Westfield began the defense of its state championship with a sound win over Lake Braddock. After both teams started off slow the first quarter ended 0-0. Each team had two unproductive possessions before LB reached the WF 8 yard line late in the first quarter, but Rawlins missed a 25 yard FG attempt. WF wasted little time after that, going 80 yards to start the second quarter and scoring when Kim hit Morin on a 35 yard pass to put WF up, 7-0 (Nugent XP) with 9:51 to go in the half. After a LB three and out, WF used a short field to go 53 yards, capped by a 9 yard Kim to Goodman pass on 4th and 4 at the LB 9 yard line. WF was now up 14-0 (Nugent XP) with 5:26 to play in the half. On LB's next possession they went 65 yards, with a blown coverage resulting in a 51 yard pass play that put LB on the WF 14 yard line. Edwards then hit James on a 7 yard TD pass to cut the lead to 14-7 (Rawlins XP). After a WF punt to pin LB deep, LB ran out the clock and the half ended 14-7, WF.
In the second half WF started with the ball and went 57 yards, with Kim hitting Morin on a 16 yard pass to extend WF's lead to 21-7 with 9:46 to play in the 3rd quarter. On LB's next possession, Morin intercepted Edwards at the WF 46 and returned the ball to the LB 45 yard line, then Kim rolled out and hit Woodley on the next play for a 45 yard passing TD to put WF up 28-7 (Nugent XP) with 7:25 to go in the 3rd quarter. LB then went three and out, but WF's McClain returned the punt 27 yards to the LB 28 yard line. After several plays Kim again hit Woodley, this time on a 6 yard passing TD to put WF ahead 35-7 (Nugent XP) with 4:06 to play in the 3rd quarter. After exchanging punts LB put together a 61 yard drive capped by a 46 yard passing TD from Edwards to James (another blown coverage) and the lead was cut to 35-14 (Rawlins XP) with 11:11 to play. After another exchange of punts, WF used a short field to score on an 8 yard Daniels run to push the lead back to 28 points, 42-14 (Nugent XP) with 6:27 remaining. WF then subbed the entire defense, but LB left in their starting offense and quickly scored when Edwards hit Weidenger on a 32 yard pass play to cap a 75 yard drive and cut the lead to 42-21 (Rawlins XP) with 4:30 remaining. WF then drove from their own 26 yard line to the LB 6 yard line behind a 63 yard run by Asante, but failed to convert a 4th and 5, coming up less than a yard short with under a minute to play. Final score was 42-21.
I thought the WF defense played quite well (other than the coverage issues), limiting LB to just one sustained, early drive (the failed FG). The 3 LB scores were the result of two blown coverages and a late game TD after the game was decided. The rest of the time LB's offense did not do that much. The WF offense, unable to do much against the LB defense in the 1st quarter, found their rhythm in the second quarter and played well overall for the first game of the season.
In the second half WF started with the ball and went 57 yards, with Kim hitting Morin on a 16 yard pass to extend WF's lead to 21-7 with 9:46 to play in the 3rd quarter. On LB's next possession, Morin intercepted Edwards at the WF 46 and returned the ball to the LB 45 yard line, then Kim rolled out and hit Woodley on the next play for a 45 yard passing TD to put WF up 28-7 (Nugent XP) with 7:25 to go in the 3rd quarter. LB then went three and out, but WF's McClain returned the punt 27 yards to the LB 28 yard line. After several plays Kim again hit Woodley, this time on a 6 yard passing TD to put WF ahead 35-7 (Nugent XP) with 4:06 to play in the 3rd quarter. After exchanging punts LB put together a 61 yard drive capped by a 46 yard passing TD from Edwards to James (another blown coverage) and the lead was cut to 35-14 (Rawlins XP) with 11:11 to play. After another exchange of punts, WF used a short field to score on an 8 yard Daniels run to push the lead back to 28 points, 42-14 (Nugent XP) with 6:27 remaining. WF then subbed the entire defense, but LB left in their starting offense and quickly scored when Edwards hit Weidenger on a 32 yard pass play to cap a 75 yard drive and cut the lead to 42-21 (Rawlins XP) with 4:30 remaining. WF then drove from their own 26 yard line to the LB 6 yard line behind a 63 yard run by Asante, but failed to convert a 4th and 5, coming up less than a yard short with under a minute to play. Final score was 42-21.
I thought the WF defense played quite well (other than the coverage issues), limiting LB to just one sustained, early drive (the failed FG). The 3 LB scores were the result of two blown coverages and a late game TD after the game was decided. The rest of the time LB's offense did not do that much. The WF offense, unable to do much against the LB defense in the 1st quarter, found their rhythm in the second quarter and played well overall for the first game of the season.
