Westfield’s Cody Neidig, right, fends off the attack of Cathedral’s Matthew Collins during the first quarter of Thursday’s game at Bullens Field where Westfield won 48-0. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – It is often said that nothing is certain in life but death and taxes. The Westfield High School football team might have something to say about that.
Westfield completed one of its most dominating performances on Thanksgiving Day, trouncing Cathedral 48-0. One thing is still for certain – the Bombers have owned the last decade.
It was Westfield’s eighth straight win over Cathedral in the series. The Bombers, who finished the season with a three-game winning streak, have now won 12 of the last 13 against their holiday rival.
“If we would have lost to Cathedral, I would have moved out of the country,” said Westfield senior running back Cody Neidig, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with a nearly 100-yard rushing effort on Thursday.
Neidig ran for a touchdown, and caught another score.
It was an electrifying start for the Bombers.
Westfield returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown as senior Craig Ward hauled in the kick near the right sideline at the 23 yard line, eluded the grasp of Cathedral special teamers, picked up speed and raced 77 yards on a snow-covered field for a 6-0 lead.
Cathedral responded with a long, time-consuming drive that ate up 7:16 but chewed up just 32 yards. The Panthers were aided by two Westfield penalties, and a nice 37-yard pass play from junior quarterback Nathan Laprade to junior wide receiver Nathan Johnson. The Panthers drive stalled out at their own 35-yard line with penalties and ineffective play.
It did not take long for Westfield to double up its advantage.
Westfield rested on the legs of Ward and senior running back Cody Neidig. Sophomore quarterback Austin St. Pierre capped off the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Braxton Barnachez as time expired on the first quarter. The Bombers led 14-0.
It may have been the seniors’ last hurrah, but it was a junior, Christian Hoiberg, who dominated the second quarter.
Hoiberg intercepted a pass, and returned it 30 yards to the Cathedral 10-yard line. The Bombers quickly returned the favor, fumbling the ball into the end zone for a touchback.
Hoiberg made the next one stick when he picked up the ball on a botched Cathedral punt at the 10-yard line and ran it in for a touchdown with 7:56 left in the half.
Westfield tacked on another touchdown a short time later. The Bombers needed just two plays on a short field to make it a 26-0 advantage with 4:35 left in the half.
Westfield senior Austin Shrewsbury made it 28-0 when he rumbled in for the 2-point conversion.
It was an eventful game for Shrewbury, who had a 10-yard touchdown catch-and-run negated by a holding penalty, and blew up a Cathedral play with a monstrous sack midway through the second quarter.
Tyler Delgado intercepted a pass a short time later, setting up a 40-yard touchdown run from Neidig in the waning minutes of the second quarter.
Westfield took care of business in the second half.
The Bombers scored on their first possession of the third quarter. Taking over on a short field, Ward walked in nearly untouched on a 15-yard touchdown run for a 42-0 lead with 7:43 left in the third quarter.
The rout continued.
With 2:42 remaining in the third quarter, Neidig plowed ahead for a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 48-0.
“This was certainly a momentum builder,” said Westfield interim head coach Robert Parent. “Hopefully, the players will go into the offseason and use this as a building block.”
Notes: Neidig was named the offensive player of the game. Hoiberg was the named the defensive MVP … Westfield High School maintenance supervisor Rick Jablonski and his crew of workers, including several football players’ parents, were instrumental in clearing much of the field and stands after the pre-Thanksgiving Day storm dropped several inches of snow in the area, allowing the teams to clearly see the sideline, 5-yard, and end zone marks.
