Blog Game Blog - Westfield 35, West Potomac 0

[matthew328826]

Blogging LIVE tonight, and doing so virtually as we now are doing most of the time through our friends at Gameday Magazine (gamedaymagazine.com), who are streaming this matchup on this Thursday night in early March for 2021. It's the West Potomac Wolverines visiting the Westfield Bulldogs.

Westfield - which won three straight Class 6 State Championships from 2015-17 - suffered a season-opening loss a week ago to fellow title contender Lake Braddock, 26-7. The score was a bit misleading as Westfield was driving early in the fourth quarter, only trailing 12-7, before the Bruins scored a pair of touchdowns to put it out of reach. Nonetheless, it was the first season-opening loss for Westfield since 2010, and with the condensed schedule along with only four teams making the playoffs from each region, Kyle Simmons' crew goes into an unfamiliar must-win mode now.

West Potomac won its first game under new Head Coach Al Song by defeating John Lewis 35-7 during the final week of February.

The head-to-head series favors Westfield, which has won all nine matchups from 2007-19 by an average of 38-12.

A chilly night up in Chantilly with strong winds as well. Figures to be a lot more running than passing in this one. About 5 minutes away from kick-off...

We'll have updates here as well as on Twitter @hatfieldsports, so stay with us!

 

[matthew328826]

West Potomac's Regis Abankwa will be kicking off to Westfield, which has the dynamic Alex Richards as one of the return men waiting for the ball.

 

[matthew328826]

Alex Richards returns the opening kickoff 67 yards to the West Potomac 32. A great start for the Bulldogs offense, which figures to feature Mikall LeGall on the ground quite a bit.

 

[matthew328826]

Westfield lined up in I-Form after the great kickoff return had no problem advancing quickly and scoring in just four plays. LeGall had three of the runs for 22 yards. The other run was by senior QB Toviel Jung, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound triggerman filling the shoes of the graduated Noah Kim, who's now in the Big Ten at Michigan State University.

 

[matthew328826]

West Potomac's first run from their own 33 yard-line is a pretty solid one from junior Derison Preko. However, on 2nd & 3, the Westfield defense clamps down. Then QB Owen Joachim mishandles the snap, yet is able to get it back on 3rd down. Not before it's a loss of about 4 or 5 yards.

Joe George is helping set the edge nicely for the Westfield defense.

A quick three-and-out, and Westfield takes over after the punt from their own 31.

 

[matthew328826]

Toviel Jung rushes for 12 yards, then he finds Alex Richards on a quick screen to the near sideline into West Potomac territory. They go back to Richards on the opposite side and he gets about 7 or 8 more with just under six minutes to go in the opening period. Leon Davis hauls in a pass for 8 yards.

A false start and then an incomplete brings up 2nd & 15 from the West Potomac 35.

 

[matthew328826]

Nothing against the TD pass, which was executed well as Jung rolled to his right and found an open Keys, who took it in for points. But the run on the play before by LeGall was impressive as he bounced it out to the left, gave a mean stiff-arm and plowed forward with authority.

 

[matthew328826]

Following a West Potomac fumble, the Westfield Bulldogs are back to pounding the rock with Mikal LeGall, who continues the great tradition of standout rushers for the Northern Virginia powerhouse. Former NFL tailback Evan Royster, Brian Kennedy, and most recently Eugene Asante (now at UNC) immediately leap to mind.

LeGall is up to 47 yards on 5 carries already with 3rd & 4 upcoming from the West Pot 40.

Injury time-out near the end of the opening period. Westfield is looking to add to its 14-0 lead.

 

[matthew328826]

Alex Richards has been the primary sure-handed target for QB Toviel Jung, who is 8 of 9 for 74 yards passing and a touchdown. Richards has 5 receptions for 39 yards.

2022 TE Harrison Saint Germain (6-4, 230) with a host of offers already just had a nifty 9-yard grab on the last series. He's continuing the great tradition of tight ends the school has produced. Nolan Cockrill is one of them making an impact at Army.

The Bulldogs have 8 first downs and West Potomac has yet to move the chains.

 

[matthew328826]

West Potomac looking at 2nd & 10 from their own 26 to begin the 2nd period.

 

[matthew328826]

David Lee intercepts the pass by West Potomac, just their second aerial attempt, and Westfield's defense puts the offense back in business. Bulldogs take over at the West Potomac 24 following his 34-yard return on the INT.

Bulldogs QB Toviel Jung, who previously played at Stonewall Jackson (now known as Unity Reed in Manassas), is in good command of the offense. Alex Richards is doing his best Taylor Morin (now at UNC) impression, catching everything and showcasing his ability after the reception.

 

[matthew328826]

Zach Weber and Harrison Saint Germain throw great blocks on the perimeter for Richards on his touchdown reception.

West Potomac's #10 (sorry, don't have an accurate roster at the moment) is making a bulk of the tackles for West Potomac from his defensive back spot. That can be good and bad. The bad is that they need more stops from the linebackers and defensive linemen in front of him.

West Potomac's return on the ensuing kickoff goes nowhere as Richards brings him down for a minimal gain as they'll begin at their own 13.

 

[matthew328826]

West Potomac moves the chains for the first time on the night as Owen Joachim gains 6 on 3rd & 5. The Wolverines are called for their first penalty of the night, backing them up to their own 19.

Emmanuel Ampem hauls in the first pass completion of the night for West Potomac.

With 3:18 to go in the second quarter, West Potomac calls a time-out as they try to dial something up on 3rd & 7 from their own 27 against Westfield's defense, plus a significant wind.

Before I forget, want to give kudos to Andy Hayes and Justin Waddle for providing spot-on commentary during this game to make my gig easier.

 

[matthew328826]

A really nice pass by Owen Joachim, avoiding the rush and using his athleticism to connect with an open receiver - Jake Cooper - on 3rd & 7 - for a gain of 9.

Westfield's C.J. Hoffman - a Howard commit - shows his presence on defense to prevent the Wolverines from gaining anything on 1st & 10 from their own 36. Joachim then rolls out of bounds to gain about a yard. Another key 3rd down - this one 3rd & 9 - upcoming with just over two minutes to go in the opening half.

 

[matthew328826]

West Potomac sees Owen Joachim complete the pass to Emmanuel Ampem on a jailbreak screen on 3rd & 9, but it only gains 2 yards as the Westfield defense stayed home and was ready to tackle in space.

Bulldogs take over at their own 36 with 1:56 to go in the second period. Toviel Jung airs out a couple of deep balls and just misses with Alex Richards, in part because of the wind gusts pushing the ball further down the field. Jung was 10 of 11 for 86 yards prior to those two incomplete passes. Brings us to 3rd & 10.

Jung rolls away from the pressure and gains 9. His scrambling is fairly comparable to what Noah Kim brought them in previous seasons. He's now at 4 carries for 37 yards. Looks like Kyle Simmons' crew will go for it on 4th & 1 from their own 45.

 

[matthew328826]

Westfield converts the 4th & 1 with Jung, but the West Potomac defense comes up with a key sack a few plays later and they've shown some adjustments with their defensive backfield to keep Alex Richards from running free vertically.

Jung looks for Richards in the back of the end zone on another fourth down and it's incomplete on the final play of the half.

 

[matthew328826]

Some half-time numbers...

Stats at the Half:

Westfield 28:
Toviel Jung - 11-16 for 94Yds. 2-0 TD/Int. ratio; 7Car. 38yds.
Mikal LeGall - 8Car. 67Yds. 2TD's
Alex Richards - 7Rec. 51Yds. TD; 67-yard KR
Rob Keys - 1Rec. 17Yds. TD
Harrison Saint Germain - 2Rec. 17Yds.
C.J. Hoffman - 3 Tackles

Bulldogs - 32 plays for 203 total yards (11 of 16 for 94 pass yards; 16 rushes for 109 yards); 0 turnovers; 2 penalties for 10 yards


West Potomac 0:
Owen Joachim - 3-6 for 16Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio; 3Car. 3Yds.
Derison Preko - 6Car. 23Yds.
Emanuel Ampem - 2Rec. 7Yds.
Jake Cooper - 1Rec. 9Yds.
Gedeon Mushegera - 9 Total Tackles (6 Solo)

Wolverines - 16 plays for 45 total yards (3 of 6 for 16 pass yards, 1 INT; 10 rushes for 29 yards, 1 lost fumble); 2 turnovers; 1 penalty for 5 yards

 

[matthew328826]

West Potomac goes 3 & out on its opening series of the 2nd half. Credit Westfield senior DE/OLB Elijah Tarlton, who has a host of FBS/FCS offers, for batting down the pass on 3rd down to force the Wolverines punt.

Westfield's first series will start at the 47 of West Potomac. They're thinking touchdown and running clock. I would REALLY be as well, except tonight is not a new episode of Law & Order SVU, so I'm not on pins and needles.

 

[matthew328826]

Mikal LeGall bounces to the outside and rushes 30 yards into the red zone of West Potomac. He's just 3 yards shy of 100 for the evening.

Jaime Ramos, Ethan Campbell, Ricardo Cordova, Dailen Richardson and that offensive line has really done a good job of establishing their blocks and running room for LeGall.

 

[matthew328826]

Westfield is unable to get its fifth touchdown of the night to begin the second half as the West Potomac defense comes up with a key stop. Props to Robbie Sadlier for making a sack and that put Westfield in 3rd & long, where they were brought down for a loss again.

West Potomac will take over at their own 17 following a punt. So while the Wolverines make a stand defensively, they've been unable to tilt field position much.

 

[matthew328826]

West Potomac's second series of the 3rd quarter results in another 3 & out. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, the punt is bobbled up and they just fall on it at their own 5, where Westfield begins. That short field is a disaster for an opposing defense trying to stop the Bulldogs.

 

[matthew328826]

West Potomac will try to halt the running clock by piecing together a scoring drive early in the 4th period.

 

[matthew328826]

For the first time all night, West Potomac moves into Westfield territory as tailback Derison Preko puts together a couple of solid runs. However, on third down, it's Westfield defensive end J'Lynn Vines coming through with a sack.

The West Potomac punt is partially blocked - appears to be by Elijah Tarlton - and Westfield takes over at the 49 of West Potomac with 8:06 to play.

The Bulldogs have put some of the subs into the game to finish this one off for what they hope will be their fourth shutout against West Potomac in five meetings.

 

[matthew328826]

We'll have some Final Stats in a bit... stay tuned!