After a year of unsanctioned play, seniors like West Ranch’s Bryan Welch were more than ready for their first official home game Thursday.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

 And after four quarters, the team’s 15-3 victory over the Simi Valley Pioneers seemed to be the statement that said showed the Wildcats’ readiness.

“It’s surreal you know,” said Welch said, a captain who spent last year playing for the school’s club team, which wasn’t CIF-sanctioned. “With all the support we’ve had, it’s phenomenal.”

Nearly 200 turned out for the squad’s first CIF-sanctioned home game, which the Wildcats controlled from the outset.

“The performance definitely matched my expectation,” said West Ranch head coach Paul Gordon. “I think we played phenomenal. Not only did we play well we played at a level that will allow us to compete with some of the best teams in our league.”.

West Ranch took an 11-1 lead into the half and never looked back, while the Wildcats’ aggressive offense kept their defense relatively untested.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, Or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com