For the third game in a row an opponent used late game heroics to come from behind, but this time the Westfield defense - led by Lartey's outstanding game with three INTs (one a pick six) and a sack on a 2XP - made a game saving stop to give Westfield a big win over Madison, 17-16.
MAD opened the game with a short drive that ended in a punt, followed by a WF punt. MAD then started their next drive on their own 45 yard line and went 55 yards, highlighted by a 34 yard run by Smoot to the WF 18 yard line. After a penalty pushed MAD back to near the 30 yard line, a Rowan to Voinis 23 yard pass put MAD on the WF six yard line. Weiler then ran it in from there and MAD led, 7-0 (Marshall XP) at the 11:56 mark of the second quarter. WF's next possession also ended in a punt and MAD took over on their own 20 yard line. A bad snap and heavy WF pressure led to WF's Lartey getting a hand on the ball and the ball popped up into the air and settled into his hands before being returned eight yards for a pick six. The score was now tied 7-7 (Batchala XP) with 7:14 to play in the first half. MAD's next possession started on their own 23 yard line but ended in a very short punt to give WF great field position at the MAD 28 yard line. Carlson then hit Lee for a 16 yard pass to the MAD seven yard line, followed by a 7 yard pass to Lee and WF led, 14-7 (Batchala XP) with 2:12 remaining in the half. The score remained 14-7 at the half.
WF started the second half with the ball on their own 33 yard line. Reaching the MAD 27 yard line they faced a 4th and two but WF's Cardenas caught a five yard pass from Carlson at the MAD 22 to keep the drive alive. WF could not get another first down so they settled for a 34 yard Batchala FG to extend the lead to 17-7 with 5:39 to go in the third quarter. MAD's next possession ended when WF's Lartey intercepted another tipped Rowan pass at the WF 23 yard line and returned it to the WF 36 yard line. WF marched down the field before WF's Carlson was intercepted by MAD's Ricciardiello at the MAD 17 yard line and Ricciardiello returned the ball to the MAD 30 yard line. After only gaining seven yards MAD faced a 4th and 3 at the MAD 37 yard line. Trailing by two scores MAD went for it and Rowan found Smoot who made a diving catch for a 35 yard pass play to get MAD to the WF 28 yard line. After losing a few yards, Rowan and Smoot repeated their passing performance with a similar catch at the WF five yard line. MAD then ran into trouble. The next three plays were a five yard penalty, incomplete pass, and a sack at the WF 22 yard line, so MAD elected to try a FG by Marshall from 37 yards out that was successful. MAD had pulled to within 17-10 with 5:18 remaining in the game. MAD's squibbed KO managed to bounce all the way to inside the WF's 10 yard line where Lee ran back to field the ball and tried to make something out of the play by returning it to the WF 22 yard line. However, a penalty pushed WF back to a starting position on their own 8 yard line. WF's offense then had their opportunity to make mistakes just as MAD had on their previous possession. A penalty, two short runs that gained a total of five yards, followed by another penalty and a run for a one yard loss meant WF had to punt from their own two yard line. The short punt did not help WF and MAD took over on the WF 29 yard line with about four minutes to play. MAD took advantage and this time it was a Rowan to Smoot 10 yard pass hat pulled MAD within 17-16 with 2:26 remaining in the game. MAD elected to try a 2XP and lined up. However, the snap caught Rowan looking away and he fumbled the ball, resulting in a sack by (who else? WF's Lartey) and the score remained 17-16, Westfield. WF recovered the onside kick but failed to get a first down and they punted from the MAD 41 yard line to give MAD one last chance. However, WF's Lartey got his third INT of the game at the MAD 25 yard line and WF went into victory formation.
MAD opened the game with a short drive that ended in a punt, followed by a WF punt. MAD then started their next drive on their own 45 yard line and went 55 yards, highlighted by a 34 yard run by Smoot to the WF 18 yard line. After a penalty pushed MAD back to near the 30 yard line, a Rowan to Voinis 23 yard pass put MAD on the WF six yard line. Weiler then ran it in from there and MAD led, 7-0 (Marshall XP) at the 11:56 mark of the second quarter. WF's next possession also ended in a punt and MAD took over on their own 20 yard line. A bad snap and heavy WF pressure led to WF's Lartey getting a hand on the ball and the ball popped up into the air and settled into his hands before being returned eight yards for a pick six. The score was now tied 7-7 (Batchala XP) with 7:14 to play in the first half. MAD's next possession started on their own 23 yard line but ended in a very short punt to give WF great field position at the MAD 28 yard line. Carlson then hit Lee for a 16 yard pass to the MAD seven yard line, followed by a 7 yard pass to Lee and WF led, 14-7 (Batchala XP) with 2:12 remaining in the half. The score remained 14-7 at the half.
WF started the second half with the ball on their own 33 yard line. Reaching the MAD 27 yard line they faced a 4th and two but WF's Cardenas caught a five yard pass from Carlson at the MAD 22 to keep the drive alive. WF could not get another first down so they settled for a 34 yard Batchala FG to extend the lead to 17-7 with 5:39 to go in the third quarter. MAD's next possession ended when WF's Lartey intercepted another tipped Rowan pass at the WF 23 yard line and returned it to the WF 36 yard line. WF marched down the field before WF's Carlson was intercepted by MAD's Ricciardiello at the MAD 17 yard line and Ricciardiello returned the ball to the MAD 30 yard line. After only gaining seven yards MAD faced a 4th and 3 at the MAD 37 yard line. Trailing by two scores MAD went for it and Rowan found Smoot who made a diving catch for a 35 yard pass play to get MAD to the WF 28 yard line. After losing a few yards, Rowan and Smoot repeated their passing performance with a similar catch at the WF five yard line. MAD then ran into trouble. The next three plays were a five yard penalty, incomplete pass, and a sack at the WF 22 yard line, so MAD elected to try a FG by Marshall from 37 yards out that was successful. MAD had pulled to within 17-10 with 5:18 remaining in the game. MAD's squibbed KO managed to bounce all the way to inside the WF's 10 yard line where Lee ran back to field the ball and tried to make something out of the play by returning it to the WF 22 yard line. However, a penalty pushed WF back to a starting position on their own 8 yard line. WF's offense then had their opportunity to make mistakes just as MAD had on their previous possession. A penalty, two short runs that gained a total of five yards, followed by another penalty and a run for a one yard loss meant WF had to punt from their own two yard line. The short punt did not help WF and MAD took over on the WF 29 yard line with about four minutes to play. MAD took advantage and this time it was a Rowan to Smoot 10 yard pass hat pulled MAD within 17-16 with 2:26 remaining in the game. MAD elected to try a 2XP and lined up. However, the snap caught Rowan looking away and he fumbled the ball, resulting in a sack by (who else? WF's Lartey) and the score remained 17-16, Westfield. WF recovered the onside kick but failed to get a first down and they punted from the MAD 41 yard line to give MAD one last chance. However, WF's Lartey got his third INT of the game at the MAD 25 yard line and WF went into victory formation.
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