Football Team Faces Off in First Scrimmage Tuesday

For the second time in three years the Westfield football team was four quarters away from playing for a state championship.

Nine months ago the Blue Devils traveled west along Route 78 en route to a North 2, Group 4 semifinal encounter with host Phillipsburg.

Although Westfield was defeated by the eventual champion Stateliners 35-7, the Blue Devils now realize how much harder they must work in order to take that next step.

Practice commences Aug. 16, with the first of three scrimmages scheduled for Aug. 24 at home at 10 a.m. against Long Branch. The second scrimmage is Aug. 28 at Somerville at 10 a.m.

Westfield's game-scrimmage is against Group 3 Bergen County school Pascack Valley. The Blue Devils will host on Sept. 3 at 4 p.m.

Westfield previously went up against Livingston in game-scrimmages before, including last year, because of head coach Jim DeSarno's association with Livingston head coach Bill Tracy. After guiding Livingston to its first playoff championship in 2008, Tracy became the head coach at Ridge last year."

Glen Kehler (son of legendary Westfield head coach Gary Kehler) is a friend of Craig Neilsen (Pascack Valley head coach)," said DeSarno, who is now in his fifth season at the helm of the Blue Devils. "Glen played at Rutgers with Craig, so they have known each other for years."

The Indians, who compete in the North Bergen Interscholastic League, went 8-2 last year and reached the North 1, Group 3 quarterfinals.

"They play a tough Group 3 schedule up there, so they will be a good fit for us," said DeSarno, who previously was a head coach near that way at Kinnelon.

Westfield will open its 2010 campaign at Scotch Plains on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m.
Westfield won at Scotch Plains 30-6 last year and has a two-game winning streak against the Raiders. DeSarno is 3-1 vs. Scotch Plains.

DeSarno said that team captains will be declared during the first week of practice     DeSarno's four-year record is 28-14 (.667), which includes four winning seasons and three straight state playoff appearances in North 2, Group 4.

Westfield is coming off an 8-3 season, which included a Mid-State 39 Conference-Watchung Division championship.

The Blue Devils are situated in the conference's East A Division this season along with Elizabeth, Immaculata, Linden, Plainfield, Union and Watchung Hills.

Westfield will play those six conference opponents in addition to three non-league games against Scotch Plains, Bridgewater-Raritan and Rahway.

WESTFIELD BLUE DEVILS
2010 FOOTBALL
Scrimmages:
Aug. 24 Long Branch, 10 a.m.
Aug. 28 at Somerville, 10 a.m.
Game-scrimmage:
Sept. 3 Pascack Valley, 4 p.m.
Regular season:
Sept. 11 at Scotch Plains, 1 p.m.
Sept. 17 Bridgewater-Raritan, 3 p.m.
Sept. 25 Watchung Hills, 1 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Union, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Rahway, 1 p.m.
Oct. 30 Linden, 1 p.m.
Nov. 5 at Immaculata, 7 p.m.
Nov. 25 at Plainfield, 11 a.m.
Head coach: Jim DeSarno, fifth season
Section: North 2, Group 4
Conference: Mid-State 39
Division: East A
2009: 8-3

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