SPRUCE IS LOOSE—Westlake wideout/defensive back Nelson Spruce, left, is one of the top junior playmakers in the Southland This is what everyone’s been waiting for.

Moorpark vs. Westlake.

The battle between undefeated Marmonte League heavyweights in the regular-season finale is more than a big game—it’s the most anticipated matchup in the county this week, and perhaps all of Southern California as well.

That’s no exaggeration, at least for the players.

“This is the biggest regularseason game of the year, and of my life,” said Warrior defensive end/tailback Dallas Clayton.

Moorpark is balanced on offense, defense and special teams. The Musketeers truly embody the motto, “One for all, all for one.”

Westlake’s offense is more explosive than a Wile E. Coyote warehouse stockpiled with TNT, and their defense is improving by the week.

The matchup has everyone excited, even Moorpark head coach Tim Lins, a self-proclaimed “man of few words.”

“Obviously, it’s a big game,” Lins said.

Westlake head coach Jim Benkert agreed.

“This is a big challenge,” Benkert said. “Moorpark is excellent on both sides of the ball. This game is great for our community and great for our school.”

A.J. Dettorre, a senior cornerback/wide receiver for Moorpark, will have the thankless task of going toe-to-toe with Warrior wideout Nelson Spruce.

Spruce has 43 catches for 850 yards and 14 total scores.

“He’s definitely the best receiver we’ve seen so far,” Dettorre said of Spruce. “It’s a great matchup. Playing cornerback is almost like being in a game within a game.

“I’m not going to stop the kid. The big key is limiting his bigplay potential. They’re great at making big plays. . . . I don’t know if we can shut them down, maybe slow them down.”

Lins is impressed with Westlake’s offense, which also features quarterback Nick Isham, tailback Tavior Mowry and receiving targets Michael Tack, Tre’shon Wilson, Max Klinedinst, Jared Fry and Johnny Stuart.

Clayton, who rushed for 113 yards and two scores on eight carries in a win last weekend against Simi Valley, is expected to share the load with Mowry. Clayton leads the team with 11.6 yards per carry.

“They’re never out of any football game,” Lins said.

Westlake will have its hands full trying to corral the diminutive but mighty Austin Edmonson, a senior running back/cornerback.

Quarterbacks Brody Rohach and Brian Blechen, and targets James Dearborn, Tanner Moe, Vernon Lins and Dettorre complement Edmonson.

The Warriors think they’re up for the challenge.

“Our defense has improved a lot,” Clayton said. “The defense has to step up. We’ve put in a lot of work.”

Teammate Adrian Muguerza, a senior middle linebacker, said he expects a wild finish.

“I think it will come down to the last second, honestly,” said Muguerza, who leads WHS with 91 tackles and three interceptions.

“To win the game, we’re going to have to play perfect.”

Edmonson said the key to victory will be to minimize mistakes.

“We have to play better than we did last weekend,” the senior said. “Last week wasn’t our best (showing). It felt like a slow game.

“We’ve been playing together as a team, not as a bunch of individuals. We never try to brag. We try to stay pretty humble.”

Big names, big game. This is a matchup between two of the premier high school football programs in Ventura County. Winner takes the Marmonte League championship and is expected to earn the top seed in the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division playoffs. Get there early for a seat.