JV wins against Bellingham
Bellingham - Westwood's Junior Varsity carried out the varsity team's message today as the
Wolverines again take down their arch-nemesis Blackhawks.
BlackHawk Down: Starring Kevin O'Connor
by Roland Zhou/Webmaster
WESTWOOD - Two weeks ago, Kevin uncharacteristically dropped 3 certain touchdowns against Millis.
Tonight, a crowd of 2,000 saw Okie in his true form.
"I hate the homecoming game," said Coach Paul Hallion. "In twenty years of coaching experince I have always hated the
homecoming game. There are too many distractions."
For the first 18 minutes of the game, the lackluster Westwood team looked more than distracted. The defense gave and
gave and finally allowed Andrew Landry to score from ten yards out. On the succeeding drive, Quarterback Chris Haddad tossed
a touchdown as easily as if he were playing Millis.
Bellingham's joy would be short-lived.
With 6 minutes remaining in the first half, Westwood suddenly rose with a spark, like a waking dragon. Kevin O'Connor
caught a hitch that he turned up the field for a score. Manny Frangiadakis also scored after the defense stuck John Kubiac
for three-and-out. A beautiful two-point reception by tight end Russell Travers evened the score at 14 each going into the
locker rooms.
Westwood continued its relentless battering of Bellingham's defense in the second half. Running back Connor Walsh ran
hard, earning key first downs and finding holes where there were none to begin with. Kevin Brooks found a new sense of courage,
taking several crushing hits in order to sell the option.
The Blackhawks tried desperately to get back into the game after two O'Connor receptions, but with no avail. The fight
had simply left them.
In last year's contest, the arch-rivals were in opposite positions. A confident Westwood team blew a fourteen point lead
in front of dozens of alumni.
The Bellingham/Westwood game has historically been a great focus of attention. Each team despises the other with equal
magnitude. This year, things haven't changed a bit, explaining the abundance of unnecesary roughness calls.
Bellingham drops to 2-4 on the season, out of the running for the 2006 Tri-Valley League title. Westwood improves to
4-2.
"Every game is a playoff game now," Coach Hallion explained to his students. If the Wolverines lose again, they are out
of the running for the division Super Bowl.
Medfield 25, Norton 7
Medway 34, Dover-Sherborn 27
Holliston 25, Ashland 20
Lancers win in dogfight
By Roland Zhou / Webmaster
Saturday, October 7th, 2006
NORTON - As a 5-0 Norton team came out on top over the 3-2 Wolverines, you realize that life is no more than a game of
inches. There is no easy way out, you simply have to claw for every decision that you make. Sometimes you might miss one or
two here and there, and it makes no difference. Sometimes it is those inches that are the difference between winning and losing.
And no matter how close you were, theres nothing you can do except pick yourself up and keep going. Sure, Westwood can blame
themselves and half-ass it the way into the week against Bellingham. Alternatively, they could turn Saturday's dissappointment
into fuel for the next game.
Coach Hallion introduced new philosophy to his players this week. he explained to them the story of "Berserkers," who,
in Norse Mythology, went into battle like animals, oblivious to pain. They were often the firsts ones into action, and the
last ones to leave.
Every player on the Westwood side looked like berserkers today.
Early in second quarter, Lancer running back John Norcott led Norton to a touchdown with a 30 yard run. Norton
ran less than ten different plays the entire game, including the 49 Jet sweep, Leo 35 Blast, and several other run plays designed
to punch through the middle. Fans largely expected Norcott to gain 200 yards and acheive 1000 yards on the season.
Westwood's defense, however, thought differently. Throughout the entire 44 minutes of regulation, the line held fast,
holding Norcott under 60 yards for the day. He limped to the sideline late in the fourth.
Their offense was unable to get much done for most of the game. Quarterback Kevin Brooks led the pass-heavy Wolverines
down to the Norton ten yard line before giving the ball up on downs. Running back Connor Walsh had considerable trouble finding
holes to run through.
Late in the second quarter, Pat O'Brien fumbled a Brooks pass.
Westwood bagen to show life late in the fourth, with a minute left to go. With a series of no-huddle offense, Brooks
and co. confunded the Norton defense, driving 70 yards down the field. The drive was capped off by a Matt White 2 yard
TD run with 7 seconds left.
The Woverines' hopes were dispersed when Hallion's two-point try failed. At the snap, holder Pat O'Brien faked the field
goal and launched a pass into the end zone intended for Connor Walsh.
The ball missed his finger tips by a millimeter.
After a failed onside kick, Westwood was forced to acknoledge the loss.
"It's a game of inches," said Coach Hallion. "Theres nothing you can do about it. That's life. I am very proud of each
and every one of my players. They never once called it quits, never gave up, acted like berserkers. I feel that Obie played
a very nice game, and he and everyone out their hearts into it."
Westwood ended their three game road trip today, coming home next week to face the 2-3 Bellingham Blackhawks, who are
coming off of a 22-18 loss to Medfield on Friday.
Medfield 22, Bellingham 18
BELLINGHAM - The Blackhawks drop to 2-3 on the season this week losing by four points to Medfield.
Bellingham came out on top early witha long run by John Kuplec, but trailed at halftime after two Matt Scheirer passes. They
travel next week to Westwood, playing against an age-old rival.
Millis 22, Dover-Sherborn 16
The dismal Raiders are dead last in the Tri-Valley League, having long lost hopes at the Division
3 Super Bowl. Their loss today is significant in that they are now the team to beat in the league. Meaning that if you dont
beat the D-S Raiders, you are either a.) Ashland b.) dying from cancer or c.) a Pop Warner D squad. D-S may go unvictorious
this season. Millis, for once, achieves a record above .500.
Holliston 28, Hopkinton 27
In a massive clash of superpowers, Holliston comes out on top by one point. For Hoptown, if it weren't
for bad luck, they wouldn't have any. As if last week's overtime loss against Norton wasn't bad enough, this week's heartbreak
puts them at 1-4, next to last in the TVL and playing for pride along with the Ben-Dover Raiders.
Brooks leads Wolverines
By Mike
Rubin / Daily News Correspondent
Monday, October 2, 2006 - Updated: 03:06
AM EST
MILLIS - Kevin Brooks and a steady defensive
line simply made life miserable for the Millis High football team.
The Westwood High quarterback threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Wolverines
torched the Mohawks for a 27-8 victory in Friday night’s Tri-Valley League showdown at Walsh Memorial Field. With the
loss, the Mohawks fell to 2-2 while the Wolverines improve to 3-1 (2-0 in the TVL).
Not only did the Mohawks suffer a tough loss, but were without star fullback Tom Capparella,
who injured his ankle after a 5-yard gain on the first play of the game.
"Whenever you lose a guy like that, it’s tough,” said Mohawk coach Dale Olmstead.
"We don’t have a lot of numbers here, and Westwood came out and played hard. We made some mistakes and they capitalized
on their opportunities."
After both teams traded possessions, the Wolverines engineered a seven-play drive that spanned
3:02 in the first quarter. Following an 18-yard scamper by Brooks on a third-and-10 from the Mohawk 46-yard line, the Wolverines
quickly capitalized minutes later. From the 15, Conner Walsh broke through several tackles at the line of scrimmage and broke
free into the end zone with 2:40 remaining in the opening quarter for the 6-0 lead.
"(Brooks) did a terrific job keeping that drive going,” said Wolverine coach Paul Hallion.
"He moved the ball very well and he gave us an opportunity to get out to that early lead."
While the Wolverine defensive led unit of Kevin O’Connor, Tom O’Connor and Matt White
held the Mohawks to just one first down in the first half, Brooks continued to lead the way on offense.
"Our defense set the tone in that first half,” said Hallion. "They made sure that (Millis)
didn’t get a lot of opportunities to move the ball downfield."
Following a quick three-and-out by the defense, Brooks led the Wolverines to a quick six-play
39-yard scoring drive. After firing a 5-yard sideline pass to Kevin O’Connor, Brooks struck again. On a first down from
the 15, Brooks delivered a strike to a wide-open Manny Frangiadakis in the end zone with 8:37 remaining in the first half.
Nick Laham’s successful extra point handed the Wolverines a 13-0 lead.
"Brooks had a great game, and probably the best of the season,” said Hallion. "The guys
up front played extremely well and we took advantage of our opportunities."
Capitalizing on a pair of first half turnovers, the Wolverines added a pair of second quarter
touchdowns en route to a commanding 27-0 halftime lead. Minutes later, the Wolverines capitalized as Kevin
Brooks tossed a 10-yard pass to Tom O’Connor, who scurried into the end zone with 3:27 for a 20-0 lead.
