Westfield Football Hopes to Continue Thanksgiving Day Winning Streak

Although the Westfield football team is about to put the finishing touches on a sixth consecutive winning season, don’t for one minute think it was easy. Or, perhaps, even expected.

A senior class that continued to improve week in and week out had a lot to do that that.

“We’ll be sad to see them go,” Westfield sixth-year head coach Jim DeSarno said.

Westfield will wrap its 2011 campaign at home Thursday morning when it hosts Thanksgiving Day rival Plainfield at 11 a.m. at Gary Kehler Stadium.

Westfield leads Union County’s oldest holiday series 55-44-7, including a perfect 5-0 record under DeSarno.

Also, if the Blue Devils win, they will capture the Mid-State 39 Conference East A (Watchung) Division title for the first time. Last year they finished second to Immaculata.

While DeSarno and his staff expected seniors such as James O’Rourke and Peter Ondi to be key players in all three phases – offense, defense and special teams – there were other seniors who also really ended up making a difference.

“Nate Mitchell (quarterback) really stepped up as did our offensive line, which only gave up two sacks (both in the Elizabeth game),” DeSarno said. “We also got major performances from Mike LaFace (two-way lineman) and Mike Stravach (receiver). They also stepped up.”

Plainfield is 2-7 and coming off a 21-13 North 2, Group 3 consolation win at Millburn on Nov. 11.

Westfield had a four-game winning streak snapped and six-game home winning streak come to an end when it was upset by Bayonne 13-7 in a North 2, Group 4 quarterfinal at Gary Kehler Stadium on Nov. 12.

“As coaches, we can use the division championship as motivation,” DeSarno said. “Plainfield is coming off a win and doesn’t look like a 2-7 team. They always have some real good athletes, so there’s always concern.”

O’Rourke passed the 1,000 yard rushing mark in the Bayonne contest. He has carried the ball 242 times for 1,056 yards (4.36 average) and has scored eight touchdowns.

“We were always very confident in his abilities,” DeSarno said. “He can find his way through a crease and then run to daylight. We also got a great job up front all year.”

Westfield is also out to produce the second eight-win season under DeSarno and the first that will include eight regular season victories.

Westfield is the only Union County team to have given up less than 100 points. The Blue Devils have outscored nine opponents 190-89.

Westfield’s starting defense has allowed just 10 touchdowns in nine games. The Blue Devils are one play away from five shutouts in nine games.

Westfield’s seniors on the roster include: James O’Rourke, Kurt Kowalski, Jonathan Gribbin, Geoffrey Scognamiglio, Nate Mitchell, Patrick Johnson, Peter Ondi, Marc Mazzucco, Brendan Dugan, Kyle Star, James McCrea, Joe Rinaldi, Frankie Scalera, John Lanzano, Daniel Bigelow, Kieran Cline, Nick Calello, Mike Mondon, Luke Gibbons, Alex McHugh, Vadim Kandarov, Mike LaFace, Abe Fertig-Cohen, Ryan Elliott and Mike Stravach.

WESTFIELD UNDER HEAD COACH JIM DeSARNO:

2011: (7-2), reached North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals

2010: (7-3), reached North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals

2009: (8-3), reached North 2, Group 4 semifinals

2008: (7-3), reached North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals

2007: (7-4), reached North 2, Group 4 semifinals

2006: (6-4), first winning season since 2002

WESTFIELD VS. PLAINFIELD SINCE 2005

2010: Westfield 35, Plainfield 6 – at Plainfield

2009: Westfield 26, Plainfield 6 – at Westfield

2008: Westfield 21, Plainfield 19 – at Plainfield

2007: Westfield 28, Plainfield 27 – at Westfield

2006: Westfield 17, Plainfield 7 – at Plainfield

2005: Plainfield 9, Westfield 0 – at Westfield

PLAINFIELD CARDINALS (2-7)

(H) Phillipsburg 27, Plainfield 26

(H) Plainfield 28, Somerville 21 (OT)

(A) Union 38, Plainfield 14

(H) Elizabeth 48, Plainfield 0

(H) Montgomery 7, Plainfield 6

(A) Immaculata 35, Plainfield 0

(A) Watchung Hills 12, Plainfield 7

(H) Linden 31, Plainfield 0

(A) Plainfield 21, Millburn 13

Nov. 24 at Westfield, 11 a.m.

Head coach: Bill Nyers, second year North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

Record: 2-7

Mid-State 39, East A: 0-5

Home: 1-4

Away: 1-3

Points for: 104

Points against: 219

Shutouts: 0

Overtime: 1-0

WESTFIELD BLUE DEVILS (7-2)

(H) Westfield 17, Scotch Plains 0

(A) Westfield 22, Bridgewater-Raritan 7

(A) Westfield 21, Watchung Hills 0

(A) Elizabeth 28, Westfield 13

(H) Westfield 37, Union 35

(H) Westfield 24, Rahway 0

(A) Westfield 12, Linden 0

(H) Westfield 37, Immaculata 6

(H) Bayonne 13, Westfield 7

Nov. 24 Plainfield, 11 a.m.

Head coach: Jim DeSarno, sixth year North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4