Click the thumbnails to see photos and video highlights, and listen to post-gane interviews wirh WW Coach Sam Gilles and Braves Coach Dennis Cannoot.
Also click the AUDIO buttons to hear player spotlight interviews wirh Cooper Sanville and Tanner Thorbahn.
GLADSTONE----The Westwood High School football team scored two quick touchdowns before the Gladstone offense even touched the ball, and the Patriot defense did the rest in a 20-0 win over the Braves on Homecoming at the Marble Athletic Field. It was Gladstone's fourth straight loss, while Westwood won its second straight game after three opening-season losses.
The Patriots, playing without injured starting quarterback Cohen Ostola, picked up their first win of the season last week against Houghton, and they got off to a great start Friday night in Gladstone.
The opening kickoff went for a touchback, and the Patriots faced a 4th-and-3 at their own 27. The Braves dropped back to receive the punt. But, it wasn't a punt. Four plays later, Alex Turek rumbled 45 yards for the touchdown, and sophomore quarterback Andrew Beckman scored the two-point play.
“I took a look at Luke (Gray) who calls our defense, and I said, 'you want me to go for this?” Westwood Coach Sam Gilles said. “I mean, it's my decision, but I got ask permission from him, and I guess I just believe in the kids and it all worked out. Start of the year, I made some decisions like that that didn't play out, but I think the kids are starting to trust themselves more.”
It worked out when the line blocked, and Ellis King got the eight yards to move the chains.
After Westwood took that 8-0 lead, Clifford Fossitt was told to bounce the ball up-field on the kickoff. The Braves couldn't handle the bounce, the ball ricocheted backwards. Jimmy Mattila came out of there with the ball, and the Patriot offense remained on the field.
On the second offensive play, Beckman found King open down the middle of the field for a 42-yard pass-and-catch. On third and goal, Beckman scored from two yards out to make it 14-0. Gilles says that Beckman has stepped nicely into the role of varsity quarterback with Ostola still hurt.
“He's grown up quick,” Gilles said. “Becks is a great athlete and a great kid. He's matured not only in the sense of football, but also in the sense of finding his voice (leadership) the past couple weeks.”
When Gladstone finally touched the ball, the Braves faced a 4th and 4 of its own, and Wyatt Forvilly got the needed yards. But on the next play, the snap went well beyond both Forvilly and quarterback Landon Pepin, some 20 yards in the other direction. Westwood recovered the ball.
Gladstone has had three snaps like that this season that missed everyone, and that's not the only problem. There were numerous times Friday when Forvilly had to reach way up to get the ball.
“That's on us as coaches,” Gladstone Coach Dennis Cannoot said. “We've got to figure out what we're going to do there, That's what we were just talking about (postgame). Try to help out the centers and get our timing. I could see that the holes were there (for the running backs), but you start to step off and you're trying to find it, under those bright lights.”
Midway through the second quarter, Westwood took a 20-0 lead when Beckman completed a 4th-and-13 pass to Mattila. The play went 36 yards to the house, Matilla's first touchdown of the year.
The Braves never could recover, despite the defense intercepting two passes (Nick Proehl and Vinny Rebholz). Cannoot says the start of the game was too much to overcome.
“You're fired up and you're excited to go,” Cannoot said. “You've got a good game plan. But then you have a few breakdowns and they get a couple of scores on you right away. So, you're trying to work through that, trying to problem-solve and get some positivity. It's just tough. I mean, I'm proud of the guys. They fought through it. But it's just something we have to keep getting better on during the week.”
Gladstone did complete a Hail Mary pass from Pepin to Andrew Karl at the five yard line as the first half expired, but the clock was on all zeros (and the scoreboard operator did not add one).
Westwood, after an 0-3 start, is now 2-3, heading into a rivalry game with the Negaunee Miners (3-2) next weekend. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Gilles, who coached there until taking the Westwood head coahing job.
As for the Braves (1-4), it gets no easier next week, with the defending state champion Menominee Maroons coming to the Marble Athletic Field. Menominee is undefeated again this season, and has been routinely running up lopsided scores this season.
“They're a good football team, right, and that's OK,” Cannoot said. “We've got to prepare. We've just got to come to work again on Monday, and be ready to play some football.”
Kick-off is 7:00 next Friday night and the game will be broadcast live on the Voice of the Braves, FM-93,5 and AM-600.
