South Lakes came from behind and scored on back to back drives in the third quarter to take a 20-19 victory over Westfield. WF's Anderson on defense and SL's Giordano on offense were huge standouts for their respective teams in a game that saw multiple squandered opportunities.
SL took the opening KO on their 26 yard line and wasted no time when SL's Giordano went 74 yards around the left side on the first play to get SL the early lead, 7-0 (Benyo XP) at the 11:31 mark. WF then got great starting position at the SL 37 yard line after WF's Anderson returned the KO 48 yards. Moving the ball deep into SL territory and reaching the SL one yard line, a high snap over the head of WF's Jenks on third down was recovered by SL's McArthur on the SL 25 yard line. SL did not move the ball and punted after three plays, giving WF the ball near midfield. WF did not waste this opportunity and scored when WF's Gubaton ran it in from 6 yards out and WF cut the lead to 7-6 (XP snap was bad and the attempt failed) at the 2:21 mark of the first quarter. SL's next drive started at their own 24 yard line but ended when SL's Daum fumbled at midfield and WF's Anderson recovered at the SL 41 yard line. WF went on to score on a 4 yard Yao Kouame run to take the lead at 12-7 (2XP run failed) with 7:29 remaining in the first half. SL's next possession was a three and out, followed by a WF three and out, then another SL three and out. WF got the ball on their own 40 yard line with about 1:30 left in the half and managed to reach the 28 yard line but they stalled. Facing 4th and 10 they lined up to attempt a 46 yard FG, but SL jumped off sides and WF sent the offense back out on the field instead of attempting a 41 yard FG and possibly extending the lead to two scores. WF's 4th and 5 pass was incomplete and SL took over, moving the ball to near midfield, but with seconds left in the half a long pass to near the goal line fell incomplete as time expired in the half.
WF received the second half KO and went three and out to give SL the ball on the SL 46 yard line. On this possession WF's Anderson intercepted SL's Daum at the SL 35 yard line and WF had a great chance to extend the lead, which they did. Facing a 4th and 2 at the SL 27 the run just barely got a first down, then WF moved into the red zone and eventually scored on a 4 yard Yao Kouame run to extend the lead to 19-7 (Mattfeld XP) with 7:04 remaining in the third quarter. SL then put together a 65 yard scoring drive and Giordano scored from 6 yards out to pull SL to within 19-14 (Benyo XP) 5:49 to play in the third quarter. After WF punted on their next possession, SL scored again when they executed a 56 yard drive with Giordano's third TD of the game, this one an 8 yard run with 1:40 left in the third to put SL in front 20-19 (2XP pass failed). Both drives were highlighted by Daum runs on options and several long passes down the middle to keep SL drives alive. The fourth quarter saw little offensive progress for either team, as each team punted three times before WF had one last chance to score with 2:32 left, but with a long 89 yards to go. Unable to move the ball, WF faced a 4th and 9 at the WF 30 yard line but the pass was incomplete. SL then ran out the clock to secure the win.
SL took the opening KO on their 26 yard line and wasted no time when SL's Giordano went 74 yards around the left side on the first play to get SL the early lead, 7-0 (Benyo XP) at the 11:31 mark. WF then got great starting position at the SL 37 yard line after WF's Anderson returned the KO 48 yards. Moving the ball deep into SL territory and reaching the SL one yard line, a high snap over the head of WF's Jenks on third down was recovered by SL's McArthur on the SL 25 yard line. SL did not move the ball and punted after three plays, giving WF the ball near midfield. WF did not waste this opportunity and scored when WF's Gubaton ran it in from 6 yards out and WF cut the lead to 7-6 (XP snap was bad and the attempt failed) at the 2:21 mark of the first quarter. SL's next drive started at their own 24 yard line but ended when SL's Daum fumbled at midfield and WF's Anderson recovered at the SL 41 yard line. WF went on to score on a 4 yard Yao Kouame run to take the lead at 12-7 (2XP run failed) with 7:29 remaining in the first half. SL's next possession was a three and out, followed by a WF three and out, then another SL three and out. WF got the ball on their own 40 yard line with about 1:30 left in the half and managed to reach the 28 yard line but they stalled. Facing 4th and 10 they lined up to attempt a 46 yard FG, but SL jumped off sides and WF sent the offense back out on the field instead of attempting a 41 yard FG and possibly extending the lead to two scores. WF's 4th and 5 pass was incomplete and SL took over, moving the ball to near midfield, but with seconds left in the half a long pass to near the goal line fell incomplete as time expired in the half.
WF received the second half KO and went three and out to give SL the ball on the SL 46 yard line. On this possession WF's Anderson intercepted SL's Daum at the SL 35 yard line and WF had a great chance to extend the lead, which they did. Facing a 4th and 2 at the SL 27 the run just barely got a first down, then WF moved into the red zone and eventually scored on a 4 yard Yao Kouame run to extend the lead to 19-7 (Mattfeld XP) with 7:04 remaining in the third quarter. SL then put together a 65 yard scoring drive and Giordano scored from 6 yards out to pull SL to within 19-14 (Benyo XP) 5:49 to play in the third quarter. After WF punted on their next possession, SL scored again when they executed a 56 yard drive with Giordano's third TD of the game, this one an 8 yard run with 1:40 left in the third to put SL in front 20-19 (2XP pass failed). Both drives were highlighted by Daum runs on options and several long passes down the middle to keep SL drives alive. The fourth quarter saw little offensive progress for either team, as each team punted three times before WF had one last chance to score with 2:32 left, but with a long 89 yards to go. Unable to move the ball, WF faced a 4th and 9 at the WF 30 yard line but the pass was incomplete. SL then ran out the clock to secure the win.