PAL Blue Devils Battle to Scoreless Tie

In a game marked by turnovers and penalties, the Westfield White B Team kicked off its 2010 season with a hard-earned 0-0 tie against a tough Parsippany squad Sunday at Kehler Stadium. 

Parker Hess and Justin Dudzinski got Westfield defense started with key tackles on Parsippany's opening drive. Liam Heinbokel and Ben Meltzer each delivered some hard hits early, forcing the Redmen to turn over the ball on downs. Vin DiFilippo ran the ball on Westfield's first offensive drive, but Parsippany got the ball back on a turnover.

Dudzinski capped off the end of the first quarter with a decisive quarterback sack, inspiring the Westfield defense to play tough throughout a second quarter in which Parsippany hurt itself with penalties.  Nick Mueller provided staunch defensive support for Westfield.

Westfield showed some offensive some spark in the second quarter, when Jack Curry and Chris Varano each carried the ball for a Westfield first down.  Quarterback J.D. Marner connected with Hopper Murray on a short pass and then and then drilled a ball downfield to Varano for a 12-yard gain and Westfield's second first down. But the drive stalled when Parsippany's defense stiffened.   Westfield got the ball back when Mitchell Bryk recovered a Parsippany fumble.  A few plays later, Hess snagged a Redman fumble to end the first half.

Turnovers plagued both teams in the second half of the game. Heinbokel scooped up a Parsippany fumble on the first drive of the second half, but Marner threw an interception and Westfield gave the ball right back. Still, Westfield's defense nver wavered, countering with several timely hits by Meltzer and Dudzinski.   Heinbokel then sacked the Parsippany quarterback to end the drive. 

But the turnovers continued immediately, when the Westfield punt returner fumbled the punt. But the Westfield "D" stayed tough, when Bryk and Hess combined to force Parsippany into a third-and-23 play. Hess recovered a Redman fumble to end the drive completely.    

In the fourth quarter, Westfield defenders Owen Colwell, Doug Smith, Mueller, DiFilippo, Meltzer and Heinbokel all tackled Redman runners for losses.  Varano and Curry made strong runs, with gains of six and seven yards, but Marner was sacked and the Westfield drive stalled.

With less than two minutes left in the game, Parsippany threatened inside the Westfield 20-yard line, but once again, the defense prevented the Redman running backs from gaining any yardage. Colwell delivered a big hit to a Redman running back who was stalled after a bungled handoff to end the scoreless game.