HOLYOKE – There have been several miraculous plays in football such as the Hail Mary, the Immaculate Reception and the Music City Miracle.
On Friday, the Westfield High School football team fell prey to the “hook-and-ladder.”
Previously winless Holyoke completed a spectacular late game touchdown pass and two-point conversion to stun Westfield 30-29 in a turnover-plagued affair Friday night at Roberts Field.
Junior quarterback Andrew Peltier completed a short pass to senior wide out Daniel Boyle, who, in turn, lateralled the ball to junior running back Brian Swierzewski, who streamed down the left sideline for a jaw-dropping, 60-plus yard touchdown with 1:26 remaining in regulation.
Holyoke (1-5) held strong on Westfield’s final possession.
It was a strong opening start for the Bombers (1-5), who scored first when Cody Neidig galloped for a long touchdown run early in the first quarter.
Holyoke responded, scoring on a two-yard touchdown run from Swierzewski with 2:31 remaining in the quarter. The key play on the drive was a successful fake punt, converting on fourth-and-5 from midfield.
Westfield senior running back Cody Neidig attempts to stretch for additional yardage as Holyoke senior defensive back Francis Hoey drags him down from behind Friday night at Roberts Field. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Later in the half, Westfield reclaimed the lead.
Bombers’ quarterback Austin St. Pierre eluded the grasp of a defensive player and raced 22 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:07 left in the second quarter.
Neidig set up the score with a long kickoff return, giving Westfield a short field.
Holyoke tied the game up just before the half on a short TD run from Peltier.
Westfield struck first in the second half.
With less than nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, senior fullback Craig Ward scored on a tough 15-yard run. Ward eluded the headlock of a Holyoke player near the line of scrimmage with a spin before stiff-arming a Purple Knight at the 5-yard line and crossing the goal line just inside the pylon to make it a 21-14 ball game.
Holyoke claimed its first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter when Peltier completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver DeVante Wardell. The Purple Knights completed a two-point conversion when Swierzewski caught a pass from Peltier, who just missed being sacked by the Bombers.
Westfield responded. Neidig ripped off a long run to get his team into Holyoke territory. St. Pierre soon scored on a designed quarterback run up the middle from nearly 30 yards out. After Neidig’s 2-point run, the Bombers led 29-22.
That is, until, misfortune struck a few ticks later.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Saints Punch Tourney Card
St. Mary 3, Putnam 2
Kieran O’Donnell converted a penalty kick, Joey Collins scored off a pass from Joey Collins, and Zac Girard notched the game-winner on a free kick with four minutes left to send St. Mary to the tournament Friday.
Girard blasted a kick from just outside the 18-yard line into the lower left hand corner of the net.
Colin Blake made eight saves for the Saints.
Unbeaten Tigers Shut Out Franklin
BOYS’ SOCCER
Westfield Voc-Tech 10, Franklin Tech 0
Dmitry Stepanchuk tallied a hat trick, and Laxmi Basnet, Blad Lisyanyy, Roman Tikhonchuk, Mike Brut, Nick Clegg, and Vitaliy Borodin each recorded their first goals of the season for unbeaten Voc-Tech.
Tigers’ freshman Anatoliy Suprenchuk made four saves in his first full varsity game.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Rams Blank Golden Eagles
Southwick 4, Central 0
Alex Mello scored two goals, and Taylor LeClair and Liz Tenerowicz had one apiece for Southwick. Rams’ Sam Peruse and Brittany Munson each had one assist.
JV GIRLS’ SOCCER
Central 4, Southwick 0
Paige Arsenault and Makenzie Sullivan played well in the midfield for Southwick.
