GARY | West Side's football team needs someone working an abacus on its sideline.
Coach Jason Johnson's Cougars entered Friday night's Northwestern Conference mismatch with Roosevelt averaging 39.5 points per game while allowing 35.5.
In lopsided losses to Hobart, Andrean, Hammond and Morton, the Cougars were tagged for 55, 56, 56 and 35 points, respectively.
West Side then took it out on Lew Wallace, rolling 74-22.
Friday's game was for the city championship in a league with just three schools. Despite 19 West Side penalties for 175 yards, the Cougars cruised 51-0 in beating Roosevelt for the sixth consecutive time.
"We've got talent," coach Jason Johnson understated.
Sophomore quarterback Ramone Atkins passed for 363 yards and five touchdowns to lead the attack.
Junior JonVea Johnson, the coach's son, caught eight passes for 168 yards and one touchdown while having two wiped out by penalty.
Lonnie Johnson, a junior, had four catches for 100 yards and two TDs. He also rushed for 115 yards and another score.
"We just want to show the city of Gary that West Side football is for real," Lonnie Johnson said. "We tell everybody to be patient and the ball will come to you. The offense is not based on one person.
"I'll do whatever the coaches want me to. Block? I'll do it. Get on the line? I'll do it."
The Cougars (5-4, 2-0) somehow overcame 15 first-half penalties to grab a sloppy 32-0 lead.
"Unheard of," Coach Johnson said of all the laundry that was thrown at his team. "We had more penalties the first quarter (seven) than we've probably had all season.
"We were just so jacked about this game. We wanted to come in and get some confidence for the sectional."
West Side and, guess who, open play next weekend.
Roosevelt (3-6, 1-1) had a three-game win streak snapped on this icy Senior Night and will continue seeking its first winning season since 1987.
"Our defense ... it's just (a lack of) discipline," Jason Johnson said of his team's points allowed. "That's been the problem but we're peaking at the right time."
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