WESTFIELD – Two months ago, the season outlook for the Westfield High School football team was a big question mark. On Senior Night Saturday, the Bombers closed out their regular season with an exclamation point.
Westfield senior quarterback Austin St. Pierre scored five touchdowns – three by land (rushing) and two by air (passing) – as the Bombers shredded the East Longmeadow Spartans 51-35 Saturday night at Westfield State University. Senior running back Wilton Royal ran for two scores.
Once again, Westfield came out with its high octane, no huddle attack.
Westfield senior quarterback Austin St. Pierre dances past the grasp of a fallen East Longmeadow defensive player Saturday night at Westfield State University. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
“We wanted to come out here on our offense and pretty much catch the momentum,” St. Pierre said. “I wouldn’t say we were a step behind last week, but we definitely weren’t where we wanted to be at going into playoffs so coming into this game and getting flowing on all cylinders was a really big step for us.”
Westfield forced East Longmeadow into a 3-and-out to open the game. The Bombers then put together a six-play, 90-yard drive that ate up just over two minutes, and culminated in a 22-yard touchdown run from Royal. The key play on the drive featured a 47-yard scramble from St. Pierre. St. Pierre also added a 2-point run.
On East Longmeadow’s first play from scrimmage on the ensuing possession, Westfield defensive back Bailey Collier intercepted the ball at his team’s own 40-yard line.
Royal ripped off a 54-yard run on second-and-9 from his own 45-yard line, putting the ball at the East Longmeadow 1. The Bombers then made it a two-score game when Royal plunged into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game with 5:40 remaining in the quarter. A two-point run from St. Pierre made it 16-0.
East Longmeadow briefly pushed back.
Facing a 16-point deficit, East Longmeadow rallied with a long, time-consuming drive that chewed up 71 yards and nearly a half-quarter of game clock. The Spartans scored their first touchdown of the game on a five-yard pass from quarterback Cameron Ottoson with 8:25 left in the half.
Westfield defensive back Bailey Collier makes a leaping interception against East Longmeadow in the first quarter of Saturday’s high school football game at WSU stadium field. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Westfield quickly reclaimed a sizeable lead less than a minute later, this time going up by 17 points with a 14-yard TD run and two-point conversion from St. Pierre.
St. Pierre also scored on TD runs of 19 and five yards in the final 1:42 of the half, and the rout was on. The senior quarterback added third quarter scores of 53 yards (run), and nine yards (pass) to offensive tackle Chris Ward.
East Longmeadow returned a meaningless interception 89 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Elijah Johnson scored on a short TD run, and Zachary Martin had a huge gallop in the waning seconds.
“This group really worked really hard all year,” said Westfield coach Robert Parent. “The start in the offseason – they put the work in.”
Westfield went from winless in conference play the last two years. This season, the Bombers finished undefeated in the conference and 7-1 in league.
“You couldn’t be any prouder the way this team responded to adversity, to how they responded to the year and with a tough schedule to start,” he added. “I’m just really happy, really proud of the guys.”
With Westfield’s only loss having come against the likely top seed, Central, expectations for the postseason are higher than they have been in recent memory.
“I think we’re dangerous,” Parent said. “I think offensively we do a lot of things that can keep teams honest. We have a really good rushing threat with Wilton and Austin, and then our receivers – Zach Adam coming on late; Bailey Collier obviously leads our conference in touchdown receptions; Cam Garfield goes underrated, he doesn’t get a lot of love, but when that kid’s open, man, he makes plays happen; and, then defensively, we get after it … I think we can do some good things in the playoffs.”
The Division 2 playoff field was announced Sunday.
As expected, Westfield drew the third seed and will take on second-seeded Central Friday at Berte Field in Springfield at 7 p.m. The Golden Eagles handed the Bombers their only loss of the 2016 regular season.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Greylock rallies past WHS
Mount Greylock 3, Westfield 2
Mount Greylock rallied for three second-half goals at Bullens Field.
Rams net tie
Southwick 1, Sabis 1
Autumn Wait scored the lone Southwick goal on a pass from Zelda Madera. Rams’ goalie Tori Richburg made eight saves.
Fri., Oct. 28
BOYS’ SOCCER
Tigers’ terrific triumph
Westfield Technical Academy 3, Ware 0
Seniors Kevin Joceyln, A.J. Darji, and Jaisen Gomez all started at the forward positions on Senior Night, and helped paved the way for a shutout at Bullens Field. Bombers’ Yeremy Kovylyak, Ruvim Suprunchuk, and Frank Florek each scored a quality goal. Brad Nelson, Kirill Ohkrimenko, and Phillip Lisyanyy assisted.
“We had a tremendous regular season with a lot of success,” Westfield Tech coach Kyle Dulude said. “So many first and so much love for each other. There is so much anticipated excitement to play in the postseason.”
Although Westfield Tech has become a postseason bandit of late, stealing the glory from the opposition under the guidance of Dulude, this tournament figures to be a bit more adventurous.
“Our inexperience for this group in postseason play may become beneficial or may become haunting for some,” Dulude said. “Either way I think the true character of this team is togetherness and they will learn something as a group one way or the other … No matter what the postseason brings, these guys had a great year and we look at our next few games as bonus games to have fun!”
FIELD HOCKEY
Cassidhe, Turners top STRHS
Turners Falls 3, Southwick 1
Cassidhe had a hand in all three goals, scoring twice and assisting once, to down Southwick. Marissa Longhi scored for the Rams (8-8).
