. The Wolverines held Johnson to 111 yards on 37 carries and cruised to a 38-0 victory.

“Defense was outstanding tonight; that was our best defensive effort, by far, and that goes for the starters and the backups,” Woodward said. “To preserve the shutout at the end was special for these kids.”

Westview is accustomed to strong special teams play, with star kicker Bobby Wenzig showing deep range and rarely allowing opponents the opportunity for a kick return. But even though he left with an injury, it was the play of Seth Adams and Stephen Sousa that stood out the most.

Adams blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown late in the first quarter.

Sousa blocked a Cardinals punt that was recovered at the Hoover 7. On the next play, the former quarterback carried the ball for a touchdown. Sousa also caught three passes for 55 yards.

“We had a couple of guys step up,” Woodward said. “Our biggest weapon on our team is probably our kicker and our punter. (The injury) hurt us, but we had guys step up. Obviously, those blocked kicks were a key to the game.”

Woodward said of Sousa: “He's our guy. What you saw tonight is what we see every day in practice. What you didn't see is that the guy can flat out throw, too. He's a special football player.”

The Wolverines' Mitchel Bartolo scored two touchdowns and ran for 130 yards on nine carries.

Hoover coach Michael Wright honored former star player Todd Doxey by wearing his old number 9 uniform during the game. Doxey died in a swimming accident in Oregon in July.

The game was frustrating for Wright and the Cardinals. They knew that stopping Johnson was going to be a key for Westview, but they had to keep giving their best player the ball.

“He did everything without blocking tonight,” Wright said. “They keyed on him and we knew it. But D.J. runs his butt off no matter what. He did everything.”