A key injury early in the fourth game of the season touched off a reevaluation of the offensive strategy for the Westfield High School football team. After an injury to senior wide receiver Enzo Ferrero before halftime of the St. Joseph (Metuchen) game, the Blue Devils under firstyear head coach Matt Andzel would eventually shift from a primarily passing attack to a modified passing attack with a 1-2 running punch and finished their season with a 5-6 record.
The Blue Devils jumped right into the fire in their opener, losing 44-17 to the Phillipsburg Stateliners, who would go on to win the North Jersey, Section 2 crown, and the Group 4 semifinal before falling in the Group 4 final and finishing 11-3. Next was a 37-21 victory over the Elizabeth Minutemen, followed by a 14-6 win over the Union Farmers.
After the results of the 35-16 setback to St. Joseph (Metuchen) and the loss of Ferrero, the Blue Devils dropped a 19-13 decision to the Hillsborough Raiders. The Blue Devils evened their record to 3-3 with a 21-13 win over North Brunswick then probably their best game came next with a 35-10 thrashing of the Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers. The Ridge Red Devils topped the Blue Devils, 28-10.
In the quarterfinal round of the NJ 2, Group 4, the Blue Devils were shut out by Northern Highlands, 21-0. A postseason consolation game against Middletown South resulted in a 28-7 Westfield triumph. The season finale was the 119th Thanksgiving Day Classic that was won by the Plainfield Cardinals, 14-9.
Junior Cole Weidler was the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season and was listed as completing 62 of 118 passes for 761 yards, including eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. After the Hillsborough game, sophomore Jordan Walsh shifted from wide receiver to quarterback with Weidler as the backup. Walsh was listed as completing 25 of 42 passes for 472 yards, including three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Despite missing the second half of the St. Joseph (Metuchen) game and the next six games, Ferrero finished with 27 completions for 410 yards and four touchdowns. Ferrero would return for the Plainfield game. Senior wide receiver Sebastian Magherini finished with 25 receptions for 516 yards, including four touchdowns. Senior tight end Colin Coyle had 33 receptions for 431 yards, including three touchdowns. (Note – there is a statistical difference between the passing yardage and the receiving yardage).
Senior running back Blake Rudow was the workhorse and finished with 811 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Walsh finished with 539 yards rushing and four touchdowns. On short yardage situations, Coyle bashed in for three touchdowns.
Defensively, senior lineman Lincoln Meyers recorded six sacks and five throws for losses (TFL) with 27 tackles, a safety and a fumble recovery. Junior defensive lineman Jake Zemsky recorded three sacks, six TFL, 50 tackles and two fumble recoveries, one that he returned for a touchdown. Coyle recorded two sacks, seven TFL, 51 tackles and forced a fumble. Junior linebacker Connor Whelan recorded two sacks, three TFLand 37 tackles. Senior Zac Wragg recorded two sacks, three TFL and 22 tackles. Senior linebacker Owen Williams recorded a sack, five TFL, 48 tackles and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown.
Walsh finished with 56 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble returned for a touchdown and an interception returned for a touchdown. Senior Nick Russo had an interception, 31 tackles, a TFL and a fumble recovery. Defensive back Magherini led the team with four interceptions and added 27 tackles and a fumble recovery. Senior Niko Lukis had an interception, 25 tackles and forced a fumble. Senior linebacker Ben Brodo had an interception returned for a touchdown. Junior linebacker Joe DiMattina had three TFL and 33 tackles. Ferrero had an interception, a TFL and nine tackles.
On special teams, Lukis kicked 13 points after touchdown (PAT) and a field goal. Ferrero kicked two field goals and was 5-for-6 in PAT. Russo also kicked a PAT.
In the opening game against Elizabeth, Ferrero totaled 180 yards receiving and three touchdowns, and added a field goal. Weidler had 219 passing yards and four touchdowns. Rudow ran for 148 yards and a touchdown. Ferrero and Coyle had touchdown receptions against Union. Walsh had an 81-yard fumble return for a TD against St. Joseph (Metuchen). Against Hillsborough, Weidler passed for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Rudow carried for 131 yards and a touchdown. Coyle had a touchdown reception and Magherini had eight receptions for 104 yards.
The win over North Brunswick had Walsh carrying for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Rudow had 117 rushing yards and Coyle had a one-yard touchdown run. Walsh and Coyle had touchdown runs against Bridgewater-Raritan, Magherini had two touchdown receptions and Brodo had his interception for a touchdown.
Williams had a 51-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Ridge and Lukis kicked a field goal. Russo had a 76-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Middletown South. Walsh completed seven of 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown plus he added 170 yards rushing and a touchdown. Magherini had 113 yards receiving and a touchdown. Coyle had a touchdown run. In the Thanksgiving Day game, Meyers recorded a safety and Zemsky scooped up a fumble and rumbled 55 yards for a touchdown.
The Blue Devils will graduate three fine receivers, a tough running back and several strong defensive players but will return Walsh and Weidler behind center and several tough defensive players.
