Windham Ends Regular Season with 34-12 Victory over Westbrook

High School Football - Varsity

October 23, 2009

By David Field

 

Jack Mallis makes a cut against the Westbrook defense early in the game. David Field photo.

 

Westbrook-Windham’s solid and safe play got them past the Westbrook Blue Blazes 34-12 Friday night.

 

Windham lost the toss and kicked off.  Matt Coffee booted the ball deep into the red zone, where the Westbrook receiver fell to give the Blue Blazes the opening possession at their own one yard line.  Windham allowed Westbrook one first down and then forced them to punt.  Windham started just inside the Blue Blazes 50.  Windham wasted no time moving the ball as Jackson Taylor found Nick Burton for a 25 yard gain and then followed with a 13 yard pass to Matt Gledhill in the end zone.  Matt Coffee’s kick was good to put the Eagles up 7-0 early in the first quarter. 

 

Eagles quarterback Jackson Taylor in the shotgun formation waits for the snapped ball. David Field photo.

 

The Eagles defense was strong and held Westbrook to two yards and forced them to punt again.  The punt took a Blue Blaze roll and Windham started at their own 23 yard line.  Again, running  no huddle offense, Windham quickly moved the ball and Jack Mallis would take the ball 40 yards to get another six points for the Eagles.  Matt Coffee followed with another PAT kick.  In the second quarter, Westbrook started at their own 22 yard line.  The Windham defense again stifled the Blue Blazes and forced them to punt.  The Eagle offense went to work and efficiently moved the ball down the field to set up a Jack Mallis 8 yard touchdown.  Matt Coffee kicked the PAT to give Windham a solid 21-0 lead. 

 

Matt Gledhill with the first Eagle touchdown reception. David Field photo.

 

Westbrook was not going away.  After the kick off, they started on their own 16 yard line.  Junior Manny Vincent gained 54 yards on a carry to get Westbrook into Eagle territory.  The Blue Blazes worked down inside the 20.  However, Jack Mallis would be the hero as he intercepted a pass in the Eagle end zone to give Windham possession and thwart the Westbrook scoring attack.  Jackson Taylor again found Nick Burton to get the Eagles moving down field.  However, the Westbrook defense flushed Taylor from the pocket and he would be called for intentional grounding to set up second down and 22 yards.  On the next play, Taylor took the ball 17 yards to get back the yards he had cost his team.  On fourth down and 3 yards, Taylor found Matt Gledhill for a 15 yard passing gain to give Windham the first down and more on the Blue Blaze 11 yard line.  Taylor again found Gledhill on an 8 yard pass play to put another six on the board.  Coffee’s kick would be blocked. 

 

Cody Laberge sets the ball for Matt Coffee to kick the PAT after a Jack Mallis 40 yard touchdown. David Field photo.

 

After the kick off, Westbrook started moving the ball.  With time ticking down in the first half, Westbrook went to the air.  Windham’s defense tipped the ball and it seemed to float in the air.  TJ Robbins dove for the falling ball and caught it to give Windham possession with 17 seconds in the half. 

 

The Eagles took the control of the ball at their own 37 yard line to start the third quarter.  With a couple of passes to Tucker Miller and a Blue Blazes encroachment penalty, Windham quickly moved to the Westbrook 37.  After a few plays, Jackson Taylor went to the air and found Nick Burton in the end zone to put the Eagles up 34-0 after the Matt Coffee PAT kick.  Westbrook consumed the clock in the third quarter moving the ball down the field against the Eagles.  As time expired, Westbrook was on the Windham 15 yard line.  In the fourth, Tom Pratt scrambled three yards to put Westbrook on the board.  The two point conversion attempt ended with an incomplete pass.

 

Nick Burton heads up field after evading a Westbrook defender. David Field photo.

 

For the first time in the game, Windham was not be able to advance the ball and was forced to punt on fourth down and 20.  A high snap put the ball over Tucker Miller’s head.  Miller scrambled, found the ball and quickly pooch-kicked it while evading the advancing Westbrook defense.  Westbrook again moved the ball against a non-starter Windham defense.  Matt Payne found his way to get another Westbrook touchdown.  The two point conversion pass attempt was blocked.  Windham took possession and moved the ball.  Max MacDonald ran the ball 40 yards to give the Eagles possession at the Westbrook 22.  On the next play, Windham fumbled and Westbrook took possession with time running out.

 

After the game, Coach Matt Perkins was pleased with his squad.  “We came into this just wanting to play safe, improve and just get out of the game healthy.”  Perkins also gave credit to his coaching staff.  “This is the best group I have ever worked with.  We are all in sync with each other and the kids feel it too.” 

 

The Eagles will have to wait for the Crabtree standings to be published on Saturday to find out who they will face in the first round of the playoffs.  Catch the Junior Varsity game on Monday afternoon at 3:30pm in Windham.

 

Second seeded Windham hosts seventh seeded Sanford at 1PM Saturday October 31, 2009.