Westmont prepared for league play with a workmanlike 28-7 win over Prospect Friday night at home. The Warriors finish the non-league portion of their schedule with a 2-1 record; Prospect drops to 1-2.
The game certainly started off with a bang, as the Warriors scored on the opening kickoff when Andrew Demont raced 85 yards for a score that would set the tone for a night defined by long plays.
Coming into the game 1-1 overall, the Warriors were looking to make a statement against their neighborhood rivals Prospect. And make a statement they did. Westmont held the Panthers scoreless until midway through the third quarter, while putting up points on a series of spectacular plays.
After their opening score, the Warriors held Prospect to a three-and-out, forcing a punt. Two possessions later, Westmont faced a 3rd-and-10 at its own 7-yard line. Quarterback Nick Wahl handed it off to running back Ian Harrel, who weaved his way through the Prospect defense, rushing for 93 yards down the left sideline and into the end zone, netting Westmont's second score of over 80 yards on the day. A Jaime Aranda extra point later, the score was 13-0 Westmont. Both teams alternated going three-and-out until the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter began with the two teams continuing their routine of not being able to make a first down and then punting on 4th down. Westmont's offense was unable to string positive plays together, and the Warriors gave the ball back to the Panthers on two consecutive drives. However, the Westmont defense was just as powerful as the Warrior offense was weak. The defensive line and linebacking corps stuffed every rushing attempt as Prospect struggled to gain any sort of positive yardage on the ground. When the Panthers dropped back to pass, the Warrior defensive line put continual pressure on quarterback Nadim Sarras, forcing him to hurry every throw. This pressure finally paid dividends with 1:58 remaining in the half.
Sarras dropped back for a first-down pass, and lofted a hurried throw that was intercepted by cornerback Rafael Aguilar, who took the ball back 70 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. With Aranda's extra point, the Warriors took a 20-0 lead.
After the score, Westmont's defense continued its stellar play, shutting the Panthers down going into halftime. As the first half came to a close, it was unquestionable who the dominant team was as the first half was all Westmont. Though their offense struggled at times to get off the ground, the Warriors were able to build a huge lead thanks to three huge plays that combined for 248 yards. Furthermore, the stifling defense made sure that Prospect would mount no comeback threat.
As the third quarter began, both teams' offenses continued to struggle. Westmont's defense remained unrelenting, however. The Warriors' only flinch on defense came at the end of the third quarter when, with 3:48 left in the quarter, Sarras lofted a deep pass down the right sideline that was hauled in by Jordan Fladger. Fladger outran the Westmont defense and went 85 yards for Prospect's first score of the day to pull the Panthers within 20-7.
The Warriors quickly quashed any hopes of a Prospect comeback, however. Westmont went on a long drive that lasted until a third of the way through the fourth quarter. At the Panther two-yard line, running back Trevor Ross bulled his way into the end zone, pushing the lead back up to 26-7.
Prospect's attempt to respond to this ended before it started. After two ineffectual plays, Sarras was sacked in the end zone by linebacker Ian Gray. The safety put the Warriors up 28-7, and was the last scoring by either side on the day.
In all, it was an excellent performance for the Warriors. Though their offense looked ineffective at times, their incredible defensive and special teams play allowed them to win the game. They capitalized on the opportunities they got, and in the end, were able to win going away.
