DUDLEY – Big plays were the order of the night, as Westfield State rolled to a 44-21, season-opening win over Nichols College in a non-conference football game at Venditti Field on Friday evening.
Senior quarterback Erik Washburn threw scoring strikes of 16, 81 and 39 yards, and the Owls got a 29-yard TD run from freshman running back Travon Holder en route to the win.
After falling behind 7-0 in the opening quarter, Westfield got its first points of the season when Washburn hooked up with Colin Smith for a 16 yard scoring strike to start a spree of 34 unanswered points for the Owls.
Evan Cain celebrates the first of two touchdown catches on Friday night. (Courtesy of Westfield State University)
Just 39 seconds later, sophomore safety William Tejada picked off a pass from Nichols quarterback Bryan Hummel near the left sideline and scampered down the sideline for a touchdown and a 14-7 Owls lead.
Westfield extended its lead to 20-7 on an 81 yard pass from Washburn to sophomore transfer wide receiver Evan Cain, who was making his debut for the Owls. Washburn’s pass hit Cain near midfield and Cain ran free behind the Bison defense for the score.
The Owls added a 1-yard TD plunge from senior Ryan Sweeney before the half for a 27-7 halftime lead. Washburn had an efficient first half for the Owls, completing 10 of 11 passes for 168 yards and a pair of TD’s.
Westfield extended its lead to 34-7 on a touchdown run from Holder, who swept left and evaded a number of defenders en route to the end zone. The Owls added a 39-yard scoring strike from Washburn to Cain, and Michael Orellana kicked a late 25-yard field goal to cap the scoring.
Cain finished with seven catches for 158 yards and a pair of TD’s. Washburn was 14-20 passing for 244 yards and 3 TD’s and Bryan Waruhiu rushed for 99 yards.
Defensively, safety Joey Mespelli led the Owls with six tackles.
Westfield improves to 1-0 on the season, while Nichols falls to 0-1. Westfield State will host Western New England University Friday night at 7 p.m.
