Blue Devils Confident in Opening Game vs. Archrival Scotch Plains

With positive scrimmage performances produced against the likes of Long Branch, Somerville and Pascack Valley, it's time to see what a relatively young and inexperienced Westfield football team can do when the games begin to count.

For a change, Westfield will open against arch rival Scotch Plains and will play the Raiders at their place for the second consecutive season.

Kickoff is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.

Westfield senior captain Jesse DiMartino can't wait to line up against arch rival Scotch Plains.

"It's a great rivalry," DiMartino said after Friday's game-scrimmage at home against Pascack Valley. "All of us seniors and juniors have been playing them since we were in first and second and third grade.

"We're looking to go out and hit them hard. We've got to come out fired up."
Westfield excelled more often than not against Bergen County opponent Pascack Valley.

"From our first through our third scrimmage we're getting better," Westfield head coach Jim DeSarno said. "I thought we blocked well. Defensively, our first group did a nice job."

In contrast, Scotch Plains delivered a sub-par performance in its game-scrimmage vs. visiting Essex County foe Belleville Friday morning.

"We played much better in our previous scrimmage," Scotch Plains head coach Steve Ciccotelli said. "I don't why we didn't play well. We have to look at it as a staff because we expect more out of this group."

For those keeping track, the final scores of the two scrimmages were Belleville 13, Scotch Plains 10 and Westfield 27, Pascack Valley 19.

Westfield is sparked on offense by returning seniors Dan Kerr at quarterback and A.J. Murray at running back. Two other returning starters on defense include senior ends Nick Matthews and Garrett Pryor.

Murray and DiMartino were named team captains. DiMartino is in his first year as a two-way starter, playing right guard on offense and tackle on defense.

Westfield went 8-3 last year for its fourth consecutive winning season and third straight playoff appearance.

The Blue Devils reached the North 2, Group 4 semifinals for the second time in three years and captured the Mid-State 39 Conference's Watchung Division title. Westfield is in the conference's East A Division this year along with fellow Union County schools Union, Elizabeth, Linden and Plainfield and Somerset County teams Immaculata and Watchung Hills.

In the middle of last season, Westfield went to Scotch Plains and came away with a convincing 30-6 triumph. The Blue Devils have won three of the last four games in the series.

Matt Manns, at end, is one of five returning starters on defense for Scotch Plains. The others are senior linebacker Neville Hall, junior linebacker Anthony Letteiri, senior tackle Michael Tufaro and senior cornerback Quinton Blackwell.

Manns, Hall, Blackwell and senior outside linebacker Kyle Berwick were named team captains. Taking over at quarterback is junior Steven Alleman.

Scotch Plains is coming off a 2-8 season and has had only one winning campaign in the last four. The Raiders are in the Mid-State 39 Conference's West B Division, which also includes Delaware Valley, North Plainfield, Voorhees, Warren Hills and Somerville.

Saturday's game will be a non-conference contest for both.

NOTES: This is the first time in awhile that one team has hosted two games in a row in the series. The earliest the two met in the regular season recently was in their second game for a couple of years.

"We've kind of played them always toward the end of the year," said DeSarno, now in his fifth season at the helm of the Blue Devils. "I think it's helped both teams at times in terms of momentum.

"I think it's good for us. We as a team, especially because we're young and inexperienced, have to learn how to come out of the gate.

"There's no better way to come out of the gate against a rival, so you're going to know about your team right away. If we're going to hold back it's going to show and if we're not ready it's going to show.

"When you come right out off the bat against a team that's your rival, with the towns right next to each other, I guess it's a good thing."

"Since I've been here I can't remember a year when we played them first," said Ciccotelli, now in his 20th year at the helm of the Raiders. "It's such a rivalry game and probably better to play later in the year, like most rivalry games are."

SCOTCH PLAINS VS. WESTFIELD
Since 2001

2009: Westfield 30, Scotch Plains 6 – at Scotch Plains

2008: Westfield 35, Scotch Plains 12 – at Westfield

2007: Scotch Plains 28, Westfield 14 – at Scotch Plains

2006: Westfield 28, Scotch Plains 21 – at Westfield

2005: Scotch Plains 32, Westfield 29 (OT) – at Scotch Plains
 
2004: Scotch Plains 27, Westfield 0 – at Westfield

2003: Scotch Plains 27, Westfield 6 – at Scotch Plains

2002: Scotch Plains 13, Westfield 10 – at Westfield

2001: Westfield 21, Scotch Plains 19 - at Scotch Plains

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