Sports
Westfield Football Plays Watchung Hills Tonight
Although tonight's opponent, Watchung Hills, has won only three games the last two years-plus, one of them was against Westfield.
Westfield Blue Devils Football is off to a 2-0 start and seeking its first 3-0 beginning and second overall under sixth-year head coach Jim DeSarno since 2008.
Although tonight's opponent, Watchung Hills, has won only three games the last two years-plus, one of them was against Westfield.
Watchung Hills is 0-2, but has lost both games – each on the road – by only a touchdown.
Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Westfield is at Watchung Hills tonight night at 7 in Mid-State 39 Conference-East A Division action. This is the first division game for Westfield, while it’s the second for Watchung Hills and also its home-opener.
“They’ve had their chances in both games,” DeSarno said. “Their offensive scheme is good and there’s no quit in them.”
Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
After opening with a 20-14 loss at North Hunterdon, Watchung Hills came back to tie Union last week before falling 21-14 on a fourth quarter touchdown.
“A couple of breaks here or there and they could be 2-0,” DeSarno said. “They moved the ball against both teams they played.”
Watchung Hills lost its last seven games in Jim Benedict’s final season as its head coach in 2009, finishing 2-8.
In Marc Crisafi’s first year as head coach last year, the Warriors lost their first nine games before winning at Barringer 29-14 in a sectional consolation game to conclude at 1-9.
Watchung Hills last finished with a winning record in 2006 when the Warriors went 6-4. Watchung Hills was 5-5 in 2007 and 2008.
When Westfield last traveled to Somerset County to face the Warriors, Watchung Hills came away with a 21-7 victory in Westfield’s second game in 2009.
Ironically, Westfield went on to an 8-3 finish and reach the North 2, Group 4 semifinals two years ago. Watchung Hills would win only one more game that season.
Westfield followed up a solid season-opening 17-0 triumph at home over arch rival Scotch Plains by winning at Bridgewater-Raritan 22-7 last Friday night.
Westfield was defeated by BR last year and the year before during its first two seasons in the Mid-State 39 Conference. Both of those defeats took place at Westfield’s Gary Kehler Stadium, with the Blue Devils falling 23-14 in 2009 and 19-13 in 2010. BR blocked two punts in last season’s victory.
“The kids battled back, so I was pleased with their effort,” DeSarno said of last week’s win at BR. “We didn’t back down.”
Senior placekicker Jonathan Gribbin kicked his second field goal of the season, a 27-yarder; senior defensive back James O’Rourke returned two interceptions for touchdowns and senior quarterback Nate Mitchell threw a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Peter Ondi for Westfield’s scoring.
BR managed to reach the end zone after one drive in the second quarter to pull to within 10-7, but that was it for the Falcons offensively.
“To hold them to seven points means our defense really stepped up,” DeSarno said. “Our kids went out and battled. They (BR) had one good drive where they methodically moved down the field, but otherwise we were able to keep them off balance. We were very good against the run.”
Keeping the Falcon offense on the sidelines was important for Westfield to have success.
“The last two years we played them we never got their offense off the field,” DeSarno said. “They converted a ton of third downs. We knew we had to keep their potent offense off the field.
“We didn’t score a lot of points offensively, but we moved the chains and converted turnovers to points.”
WESTFIELD VS. WATCHUNG HILLS:
2010 – Westfield 35, Watchung Hills 14 – at Westfield
2009 – Watchung Hills 21, Westfield 7 – at Watchung Hills
WESTFIELD VS. BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN:
2011 – Westfield 22, Bridgewater-Raritan 7 – at BR
2010 – Bridgewater-Raritan 19, Westfield 13 – at Westfield
2009 – Bridgewater-Raritan 23, Westfield 14 – at Westfield
2011 WESTFIELD BLUE DEVILS (2-0)
Sept. 10: Westfield 17, Scotch Plains 0 – at Westfield
Sept. 16: Westfield 22, Bridgewater-Raritan 7 – at BR
Sept. 23 at Watchung Hills, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Union, 3 p.m.
Oct. 22 Rahway, 2 p.m.
Oct. 29 at Linden, 1 p.m.
Nov. 5 Immaculata, 2 p.m.
Nov. 24 Plainfield, 10 a.m.
Head coach: Jim DeSarno,
sixth year, 30-14 (.682)
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4
Record: 2-0
Mid-State 39, East A: 0-0
Home: 1-0
Away: 1-0
Points for: 39
Points against: 7
Shutouts: 1
Overtime: 0
