Blog LIVE Blog - Centreville (7-0) at Westfield (7-0)

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It's a huge showdown tonight in Chantilly, VA in Fairfax County as the three-time reigning State Champion Westfield Bulldogs (7-0) put their 31-game winning streak on the line against the unbeaten Centreville Wildcats (7-0) - their big Concorde District rival.

Westfield is led by an experienced core of offensive pieces with QB Noah Kim (71 of 106 for 1067Yds. 15-1TD/Int. ratio), RB Eugene Asante and Wake Forest commit WR Taylor Morin (24Rec. 518Yds. 9TD's) along with Bizzet Woodley (28Rec. 379Yds. 7TD's). The Bulldogs have had one close battle, a 17-15 escape against Madison.

Centreville comes in having been dominant on defense, giving up just 43 points in seven game with three shutouts. They've had four defensive touchdowns, while the offense directed by three-year starting QB Presley Egbers is playing efficient football. Although the Wildcats trail the all-time series 15-5, they did beat Westfield in the playoffs in 2011, 2013 and 2014. There's a good chance these two teams will meet again in the Region 6D Championship.

Real quickly some Keys to Victory for both teams...

Centreville Keys:
1. Stay Balanced
2. Get Pressure on QB Kim
3. Limit Big Plays

Westfield Keys:
1. Establish Passing Rhythm
2. Tackle Well in Space
3. Get Special Teams Spark

Hat's Pick - Westfield 27-21 in a comeback. Am very tempted to take Centreville, but the Bulldogs know how to raise their level of play in big games and we could see a heavier dose of Asante on the ground to balance out Kim's passing.

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Almost set for kick-off!

 

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Centreville begins at their own 10.

A quick screen to Jabar Anunany results in a loss of 1 as Eugene Asante makes a tremendous tackle for loss. A delay of game penalty backs the Wildcats up 5 more yards, so they're looking at 2nd & 16 from their own 4.

 

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A big run of 56 yards from Anthony Ramos from Centreville puts them in Westfield territory before he is knocked out of bounds by senior DB Torin Johnson. However, a penalty will bring it back as the Wildcats get flagged for the third time on the night (first one came during the opening kickoff).

 

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On third down on the opening series of the game, Centreville QB Presley Egbers is sacked by Westfield's Joe Clancy.

A great booming punt from the end zone by Centreville and Westfield bobbles the return before Abdul Koroma - junior LB for the Wildcats - drops the Bulldogs for a loss.

Westfield starts from their own 33. Noah Kim hits Bizzet Woodley for a completion to move the chains on a simple underneath pass.

 

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The Bulldogs are moving into Centreville territory with precision. After the completion to Woodley, the Bulldogs hand it off to Isaiah Daniel and he gains about 14. They then go back to the air, staying balanced offensively, and Noah Kim hits Wake Forest commit Taylor Morin for a completion of 8 along the sideline.

Connor Newborn is doing a great job of blocking up front and he helps spring free Daniel on a run of 16 yards with 7:16 left in the opening period. That came following a sack of Noah Kim by the Centreville defense, where Tre Maxwell came free off the edge and helped collapse the pocket.

On 3rd & 4 - Kim's pass is almost picked by Carey Dickinson, who had a pick-six against Oakton earlier in the season. On 4th & 4 from the 24-yard line of Centreville, Westfield's drive stalls as Eugene Asante is strung out for a loss.

So Centreville comes up with the stop - Chris Haddock's Wildcats take over at their own 29 with under 6 minutes to go in the first period.

 

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An incomplete pass by Presley Egbers on first down brings up 2nd & 10, where the Centreville QB scoots forward for a gain of about 4. On 3rd & 6, the Wildcats go back to the air and it's incomplete on the intended pass to Jabar Anunay along the sideline.

Max Ahiakpo and Eugene Asante were the footsteps right there breathing down on Anunay.

A punt out of bounds by Centreville and Westfield starts at their own 38 for their second series of the ballgame.

 

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Following a run of 8 by Westfield QB Noah Kim, the Bulldogs go to the fade route on 2nd & 2 from their own 46 with the talented signal caller going to his 6'4" wideout Bizzet Woodley, who brings it down at the Centreville 31 for a gain of 23.

Woodley sometimes gets forgotten about with the 'triplets' if you will of Kim, Asante and Morin, but he's a key weapon for this Bulldogs attack. On first down, the Bulldogs go back to the running game. This time the Centreville defense is ready with a couple of seniors - LB Lamar Horner and DB Deondre Edmonds - to bring Isaiah Daniel down for a loss of 1.

On 2nd & 11, the Centreville defense brings the jailbreak blitz and Kim is able to get it away in time for an incomplete. Huge 3rd & 11 coming up...

 

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On 3rd & 11 from the 32-yard line of Centreville, Westfield goes back to the air with junior QB Noah Kim, hitting senior wideout Taylor Morin on a stop route. Morin shows great determination to take it after about a 4-yard catch and dive, extending the play to get the necessary yards for a first down. Wake got a good one for sure.

 

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A blindside block penalty is called on Centreville, meaning they'll start their 3rd offensive series of the night at their own 12 instead of closer to the 30.

On first down, the Westfield defense comes through with a stuff for a loss of 2. Israel McClain didn't make the stop, but his pursuit allowed his teammates to come in there and bring down Jordan Wright.

On 3rd & 8, it's McClain making the stop for the Westfield defense to force Centreville to punt it away for the third time in the opening quarter.

 

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Following the big scramble from Kim and a 16-yard pass to Sean Goodman - used as that fullback for the Bulldogs - in the flat, the drive fizzles for Westfield. Credit Centreville LB Lamar Horner for a couple of tackles for loss.

On 4th & 16 inside the Centreville, the Bulldogs go to the air with a fade route that is caught by Bizzet Woodley is able to haul in a pass. The Centreville players and sideline are arguing he bobbled it and didn't bring it down in the field of play. But the officials call it a catch down to the Centreville 4, good for about 24 yards.

Kim keeps it on the QB keeper for 3 yards to the 1 of Centreville with 9:40 and counting to play before half-time. The Wildcats need a huge stand from their defense in a big way.

 

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A terrific play-call by Kyle Simmons and his Westfield staff on 2nd & Goal from the 1 to fake the toss and just hand it off to the big fella Joe Clancy - the 6-foot-2, 235-pound TE/DL/MLB for the Bulldogs - to punch it up the gut for a touchdown. PAT is good.



We've seen timely conversions on 3rd down from Westfield and Centreville needs something good to happen on the ensuing kickoff - where they've been penalized multiple times this evening.

 

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Centreville starts at their own 13 and they hand it off to Anthony Ramos for a gain of 2. Right there to meet him rather quickly were Richie Aguillar and Aron Dishun, their inside linebacker who appears shaken up following the play. A Kalin Jean catch of 6 yards brings up 3rd & 2, where the Bulldogs are flagged for the first time all night for being offsides.

The Westfield defense with Israel McClain and Eugene Asante get Jordan Wright down for a minimal gain. Then it's Dishun again.

On 3rd & 9, Westfield is called for pass interference as the officials say the coverage was a bit too physical from Morin in defending Jordan Wright. A potential game-turning play there? We'll find out as Centreville is at their own 41.

 

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On 1st & 10 from their own 41, Centreville catches the Westfield defense off guard, thinking it's a running play and instead it's a passing play. Kalin Jean gets behind Taylor Morin and pulls in a bomb from Presley Egbers, who muscles it down the field just enough to get his receiver the ball. Jean is brought down at the 7-yard line of Westfield.

 

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On 1st & Goal from the 7 - it's Anthony Ramos running outside for 6. Ramos then appears to get a 1-yard touchdown, but officials call a penalty to back the Wildcats up 5.

On 2nd & Goal from the 6, Egbers is sacked by Israel McClain for a loss of 11. On 3rd & Goal from the 17 now, the Wildcats pretty much have to go to the air.

 

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On 3rd & Goal from the 17 of Westfield - Centreville QB Presley Egbers is intercepted by Westfield junior FS Tahj Sunmmey in the end zone. Demoralizing for the Wildcats, who got to the 1 and then had a TD called back on 2nd & Goal on a penalty (their 5th of the night).

 

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Noah Kim on 2nd & 6 from their own 24 stands in the pocket and takes a shot from the Centreville defense. As he does, the Westfield QB gets the ball off in time to his open receiver - Wake Forest commit and 1st Team All-State performer Taylor Morin. He's brought down for a gain of 25 near midfield.

 

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Noah Kim completes a pass over the middle to an open Isaiah Daniels, who has the ball stripped by Centreville's Rob Vlissides - senior linebacker - and it is recovered by his Wildcats teammate Carrington Nickens-Yzer.

Scooping it up at his own 47, Nickens-Yzer (whose older brother Xavier was a standout on a Centreville state title winning team), races back the other way for a gain of 22 before he's dragged out at the Westfield 31.

A big opportunity for the Wildcats before the break to cut into the lead. Capitalizing here is paramount.

 

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An enormous 4th & 1 conversion from Centreville at the Westfield 22-yard line with RB Jordan Wright. The Wildcats are starting to get some small, yet decent chunks on the ground with LB Aron Dishun still sidelined for Westfield.

Penalties are starting to hurt Westfield as a pass interference puts the Wildcats at the 10 of the Bulldogs. Jordan Wright dives for 6 yards on a catch that should've been a walk in touchdown. But he stays in bounds and the clock runs under a minute, under 40 seconds to go...

Egbers clocks it with a spike. A time-out is called by Westfield's defense to talk it over before a crucial 3rd & Goal from the 4-yard line with about 22 seconds left.

 

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On 3rd & Goal - Presley Egbers nearly sees his 2nd pass of the night picked off in the end zone.

On 4th & Goal - It's Jordan Wright trying to run it in from his wing spot and the tackle is made by Eugene Asante as Westfield executes again defensively with a vital stop.

 

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Some quick half-time numbers...

HALF

Westfield 14:
Noah Kim - 8-12 for 127Yds; 4Car. 29Yds.
Isaiah Daniel - 7Car. 56Yds. TD; 1Rec. 9Yds.
Bizzet Woodley - 3Rec. 58Yds.
Taylor Morin - 3Rec. 44Yds.
Eugene Asante - 5 Tackles, 1.5TFL, PBU
Israel McClain - 3 Tackles, Sack

Bulldogs - 27 plays for 202 total yards (8-12 for 127 pass yards; 15 rushes for 75 yards; 1 turnover on lost fumble; 5 penalties for 44 yards)


Centreville 0:
Presley Egbers - 6-12 for 70Yds.
Kalin Jean - 3Rec. 59Yds.
Jordan Wright - 8Car. 23Yds; 2Rec. 12Yds.
Jabar Anunay - 4 Tackles, TFL
Lamar Horner - 2.5TFL

Wildcats - 26 plays for 93 total yards (6-12 for 70 pass yards; 14 rushes for 23 yards; 1 turnover on intercept; 5 penalties for 37 yards)

 

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Wind is picking up quite a bit as the 2nd half gets underway. With a 14-point lead and getting the ball first, I would expect Westfield to try to establish the run on their first series.

Centreville had two great chances to get closer against Westfield before the half and missed out on those opportunities. Their defense has been playing excellent all year and creating a takeaway or two would be huge. Getting the rushing tandem of Jordan Wright and Anthony Ramos going would help a great deal because Westfield's been able to make a couple of plays against QB Presley Egbers - both with getting pressure on him and on the back end.

 

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Gavin Kiley returns the 2nd half kickoff to Westfield's own 29. They start this 3rd quarter with a 14-0 lead, looking to avoid a 3 & out or turnover.

 

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Centreville's Gavin Thomas comes out of the locker room a man possessed as he makes a tackle for loss, combines with teammate Deondre Edmunds for a tackle and then on 3rd & 15 tips a Noah Kim pass to himself - intercepting and returning it to the Westfield 9.

 

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On 1st & Goal from the 9 - it appears Centreville RB Jordan Wright gets in the end zone as he dives to the pylon. However, the officials say he was out at the 1. Tahj Summey was technically the one to push him out. After the play, a costly - and I do mean costly - 15-yard penalty (believe it was unsportsmanlike) is called on Centreville.

Anthony Ramos runs it for a gain of 4 and then a short pass to Jabar Anunay is sniffed out by the Wake Forest commit Taylor Morin. 3rd & Goal from the 12 is coming up.

So it is inconceivable that Centreville gets its 3rd trip in the red zone tonight and they come out of it without any touchdowns. That's mind-boggling and a credit to the Westfield defense

 

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A pass to the 1-yard line is dropped by Centreville, so that means a field goal opportunity is coming.

A 29-yard field goal is no good for Centreville. That is gut-wrenching for Coach Chris Haddock and his team after the great INT by Gavin Thomas.

 

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Westfield begins its second series of the 3rd quarter at their own 20. They gain a yard on a run play and then on 2nd & 9 it's QB Noah Kim hitting WR Taylor Morin for a completion of 10. Kim has a short-term memory from mistakes, and keep in mind that INT was only his 2nd of the year.

The Bulldogs are trying to get Eugene Asante rolling and he picks up 5 to bring up 2nd & 5 from their own 36. But a false start penalty, followed by a loss of yardage, brings up 3rd & long for the host Bulldogs.

 

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On 3rd & long it's Westfield QB Noah Kim finding WR Gavin Kiley on the slant pattern for 18 yards to their own 45. Kim does such a fine job of taking what the defense gives him and that time he knew they took away Morin & Woodley, so he attacked the intermediate route with his 3rd option in the pass game.

 

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Another 3rd down - this time 3rd & 13 from their own 42 - and Westfield QB Noah Kim hits Taylor Morin on the deeper slant route for 18 yards to the Centreville 40. However, Centreville's defense is able to buckle down with Lamar Horner, Deondre Edmonds and company neutralizing run plays from Morin and Eugene Asante.

Kim punts it out of bounds and Centreville takes over with 11 seconds left in the third period after Westfield burned a lot of clock. The Wildcats take over at their own 24.

 

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Centreville has it looking at 2nd & 10 from their own 24 to begin the 4th and final period of regulation.

 

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On 3rd & 10 from their own 24 - Presley Egbers feels the pressure, steps up and keeps his eyes down the field and throws it to Carrington Nickens-Yzer, who thought he held on for the catch, but the ball clearly hit the ground and it is incomplete.

So a 3 and out forced by the Westfield defense. Centreville will punt it away, and the Bulldogs will look to play more ball-control.

 

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Saadiq Hinton fields the Centreville punt at his own 42, gets some blocking upfield and nearly takes it all the way before he is taken down around the 20 of the Wildcats' Abdul Koroma. Hinton is such an unsung hero for this Westfield team and had the clutch INT in last year's State Champiosnhip win over Oscar Smith.

Unfortunately for Hinton, his punt return won't be as long as he had hoped as a holding backs the Bulldogs up to the 50.

 

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A quick screen for Westfield is incomplete. A stretch run by Isaiah Daniel picks up 7 yards, so 3rd & 3 now for the Bulldogs at the 43 of Centreville. Nicky Kuzemka makes a strong tackle to prevent the Bulldogs from moving the chains.

A bad snap on the punt will give Centreville great field position, at the 39 of Westfield. This might be the last shot for Centreville to draw closer and make things interesting late in the 4th quarter. It's now or never I think for them in this one...

 

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Presley Egbers completes a pass to Kalin Jean for nearly 10 yards, but the officials call an illegal man downfield penalty, one that looked rather questionable to me.

A short pass to Jordan Wright and minimal run by Jordan Ramos brings up 3rd & 10 from the Westfield 40, where Max Ahiakpo - who made the key play against Madison down the stretch - drops Egbers for a loss of 1 on a sack.

On 4th & 11 - the Centreville pass is incomplete. So Westfield takes over, leading 14-0, at their own 41.

 

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A completion to Bizzet Woodley appears to move the chains for Westfield, but a 15-yard penalty on the Bulldogs will back them up. Yet again, it's Westfield converting a 3rd & 18 as Sean Goodman makes the catch in the flat, runs free and even though he fumbles, the ball bounces forward about a good 20-25 yards, up ahead to the Centreville 27 where Gavin Kiley lands on it for the reigning three-time State Champs.

All the bounces and breaks going Westfield's way tonight, and they deserve credit for making some of those because they're opportunistic and never blink it seems in the big game under Kyle Simmons.

 

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As they've done all night, Westfield waits until 3rd down - or in this case on 4th down - to come up with a clutch play. They do it again on 4th & 8 from the 25-yard line as QB Noah Kim looks for his 6'4" target Bizzet Woodley on the back shoulder play and he hauls it in for a catch of 12 yards along the sideline.

 

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Woodley really has stepped it up this season, adding another dimension to this Bulldogs attack that'll be difficult for defenses to stop come playoff time.

Kim is unofficially sitting at 13 of 21 for 234 yards and a touchdown pass, responding quite well from that early 3rdQ INT.

 

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Ticking under 2 minutes to play and Westfield is leading it 21-0 with Centreville facing 2nd & 18 from their own 22 following a loss of 3 on the ground.

It looks like the Westfield defense - which came in having given up only 82 points all year with a pair of shutouts - will get their 3rd shutout of the season. This one speaks volumes about their defense though considering that Centreville entered averaging 40 points per contest.