The Scott Vossler era at Westfield started off on a negative note but the Bulldogs also faced a very strong Patriot team. Patriot came out of the gate fast and coasted to a 41-24 win.
PAT took the opening KO and went 65 yards in three plays, scoring on a 54 yard McCarter run down the home sideline. After Opare's XP Patriot led 7-0 less than three minutes into the game. WF started their first possession on their own 37 yard line and, helped by several Patriot penalties, reached the PAT 15 yard line but stalled and settled for a 32 yard Wieman FG to cut the lead to 7-3 with 5:01 remaining in the first quarter. I did not know it at the time, but how those two drives went was a harbinger of what the game would be like for all but the final few minutes: PAT using big plays and a quick strike offense; WF sometimes getting limited ball movement then stalling or else being shut down by the Patriot defense.
PAT's next possession moved the ball to the WF 42 yard line before they punted to pin WF at their own 8 yard line. WF gained only a yard and punted the ball back to PAT on the WF 46 yard line. Not long after, McCarter had a 44 yard run to the WF 2 yard line and then Knutson punched it in for a 14-3 lead (Opare XP) with 10:55 remaining in the half. WF had very good field position on their next drive when a short KO was returned 45 yards by WF's H. Johnson to the PAT 29 yard line. But after an offensive PI call WF found themselves back up to the PAT 46 yard line and they ended up punting. PAT started their next drive at their own 31 yard line and quickly scored, with the key plays being a Knutson to Roloff 40 yard pass to the WF 24 yard line and a Knutson 2 yard scoring run. Opare missed the XP and PAT was now up 20-3 with 5:05 remaining in the half. WF's next drive went 66 yards, the big play being a 42 yard Carlson to Lee pass, before Carlson took it in on a QB sneak from the one yard line to cut the Patriot lead to 20-10 (Wieman XP) with 46 seconds remaining in the half.
WF received the second half KO and moved only 16 yards to just inside PAT territory before punting. PAT, starting at their own 20 yard line, quickly struck again with a 48 yard TD pass from Knutson to Noakes to extend their lead to 27-10 (Opare XP) with 6:55 remaining in the third quarter. WF went three and out on their next possession, then PAT went 60 yards with McCarter scoring on a 24 yard run (Opare XP) to go up 34-10 with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter. WF again punted and the short punt put PAT just inside midfield. After another big play, a 26 yard run by Brown, PAT moved to the WF four yard line where on 4th and three McCarter scored from four yards out for a 41-10 PAT lead (Opare XP) with 8 seconds left in the third quarter. WF's first drive of the fourth quarter started at their own 36 yard line. Using a lot of clock, WF scored on a 4th and goal at the one yard line when Carlson again snuck it in to cut the Patriot lead to 41-17 (Wieman XP) with 3:52 remaining in the game. WF then executed a perfect bouncing onside kick that was recovered by WF's Flamer on the PAT 40 yard line. Two plays later Carlson found Morin on a sideline out pattern, Morin dodged a defender, then scored to cut the lead to 41-24 (Wieman XP) with 2:44 remaining. WF then attempted another onside kick but PAT was ready for it and recovered the ball at midfield. PAT then ran out the clock to seal the win.
PAT took the opening KO and went 65 yards in three plays, scoring on a 54 yard McCarter run down the home sideline. After Opare's XP Patriot led 7-0 less than three minutes into the game. WF started their first possession on their own 37 yard line and, helped by several Patriot penalties, reached the PAT 15 yard line but stalled and settled for a 32 yard Wieman FG to cut the lead to 7-3 with 5:01 remaining in the first quarter. I did not know it at the time, but how those two drives went was a harbinger of what the game would be like for all but the final few minutes: PAT using big plays and a quick strike offense; WF sometimes getting limited ball movement then stalling or else being shut down by the Patriot defense.
PAT's next possession moved the ball to the WF 42 yard line before they punted to pin WF at their own 8 yard line. WF gained only a yard and punted the ball back to PAT on the WF 46 yard line. Not long after, McCarter had a 44 yard run to the WF 2 yard line and then Knutson punched it in for a 14-3 lead (Opare XP) with 10:55 remaining in the half. WF had very good field position on their next drive when a short KO was returned 45 yards by WF's H. Johnson to the PAT 29 yard line. But after an offensive PI call WF found themselves back up to the PAT 46 yard line and they ended up punting. PAT started their next drive at their own 31 yard line and quickly scored, with the key plays being a Knutson to Roloff 40 yard pass to the WF 24 yard line and a Knutson 2 yard scoring run. Opare missed the XP and PAT was now up 20-3 with 5:05 remaining in the half. WF's next drive went 66 yards, the big play being a 42 yard Carlson to Lee pass, before Carlson took it in on a QB sneak from the one yard line to cut the Patriot lead to 20-10 (Wieman XP) with 46 seconds remaining in the half.
WF received the second half KO and moved only 16 yards to just inside PAT territory before punting. PAT, starting at their own 20 yard line, quickly struck again with a 48 yard TD pass from Knutson to Noakes to extend their lead to 27-10 (Opare XP) with 6:55 remaining in the third quarter. WF went three and out on their next possession, then PAT went 60 yards with McCarter scoring on a 24 yard run (Opare XP) to go up 34-10 with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter. WF again punted and the short punt put PAT just inside midfield. After another big play, a 26 yard run by Brown, PAT moved to the WF four yard line where on 4th and three McCarter scored from four yards out for a 41-10 PAT lead (Opare XP) with 8 seconds left in the third quarter. WF's first drive of the fourth quarter started at their own 36 yard line. Using a lot of clock, WF scored on a 4th and goal at the one yard line when Carlson again snuck it in to cut the Patriot lead to 41-17 (Wieman XP) with 3:52 remaining in the game. WF then executed a perfect bouncing onside kick that was recovered by WF's Flamer on the PAT 40 yard line. Two plays later Carlson found Morin on a sideline out pattern, Morin dodged a defender, then scored to cut the lead to 41-24 (Wieman XP) with 2:44 remaining. WF then attempted another onside kick but PAT was ready for it and recovered the ball at midfield. PAT then ran out the clock to seal the win.
