I guess this game had to be as unusual as some of the other NOVA games that have occurred so far in the first three weeks of the season, as in my opinion there have been a lot of surprising scores in this area with close games, traditionally strong teams struggling, and some absolute blowouts. In this game, after a first half that saw both teams struggle on offense and some pretty good defensive play, Westfield - led by their defense - was just a bit better in the second half and held on for a 16-14 win over Marshall.
WF received the opening KO and only advanced to their own 47 yard line before punting to MAR at the MAR 19 yard line. MAR reached WF territory but also punted, giving WF the ball on their 20 yard line after the MAR punt went into the end zone. WF again punted and flipped the field, with MAR taking over on their own 25 yard line. Lining up to punt at their own 17 yard line just after the start of the second quarter, the snap went over the MAR punter's head and out the back of the endzone to give WF a 2-0 lead at the 11:40 mark of the second quarter. On MAR's ensuing kick, WF's Nelson returned the ball 40 yards to the MAR 30 yard line but a block in the back penalty pushed the ball all the way back to the WF 40 yard line. WF went on to reach the MAR 35 yard line before a WF punt that MAR elected to field (instead of possibly letting the punt go into the end zone) resulted in a fumble recovered by MAR at their own 4 yard line. After MAR's Lebkisher gained 16 yards to the MAR 20 yard line on the first play of the drive, MAR then faced a third and 15 when MAR's Ryder ran for 16 yards and a new set of downs. MAR's Lebkisher later fumbled on the WF 44 yard line with WF's Moore recovering the ball. WF was unable to move the ball and went three and out, giving MAR the ball on the MAR 45 yard line with 1:20 remaining in the first half. Facing 3rd and 10 at the MAR 45 yard line, MAR's Ryder found Lebkisher on a 14 yard pass to reach the WF 41 yard line. A pass interference call against WF a play or two later put MAR on the WF 22 yard line. After two incomplete passes, Ryder ran for 7 yards to the WF 15 yard line and MAR lined up to attempt a 32 yard FG. Lenert's attempt was blocked by WF's Bendorf and after WF took two snaps the two teams went into the locker room with WF leading 2-0. Note: When was the last time you saw that as a half time score?
MAR started the second half on their own 22 yard line after a 90 yard KO return for a TD was nullified by a holding penalty. Facing a 4th and 2 at the MAR 30 yard line, MAR's Ryder ran the ball to the right side for no gain and WF took over on the MAR 30 yard line with great field position. However, on the first play WF's Jenks passed to the right side where the ball was tipped twice before MAR's Lebkisher came down with the INT at the MAR 23 yard line. MAR lost yards on this possession and punted from their own 11 yard line giving WF another great opportunity at the MAR 35 yard line. After gaining just 6 yards, a 4th and 4 pass was incomplete and WF turned the ball back over to MAR. MAR moved down field quickly, with the big play being a Ryder to Burhman 32 yard pass to the WF 8 yard line. Ryder then made a 7 yard TD pass to a MAR WR (either Lebkisher or Burham-I am not sure). Lenert's XP attempt was blocked by WF's Aziz and MAR took the lead, 6-2, with the end of the third quarter approaching. On the ensuing free kick WF's Anderson had a 50 yard KO return to the MAR 46 line, then WF went on to score on a 14 yard Jenks run to jump back in front 9-6 (Mattfeld XP) with 11:17 remaining in the game. On the next possession MAR's Ryder was intercepted by WF's Anderson on the WF 30 yard line. WF moved into MAR territory before scoring again using a 24 yard Jenks run to the MAR 19 yard line, followed by a 17 yard Nelson run (ruled stopped at the MAR 2 yard line despite the scrum continuously moving into the endzone) and endind when Jenks then ran it in from 2 yards out to extend WF's lead to 16-6 (Mattfeld XP) with 4:21 to play. MAR, needing two scores and starting on their own 35 yard line, kept the drive alive with a Ryder one yard run on 4th and inches at the MAR 45 yard line, then on the next play Ryder found Burhman on the right sideline for a 55 yard TD pass. After a successful 2XP pass the lead was down to 16-14 with 3:09 to play. WF then successfully converted one first down when Jenks ran for 12 yards on 3rd and 10 at the MAR 38 yard line, running out the clock for the win.
WF received the opening KO and only advanced to their own 47 yard line before punting to MAR at the MAR 19 yard line. MAR reached WF territory but also punted, giving WF the ball on their 20 yard line after the MAR punt went into the end zone. WF again punted and flipped the field, with MAR taking over on their own 25 yard line. Lining up to punt at their own 17 yard line just after the start of the second quarter, the snap went over the MAR punter's head and out the back of the endzone to give WF a 2-0 lead at the 11:40 mark of the second quarter. On MAR's ensuing kick, WF's Nelson returned the ball 40 yards to the MAR 30 yard line but a block in the back penalty pushed the ball all the way back to the WF 40 yard line. WF went on to reach the MAR 35 yard line before a WF punt that MAR elected to field (instead of possibly letting the punt go into the end zone) resulted in a fumble recovered by MAR at their own 4 yard line. After MAR's Lebkisher gained 16 yards to the MAR 20 yard line on the first play of the drive, MAR then faced a third and 15 when MAR's Ryder ran for 16 yards and a new set of downs. MAR's Lebkisher later fumbled on the WF 44 yard line with WF's Moore recovering the ball. WF was unable to move the ball and went three and out, giving MAR the ball on the MAR 45 yard line with 1:20 remaining in the first half. Facing 3rd and 10 at the MAR 45 yard line, MAR's Ryder found Lebkisher on a 14 yard pass to reach the WF 41 yard line. A pass interference call against WF a play or two later put MAR on the WF 22 yard line. After two incomplete passes, Ryder ran for 7 yards to the WF 15 yard line and MAR lined up to attempt a 32 yard FG. Lenert's attempt was blocked by WF's Bendorf and after WF took two snaps the two teams went into the locker room with WF leading 2-0. Note: When was the last time you saw that as a half time score?
MAR started the second half on their own 22 yard line after a 90 yard KO return for a TD was nullified by a holding penalty. Facing a 4th and 2 at the MAR 30 yard line, MAR's Ryder ran the ball to the right side for no gain and WF took over on the MAR 30 yard line with great field position. However, on the first play WF's Jenks passed to the right side where the ball was tipped twice before MAR's Lebkisher came down with the INT at the MAR 23 yard line. MAR lost yards on this possession and punted from their own 11 yard line giving WF another great opportunity at the MAR 35 yard line. After gaining just 6 yards, a 4th and 4 pass was incomplete and WF turned the ball back over to MAR. MAR moved down field quickly, with the big play being a Ryder to Burhman 32 yard pass to the WF 8 yard line. Ryder then made a 7 yard TD pass to a MAR WR (either Lebkisher or Burham-I am not sure). Lenert's XP attempt was blocked by WF's Aziz and MAR took the lead, 6-2, with the end of the third quarter approaching. On the ensuing free kick WF's Anderson had a 50 yard KO return to the MAR 46 line, then WF went on to score on a 14 yard Jenks run to jump back in front 9-6 (Mattfeld XP) with 11:17 remaining in the game. On the next possession MAR's Ryder was intercepted by WF's Anderson on the WF 30 yard line. WF moved into MAR territory before scoring again using a 24 yard Jenks run to the MAR 19 yard line, followed by a 17 yard Nelson run (ruled stopped at the MAR 2 yard line despite the scrum continuously moving into the endzone) and endind when Jenks then ran it in from 2 yards out to extend WF's lead to 16-6 (Mattfeld XP) with 4:21 to play. MAR, needing two scores and starting on their own 35 yard line, kept the drive alive with a Ryder one yard run on 4th and inches at the MAR 45 yard line, then on the next play Ryder found Burhman on the right sideline for a 55 yard TD pass. After a successful 2XP pass the lead was down to 16-14 with 3:09 to play. WF then successfully converted one first down when Jenks ran for 12 yards on 3rd and 10 at the MAR 38 yard line, running out the clock for the win.
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