Westfield’s demeanor mirrored the melancholy weather conditions as the first half came to a close. Gray clouds blanketed the sky as never-ending water poured onto the already soaked field. No matter how many times the ball kids wiped the football, nothing could keep it dry enough to avoid unforced fumbles.
Plainfield stood with a 1st and 10 at the Westfield 45. The Cardinals snapped the ball and just like that, the ball bounced around on the ground like a jumping bean after slipping from the quarterback’s hands.
Quickly, senior Lincoln Meyers pummeled the ball’s previous caretaker allowing junior Jake Zemsky to scoop the ball and charge up the field. Plainfield players barreled toward him in hopes of forcing him down, but Blue Devils Connor Whelan and Nicholas Russo took out anyone threatening Zemsky’s 55-yard dash.
The band played the Blue Devil fight song once Russo completed a successful extra point, and Westfield was temporarily revived, closing the 12-point deficit to a mere 5-point difference, 9-14.
This touchdown, and senior Sebby Magherini’s interception in the last minute of the first half, energized Westfield. They believed their original sluggish behavior had subsided as they entered the locker room figuring the second half would be a movie-like comeback. “[The touchdown] gave us hope and got us out of that steep hole,” said Magherini.
Assistant coach and linebacker coach Donald Dayon said, “The kids stood in there, hung tough, and wound up keeping ourselves in the game and fighting. They kept fighting and that’s what you gotta do.”
Even with momentum and possession to start the second half, Westfield “just couldn’t execute,” said Maghereini. For the first time in 13 years, the game ended in Plainfield’s favor, 14-9.
Senior co-captain Jack Martin said, “The biggest thing was that we were just confused out there. We prepared for a very long time for this game and forgot everything we practiced…We came out slow and they got an early touchdown which really didn’t help our case.”
Just 20 seconds into the game, points dazzled the scoreboard. Westfield began on defense after deferring the coin-toss, and Plainfield returned the kick-off, earning a 1st and 10 at their own 35.
The ball was hiked, and for a few brief moments, sight of the ball was lost in a mass of players. Breaking free from the group was Plainfield senior Ala-Meen Watkins, who carried the ball 65-yards to the end zone. Even with a failed kick, the Cardinals had a quick lead, 6-0.
The Blue Devils would not underestimate the Cardinals again during their next possession. With a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the inability to carry the ball a significant way, Plainfield was faced with 4th and 20 backed almost on top of their own end zone. Taking a risk, they snapped the ball in an attempt to gain a first down.
Immediate mistake. Vengeance spilled from Meyers’s helmet as he dashed and sacked Watkins in the endzone for a safety, sparking fuel to the fire as the first quarter ended 2-6.
The second quarter started similar to the first. The Cardinals made a big run after Westfield had a turnover on downs, and started the quarter with a 1st and 10 at the Westfield 14. Plainfield senior EJ Brown, finished those last yards handily and had a run on their two-point conversion to push their lead to 14-2.
Westfield responded with Zemsky’s touchdown to end the half. Dayon said, “It was kind of messy out there, and I think when [Plainfield] went up a little on us, we could have folded and we didn’t.”
The second half hosted a series of impressive plays: returned fumbles, long passes from Blue Devil junior Cole Weidler, contested receptions by senior Enzo Ferraro and a handful of rushing yardage by senior Blake Rudow. But, these efforts never ended in points and the game concluded with Plainfield players diving into the puddles at the edge of the turf in celebration.
“Our biggest setback was the weather and our mistakes because of it. We knew going into [this game] that it was going to be won by whichever team had the least amount of mistakes. And we ended up making more,” said Magherini.
This Thanksgiving Day game marks the 119th annual event between the same two teams. Since 2011, the Cardinals had not added to their win column, but now, they have an all-time record of 46-66-7.
Along with the game, other traditions spotted the stadium. On the cold and wet Thanksgiving morning, family, friends and alumni filled Gary Kehler Stadium with umbrellas, blankets and towels. The cheerleaders stood on the track encouraging chants and cheers from the crowd, and the band took their usual section of the stands.
Junior cheerleader Autumn Harper said, “We’ve been practicing since the football season ended, and the captains prepared a whole new halftime routine. We didn’t get to perform it today because it was raining…The rain was absolutely terrible. I was freezing…and we couldn’t use pom-poms or anything because it was pouring.”
Similar to the cheerleaders, the band prepared heavily for their last game of the year. Senior drum major Nick Regas said, “Every year the marching band rehearses after the Wednesday half day. We practice the stand tunes…our standstill performance which is different from our usual halftime show…and at this rehearsal, alumni from the band come back for a social event and at the end of the rehearsal, everyone rushes them and plays the fight song.”
As it is the last game for the seniors in the marching band, “a common tradition that will get frowns” from their band director is when “members switch instruments” and the drum players purposefully “play a different cadence– drumbeat,” said Regas. “Overall, the marching band tries to make this game about having fun one last time before the true end of the season.”
Harper and her teammates did the same as the band, despite having to deal with the struggles of the rain. “The only thing about the rain is that it’s kind of funny. I was just having fun dancing around with my friends… I had fun,” said Harper.
Although the outcome of the game was unexpected and disappointing for the players, many went home ready to dry off and celebrate Thanksgiving with their families.
