The Westfield defense was excellent today, shutting down a potent South Lakes offense except for a few plays, and the offense did more than enough to wear down the SL defense and control the game in the second half to give WF a 27-7 win in the Class 6 Region D final.
Westfield received the ball to start the game and went three and out, giving SL the ball on the SL 30 yard line. SL also went three and out, but a 55 yard punt return by WF's Hinton saw the drive start on the SL 30 yard line. On the next play Kim hit Woodley with a 30 yard TD pass and WF was quickly out in front, 7-0 (Hildrup XP) with 8:09 remaining in the first quarter. SL would start their next possession on their own 37 yard line but again went three and out. This time, WF's Morin had a good punt return, going 24 yards to the WF 49 yard line. After a 24 yard Kim to Morin pass to reach the SL 28 yard line, WF stalled and faced a 4th and 13 at the SL 31 yard line. The pass attempt fell incomplete; SL took over on their own 31 yard line but again failed to move the ball and after losing yards was forced to punt from their own 20 yard line. Given good field position at the WF 45 yard line, WF could not move the ball either and punted back to SL at the SL 20 yard line. SL went three and punt again, but this time WF's Morin broke through and partially blocked the kick. The kick went only to the SL 37 yard line where WF's Shadku fielded it and returned it to the SL 16 yard line. A few plays later Kim hit Kiley on a 10 yard passing TD and WF extended their lead to 14-0 (Hildrup XP) with 10:26 left in the second quarter. SL, starting their next drive on their own 32, punted for the fifth time in the game, giving WF the ball on the WF 32 yard line. WF reached their own 47 but stalled, and lined up with Kim to punt the ball. Kim rolled out trying to make a play but the SL defense was prepared and sacked him for a 15 yard loss. SL, with a short field, this time reached the end zone when Miles hit Dagbe for a 10 yard TD pass and SL cut the lead to 14-7 (Madden XP) with 5:14 to play in the half. WF started their next drive on their own 32 yard line and reached near midfield where they faced a third and inches. Instead of running the ball, they threw a lateral that was incomplete and SL's Dagbe recovered the fumble at the WF 38 to give them a great opportunity to tie the game with the end of the half drawing near. However, the WF defense stiffened and SL was forced to punt. WF then went three and out, followed by a SL drive that ended the half. The teams went into the locker rooms with WF leading 14-7.
The first half was dominated by the passing game for both teams, but in the second half WF went to the ground game and started to wear down SL. SL received the ball to start the second half and was pinned deep at their own 9 yard line. After moving to their own 34 yard line, SL's Alston fumbled and WF's Beach recovered to give WF good field position. This time, WF took advantage and scored on a 11 yard Kim to Woodley pass to push the lead to 21-7 (Hildrup XP) with 4:55 to play in the third quarter. SL would take the kickoff and start their next drive on their own 38 yard line, but after three plays faced a 4th and 2 at their own 46 yard line. WF jumped offside and SL had a new set of downs. SL took advantage and marched into the WF red zone where they stalled and found themselves in another 4th down situation, this time 4th and 3 at the WF 13 yard line. Trailing 21-7 and nearing the 4th quarter, this play was probably going contribute much to the game's outcome. WF's defense then stuffed the 4th down run attempt for no gain, and WF took over on their own 13 yard line, preserving the 21-7 lead. After several plays WF's Asante ripped off a 74 yard run to reach the SL 5 yard line. WF's Kim then ran it in from the 5 yard line and WF was up 27-7 (Hildrup XP missed wide right) with 9:55 to play in the game. After each team had two unproductive series, with WF sticking to the ground game to run the clock, WF came away with the 27-7 victory. WF will now play the winner of the CD Hylton-Woodbridge game in a state semifinal next Saturday at Westfield.
Westfield received the ball to start the game and went three and out, giving SL the ball on the SL 30 yard line. SL also went three and out, but a 55 yard punt return by WF's Hinton saw the drive start on the SL 30 yard line. On the next play Kim hit Woodley with a 30 yard TD pass and WF was quickly out in front, 7-0 (Hildrup XP) with 8:09 remaining in the first quarter. SL would start their next possession on their own 37 yard line but again went three and out. This time, WF's Morin had a good punt return, going 24 yards to the WF 49 yard line. After a 24 yard Kim to Morin pass to reach the SL 28 yard line, WF stalled and faced a 4th and 13 at the SL 31 yard line. The pass attempt fell incomplete; SL took over on their own 31 yard line but again failed to move the ball and after losing yards was forced to punt from their own 20 yard line. Given good field position at the WF 45 yard line, WF could not move the ball either and punted back to SL at the SL 20 yard line. SL went three and punt again, but this time WF's Morin broke through and partially blocked the kick. The kick went only to the SL 37 yard line where WF's Shadku fielded it and returned it to the SL 16 yard line. A few plays later Kim hit Kiley on a 10 yard passing TD and WF extended their lead to 14-0 (Hildrup XP) with 10:26 left in the second quarter. SL, starting their next drive on their own 32, punted for the fifth time in the game, giving WF the ball on the WF 32 yard line. WF reached their own 47 but stalled, and lined up with Kim to punt the ball. Kim rolled out trying to make a play but the SL defense was prepared and sacked him for a 15 yard loss. SL, with a short field, this time reached the end zone when Miles hit Dagbe for a 10 yard TD pass and SL cut the lead to 14-7 (Madden XP) with 5:14 to play in the half. WF started their next drive on their own 32 yard line and reached near midfield where they faced a third and inches. Instead of running the ball, they threw a lateral that was incomplete and SL's Dagbe recovered the fumble at the WF 38 to give them a great opportunity to tie the game with the end of the half drawing near. However, the WF defense stiffened and SL was forced to punt. WF then went three and out, followed by a SL drive that ended the half. The teams went into the locker rooms with WF leading 14-7.
The first half was dominated by the passing game for both teams, but in the second half WF went to the ground game and started to wear down SL. SL received the ball to start the second half and was pinned deep at their own 9 yard line. After moving to their own 34 yard line, SL's Alston fumbled and WF's Beach recovered to give WF good field position. This time, WF took advantage and scored on a 11 yard Kim to Woodley pass to push the lead to 21-7 (Hildrup XP) with 4:55 to play in the third quarter. SL would take the kickoff and start their next drive on their own 38 yard line, but after three plays faced a 4th and 2 at their own 46 yard line. WF jumped offside and SL had a new set of downs. SL took advantage and marched into the WF red zone where they stalled and found themselves in another 4th down situation, this time 4th and 3 at the WF 13 yard line. Trailing 21-7 and nearing the 4th quarter, this play was probably going contribute much to the game's outcome. WF's defense then stuffed the 4th down run attempt for no gain, and WF took over on their own 13 yard line, preserving the 21-7 lead. After several plays WF's Asante ripped off a 74 yard run to reach the SL 5 yard line. WF's Kim then ran it in from the 5 yard line and WF was up 27-7 (Hildrup XP missed wide right) with 9:55 to play in the game. After each team had two unproductive series, with WF sticking to the ground game to run the clock, WF came away with the 27-7 victory. WF will now play the winner of the CD Hylton-Woodbridge game in a state semifinal next Saturday at Westfield.
