Westfield senior running back Dakotah Moynihan (20) stiff arms a Chicopee Comp defensive player during Friday night’s high school football game in Chicopee. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
CHICOPEE – It appears that the Westfield High School football team was, in fact, not looking ahead to next Friday night’s showdown with unbeaten Central in the City of Springfield.
Westfield senior running back Dakotah Moynihan rushed for four touchdowns and the Bombers took care of business by mowing down the Chicopee Comprehensive Colts 41-15 Friday night.
The Bombers, who have now outscored their opponents 148-35 over the last three weeks, stayed unbeaten, moving to 5-0.
Westfield led from beginning to end.
Chicopee opened the game with a long time-consuming drive, driving the length of the field deep into Westfield territory before Bombers’ Riley Coughlin stepped in front of a junior quarterback Nathaniel LePage pass for an interception.
Following the turnover which occurred just inside the 40-yard line, Westfield drove some 30 yards before senior running back Dakotah Moynihan scampered 27 yards for a touchdown with 4:47 remaining on the first quarter clock.
Westfield’s defense came up with another big stop on Chicopee Comp’s second possession. The Colts appeared to have a first down in sight on a fourth down fake punt near midfield, but Westfield’s Adam Boggs came out of nowhere for a key tackle just short of the first down marker.
Westfield took advantage of the defensive play. With 1:38 left in the quarter, Baley Collier scored on a 10-yard run on an end-around.
Collier followed that up with a huge defensive play on Comp’s next drive, with about seven seconds left in the quarter, intercepting the ball.
Westfield, like it has done in nearly every game over the past few weeks, turned the turnover into points. The Bombers scored on senior quarterback Mike Nihill’s 28-yard run up the middle.
Chicopee Comp finally got on the board with 9:10 left in the half on a 25-yard touchdown run from junior running back Isaias Gomez to pull the Colts within 21-7.
On the very next play, following the kickoff, Moynihan struck again. The senior back juked out the first wave of defensive players just beyond the line of scrimmage and blew past the secondary en route to a 65-yard touchdown.
Moynihan scored again early in the second half.
On Westfield’s first possession of the second half, the senior running back punched it in from 24 yards out, evading the defense on a fantastic run to the end zone. The score came with 7:45 left in the quarter.
Late in the quarter, Chicopee Comp struck on a long touchdown pass from LePage to junior wide receiver Anthony Folta.
The celebration was short-lived though for Comp as Westfield drove down the field on the next possession. The drive culminated with Moynihan’s fourth TD run of the game, a 2-yarder to make it 41-15.
Westfield freshman kicker Ian Dixon enjoyed another productive outing, converting 5-of-6 extra point attempts.
Next up for the Bombers: 4-1 Central next Friday at Berte Field at 5 p.m. The Golden Eagles, whose only loss came in Week one against Lincoln-Sudbury, has reeled off four straight wins, including consecutive 50-plus point routs of West Springfield, Chicopee Comp, and Holyoke.
FIELD HOCKEY
Martin scores four for postseason berth
Southwick 4, Franklin Tech 0
Emily Martin had a hand in all four goals, scoring twice and assisting twice to help Southwick punch a ticket to the Division 2 postseason. Emma Barnard also had two goals.
Alyssa Pompi and Avey Glynn each had one assist.
Southwick goalie Clare Stratton (4 saves) earned the shutout.
BOYS SOCCER
Saints storm past McCann
St. Mary’s 4, McCann Tech 3
St. Mary’s rallied from a 3-0 deficit, scoring four unanswered goals – all in the second half – to stun McCann Tech.
Aaron Blanchard and Jack Lamirande fueled the offensive surge with two goals apiece; Hayden Lussier played well in goal (15 saves); and, Aidan Burke, Jack Masciadrelli, Mark Nelson, Mike Pepe, and Brady Collins delivered a solid defensive effort in the Saints’ thrilling comeback.
Blanchard also finished with two assists. St. Mary’s Aidan Burke and Joe Lucardi each had one.
Hagan nets goal
Ludlow 4, Westfield 1
Jimmy Hagan scored the lone goal for Westfield.
Despite the loss, Bombers coach Andrew Joseph was still upbeat about his team’s performance.
“We were really happy with how the boys played today,” coach Joseph said. “We looked way more coherent going forward in attack than we have so far this year. Against a good team, it was really good to see that.”
Westfield fell to 3-7 overall.
“We feel like even though we are 3-7,” Joseph said, “we really feel like things are starting to come together for us. Hopefully we can sneak up on some teams when they see our record and catch them snoozing.”
Mike Lurgio finished with seven saves. R.J. Piper also had an excellent game at center-back as well as Brendan Laforest and Jack Fournier in the midfield.
‘Cats nip Gators
Sci-Tech 1, Gateway 0
Sci-Tech scored in the 59th minute to escape with the win.
Jon Foley (3 saves) and Preston Coffey (4 saves) combined for a nice effort in goal for Gateway (3-5-1). Gators’ Joel Sekaske, Jake Thayer, Matt Morin, and Tom Hyjek delivered outstanding play as well.
GOLF
Hogan, Bombers soar
Westfield 165, Mohawk 223
Westfield improved to 9-2 with another strong outing from Jack Hogan, who shot a 38, to lead the pack at Tekoa Country Club. Bombers’ David Tirrell shot a 39.
Tigers roar past Pioneers
Westfield Tech 21, Pathfinder 3
Westfield Tech pulled off a huge win on the road at Cold Spring Country Club.
Tanner Levasseur was the low Tiger, sweeping his match 4-0. Riley Sullivan and Tyler Levasseur each posted four points as well.
Dave Romani, Nick Moran, and Jake Collier earned three points apiece for Westfield Tech, which improved to 4-6.
“We started strong early and never let up,” Westfield Tech coach Bob Eak said. “Our first three players – Dave, Nick, and Jake – each won close matches with incredible short game play.
Collier chipped in from the fringe on the ninth hole to win his match by one stroke.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
‘Cats scratch Rams
Sci Tech def. Southwick 25-20, 25-14, 25-18
Allie Methe (7 digs, 1 ace, 2 kills), Jen Motsko (5 digs, 2 aces, 2 kills), Kayla Andrade (2 digs, 1 kill, 3 assists), and Sarah Cerone (1 dig, 1 assist, 2 blocks) led Southwick.
LATE RESULTS – Thurs., Oct. 4
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Longmeadow 15, Westfield 50
Junior Maggie Philpott finished just outside the overall 10, placing 11th and pacing the Bombers with a 25-minute, 4-second run.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Longmeadow 18, Westfield 45
Westfield junior Kaleb Cree claimed a third-place finish with a time of 17:59.
