Westfield High Weekly Sports Review

Football team completes regular season, 10-0

The varsity football team snagged the No.1 seed in the Northern Region before its regular season even came to an end. At 9-0, the Bulldogs hosted the (2-8) Friday night in what could have been a “trap” game. But the players pummeled the Hornets, racking up a season-high nine touchdowns to win the Concorde District outright and remain undefeated headed into the playoffs with the win, 63-7. 

“It’s pretty special. I was trying to convince my dad and mom not to travel but I could tell he was a little disappointed. My dad said, ’10-0 is special and not everybody will have that opportunity,'” said Coach Kyle Simmons regarding the importance of the Herndon game. “It kind of put it in perspective for me because this will be the fourth season Westfield has gone undefeated. I made sure I relayed that to the kids and I think that was a little motivator.”

used Kendell Anderson sparingly; Anderson carried the ball just six times for 50 yards against Herndon, but still managed to score four touchdowns; two rushing (10, 7), one receiving (56), and one by way of punt return (61). Dalaun Richardson received valuable playing time at running back for the Bulldogs, toting the rock for 108 of Westfield’s 302 rushing yards on just nine carries and two TDs (51, 6). Senior JaQuan Campbell also added 50 yards on the ground for the Bulldogs. Matt Pisarcik went 3 for 8 for 123 yards passing and two TDs.

The stingy Bulldog defense held Herndon to 173 total yards of offense and pitched a shutout until late in the fourth quarter when Hornet quarterback Zach Goldsby hit Ryan Griffin on a four-yard touchdown strike. Westfield won the turnover battle 3-1 against Herndon and special teams blocked a punt in the end zone for a safety early in the first quarter.

“Defensively, I didn’t have anybody that was put up for all district player of the year on defense, even though we are probably one of the best defenses n the state,” Simmons said. “If you look at our stats there are no guys with many more tackles than others, but it’s very satisfying when you play with kids like that because everybody is contributing and it’s not just one or two players doing all of the work.”

The Bulldogs focus now turns to the playoffs as they face Robinson in the first round of the Northern Regional tournament.

Volleyball team advances to regionals in spite of playoff loss

After last Monday night’s emotional quarterfinal-win over Herndon, the Westfield girls’ varsity volleyball team (14-13) lost to Oakton (13-13) the following night in the Concorde semifinal, 3-1. However, Coach Jim Bour’s squad marches forward to the Northern Regional tournament and will face South County in the first round this Monday night (Nov. 7.)  hopes to rattle off four in a row and hang another championship banner from the Bulldogs’ gymnasium rafters.

Westfield led 1-0, tied at 17 in the second set when the Cougars struck and pulled away to even the match at one apiece. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs would not gain back momentum and lost the next two sets, 19-25 and 14-25. Bour said the match boiled down to playoff experience and believes despite the loss, the district tournament experience will only help his team in regionals.

“I thought we were prepared. We were 17-17 in the second set and kind of lost - experience kind of came into play and it didn’t seem like we could get the momentum back,” he said. “We had a shot and we just let it slip with the momentum and just weren’t experienced enough to get it back.”

The Bulldogs played South County early in the season, losing in three straight sets. But Bour said playing the best teams in the regular season is crucial because you want to see what you will face in the playoffs come November.

“We played them early in the season and lost all three sets: 25, 20, 25 20, 25-22. We had the lead in two of the sets but our inexperience at the time kind of showed true,” he said. “We know where we were then and where we are now. You want to play these good teams because you’re going to see them again.”

Westfield completed the regular season above .500 and made it to the Concorde semifinals for the first time since 2008. The coach said he is proud of his girls and feels his squad is ready for regionals.

“On Monday, it’s winner take all,” he said. “You’re either going on or you’re turning your stuff in. And I believe we’re mentally stronger and prepared to play as hard as we can.”

Westfield plays at South County Monday at 7 p.m.

Note: Chantilly defeated the Cougars 3-1 Thursday night to win the Concorde Championship.

Field Hockey team headed to States

One goal proved enough for Westfield’s varsity field hockey team (19-3) to shutout Lake Braddock in the Northern Regional semifinal last Monday night, but it would not suffice in its 4-1 loss to South County (18-5) in Wednesday’s title match. Still, the Bulldogs’ second-place regional finish earned them a spot in the state tourney to be held at Richmond Sports Quest on Nov. 8.

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