By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
With all the changes that the Westfield football team has seen from the end of last season, there is still one thing that is the same.
The Shamrocks’ defense is very good.
Westfield used its defense to break out of a 7-7 second quarter tie with Harrison and score nine quick points. That gave the ‘Rocks momentum, and allowed them to defeat the Raiders 22-7 in the opening game of the 2017 season. This marked the first game where Westfield, last season’s Class 5A state champions, took to the field as a 6A team.
“That’s a good football team we just beat,” said Westfield coach Jake Gilbert. “I can see them winning the rest of their games and winning their sectional. I think this win will look a whole heck of a lot better later in the year when people realize how good a team they have.”
The Shamrocks got on the board first with a touchdown midway through the first quarter. Quarterback Cameron Nance zinged a pass to Matthew Meyer, who lobbed it to Kyle Pepiot, who caught the ball just shy of the end zone and jogged in to score Westfield’s first points of the year. Alex Bales kicked the extra point.
Harrison answered early in the second quarter, with its quarterback, senior Jonathan LaGuire, zooming in to score from 41 yards. The extra point kick tied the game.
After a series of three-and-outs, the Shamrocks defense took over. Westfield’s punt boxed Harrison in at its own 4-yard line, and Koby Hauser made a sack that pushed the Raiders back to the one-yard line. On the next play, Harrison tried a long pass, but Seth Tackett was there to intercept the ball, and got it back to the 6-yard line.
Seconds later, Westfield had the lead back. Nance barreled in from four yards for another Shamrocks touchdown, and Bales followed it up with a perfect kick.
The Shamrocks’ defense wasn’t done, though. Westfield pushed the Raiders back to their own goal line, and Ryan Mahoney tackled LaGuire in the end zone for a safety. That was the last score of the half, which ended with the ‘Rocks ahead 16-7.
“Our defense was amazing,” said Gilbert. “We forced three takeaways, we got a safety. We had two fourth down short yardage stops. What more could we ask? They’ve kind of struggled up to this point, so that was great to see them play so well. Feel really good about what the ‘D’ staff has done and the job that our kids did tonight.”
Bales scored all of Westfield’s second-half points, converting a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter, and a 26-yarder in the fourth quarter. Fittingly, the defense made the last play of the game, with Pepiot intercepting the Harrison ball with six seconds to go in the game.
Nance finished is inaugural quarterback performance by making 8-of-15 passes on 75 yards. Nate Froelich was the leading rusher with 78 yards, accomplished on 21 carries.
Before the game, the Shamrocks paid tribute to Mark Robinson, a long time Westfield travel coach who had passed away. Robinson spent 17 years as a travel coach – “the winningest coach in Westfield,” said Gilbert.
“I wanted our team to play well, play the right way, to honor Coach Robinson, who’s one of my best friends,” said Gilbert.
The Shamrocks will travel to Lucas Oil Stadium next Friday to play Southport.
