WESTFIELD – What a difference a week makes.
One week after getting shellacked in Springfield by the Central Golden Eagles, Westfield returned to the scene of the crime to avenge their only loss of the season.
Westfield exploded for three touchdowns over the final 7:29 of the first half, senior running back Wilton Royal went on to score three times on the ground, and the Bombers victimized the Commerce Red Raiders 34-6 Friday night at Berte Field.
The rain did not dampen Westfield’s spirits one drip.
Westfield senior running back Wilton Royal rushes for the second of of his three touchdowns scored against Commerce Friday night at Berte Field in Springfield. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
“Obviously last week was a real tough one losing to Central,” Westfield senior quarterback Austin St. Pierre said. “The last thing we wanted to do was to come here but we knew we were bouncing back this week.”
With a bit more bounce in their step, Westfield came out firing on its opening series, driving the ball 66 yards in four plays. The drive lasted just one minute, 43 seconds and culminated in a touchdown pass from St. Pierre to sophomore wide out Bailey Collier.
Collier hauled in the pass in stride over the middle of the field and raced to the end zone untouched, scoring with 10:07 remaining in the first quarter. The two-point try failed.
Westfield’s second series resulted in a loss of 15 yards, pushing them all the way back to their own 1-yard line. A short punt allowed Commerce to take over at the Bombers’ 25-yard line.
Westfield’s defense took over from there. The Bombers allowed just three yards to Commerce, stopping the Red Raiders cold in the end zone.
Commerce knotted the game up at 6-all eight seconds into the second quarter when senior quarterback Justin Jean-Charles connected with Semaj Hunter for a 27-yard touchdown strike. The Red Raiders benefitted from a short field, starting their second straight drive in Bombers’ territory – this time at the 43 – and needing just four plays to get into the end zone.
Westfield responded.
Three series later, Royal took the handoff on the first play from the line of scrimmage, zigzagged through the holes in the defense and raced 49 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 7:20 left in the half. After the Bombers converted a two-point pass, they led 14-6.
Westfield tacked on two key scores just before the half. The Bombers marched 57 yards in 11 plays, chewing up all but the final 65 seconds of the second quarter, and scoring on a 1-yard TD plunge from Royal.
It took just 13 seconds for Westfield to tally another. The Bombers recovered an onside kick near midfield, and then struck on the next play, scoring on a 46-yard touchdown throw from St. Pierre to Zach Adam with 47 ticks on the clock.
“We just had to execute and do our jobs, play football and that’s what we did,” Royal said.
Both offenses stalled out for much of the second half.
Central had a golden opportunity go awry early in the fourth quarter. The Golden Eagles started a drive at the Westfield 35 late in the third quarter, advanced the ball to the Bombers’ 11 but stalled.
On the next series, Westfield drove 89 yards and scored on a 31-yard touchdown run from Royal, his third of the game. The key play on the drive was a borderline pass interference call that extended the drive.
“I’m glad the way our guys responded to this game, bouncing back coming on the same field we just had a difficult loss,” Westfield coach Rob Parent said “Executed the game play really well tonight – got some holes for Wilton, Austin threw the ball pretty well in some tough conditions. All in all, I’m pretty pleased with how we played tonight.”
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Pioneers shut out Tigers
Pathfinder 3, Westfield Technical Academy 0
Diana Solokhina and Emily White combined for 11 saves in net for Westfield Tech.
Falcons swoop past Bombers
Minnechaug 5, Westfield 0
Minnechaug scored all five goals in the second half to defeat visiting Westfield. Bombers’ goalie Lindsay Cousins finished with nine saves.
Hornets top Saints
McCann Tech 8, St. Mary 1
Aimee Dowling, Deina Canales, and Jordan Budaj scored two goals apiece to propel McCann at home.
Allie Goodreau scored the lone goal for St. Mary. Saints’ goalie Aisling Butler had nine saves.
Rams rally past Cards
Southwick 4, Pope Francis 2
Southwick rallied for three second-half goals to win on the road at Rivers Park. Rams’ goalie Tori Richburg made four saves.
Gators shut out HCSS
Gateway 7, Hampden Charter School of Science 0
Jessica Van Heynigen and Samantha Belardo scored two goals apiece, and Hannah Coffey, Kendyll Wig, and Julianna Dickinson each tallied one for Gateawy. Van Heynigen had two saves, and Becca Hyjek and Erin Harris had one apiece.
Gateway goalie Becca Herman (1 save) earned a shutout.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Purple Knights shut out Rams
Holyoke def. Southwick 25-9, 26-24, 25-22
Emily Lachtara (15 digs, 6 aces, 1 kill), Allie Methe (12 digs, 2 kills), Caroline Methe (15 digs, 3 aces, 4 assists), and Bella Deluca (7 digs) played well for Southwick.
Mounties blank Bombers
Mount Greylock def. Westfield 25-7, 25-20, 25-19
McKenzie Chaban (3 aces, 8 kills, 8 digs), Carey Marshall (20 assists), and Stephanie Sgueglia (15 digs) delivered for Westfield.
JV GIRLS’ SOCCER
Southwick 5, Pope Francis 1
Freshman Maura Wurster scored two goals, and sophomore Camryn Hughes, freshman Abby Hoschourr, and Lauren Sussmann had one apiece to lead Southwick (4-3-1).
Sussmann and Hughes each had an assist.
Southwick keepers Isabella Poules and Wurster combined for six saves.
