Westfield freshman quarterback Erik Washburn completed 13 of 18 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard scoring strike on the Owls’ first play from scrimmage. (Photo by Richard Orr Photography)
CASTINE, Maine – Westfield State scored on six of its seven first half possessions en route to a 63-13 win over Maine Maritime ib New England Football Conference Bogan Division action at Ritchie Field on Saturday, Oct. 6. The win, Westfield’s first in seven tries against Maine Maritime, lifted the Owls to 2-4 (1-2 Bogan), while the Mariners fell to 0-5, 0-3.
Westfield set the tone on its first play from scrimmage when freshman quarterback Erik Washburn (Lisbon, Conn.), found Kane Terilli (Cranston, R.I.) beyond the Mariners secondary for a 75-yard touchdown. Washburn completed 13 of 18 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon. Terilli caught four passes for 106 yards, while Kevin Parnell (Berlin, Conn.) and Kevin Nicol (Wolcott, Conn.) each caught three passes, including a touchdown for each.
After Terilli’s opening touchdown, Westfield’s offense became the Michael Mercadante (Wilbraham, Mass.) show. The Owl’s sophomore runningback found paydirt on each of the next three Westfield possessions, scoring from 10, 15, and six yards out. Mercadante pounded out 154 yards on 18 touches in the game, averaging 8.6 yards per carry.
Andrew Buanno (Enfield, Conn.) picked up 48 rushing yards on 11 carries and found the end zone twice. The Owls rushed for a total of 264 yards on the day. Westfield State’s defense also got in on the scoring. Billy Greene (Easton, Mass.) scooped a fumble from the turf and rumbled 56 yards to paydirt.
Westfield’s 63 points represents a new program record, supplanting the old mark of 54 points scored against Massachusetts Maritime back in 2002.
Billy Wetherbee (Veazie, Maine) led the Mariners rushing attack with 55 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while freshman signal caller Michael Fahey (Union, Conn.), picked up 52 yards on 16 touches. Fahey shared time at quarterback with classmate Michael Cummings (Bucksport, Maine). Cummings rushed for 50 yards and a score. The Mariners rushed for 234 yards in the game.
Justin Ehrhardt (Stoneham, Mass.) spearheaded Westfield’s defensive effort with 11 tackles, eight of which were solo efforts. Included in his tackles were three sacks. He forced and recovered a fumble as well. Cam Willcox (Groton, Mass.) recorded five tackles and forced the fumble that became Greene’s touchdown, while Erik Wellhoff (Natick, Mass.) intercepted a pass.
Jonathan Fader (Bangor, Maine) recorded five tackles and intercepted a pass for Maine Maritime. Joshua Hall (Sidney, Maine) recovered a fumble on a punt return that set up the Mariners’ second score late in the fourth quarter.
Westfield returns to action next Saturday at home against Coast Guard. Maine Maritime travels to Framingham State.
