Westfield’s Rashaun Rivers, left, attempts to juke an East Longmeadow player during the first quarter of Friday night’s D2 West semifinal game at Bullens Field. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield High School football team fumbled on its opening drive in Friday’s Division 2 West semifinal. After scoring on its next seven possessions, it was obvious that only the Bombers could stop themselves on this night.
Westfield senior halfback Rashaun Rivers scored five touchdowns and racked up more than 200 yards to thrust the No. 2 Bombers past third-seeded East Longmeadow, 49-26.
East Longmeadow scored the game’s first points, taking advantage of an early Westfield turnover deep in its own territory. The Spartans needed just one big throw, completing a 36-yard touchdown pass as senior running back John Bortolussi slipped past the defense and hauled in the catch streaking into the corner of the end zone with 7:08 remaining in the opening quarter.
Westfield wasted no time in scoring.
Rivers took the first play from scrimmage on the series and raced 60 yards for a touchdown with 6:48 left in the quarter.
After forcing an East Longmeadow punt, Westfield put together a 7-play, 98-yard drive, culminating with a 4-yard touchdown plunge from Ben Geschwind with 46 ticks left in the quarter.
The big plays on the drive included a 54-yard scramble from senior quarterback Jake Toomey, and a 25-yard run from Cody Neidig.
Two more East Longmeadow punts, two more Westfield scores.
Geschwind punched the ball into the end zone on a 5-yard carry with 7:47 remaining in the second quarter. Rivers crossed the goal line from 12 yards out with 3:06 left in the half.
East Longmeadow scored just before the half on a 5-yard TD run from sophomore full back Mike Maggipinto. Maggipinto also broke off a 46-yard run to help sustain the drive.
In the second half, Westfield continued to have success on the ground.
On the Bombers’ first play of the half – following a fourth down stop – Rivers struck like a bolt of lightning on a 63-yard TD run to take a 34-13 lead. A successful 2-point conversion made it 36-13.
After Westfield’s defense came up with another big stop – Sean Donofrio intercepted the ball on his team’s own 34 – the Bombers scored again. Rivers peeled off a 37-yard touchdown run for a 42-13 lead.
East Longmeadow scored on a late QB sneak, Rivers added a short TD, and Bortolussi added a score in the final seconds.
Westfield advances to play top-seeded Central next Friday, November 15 in the D2 West finals in Springfield with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
