The Summit and Westfield captains met at midfield for the coin toss, tension thick in the air. Their eyes locked in a stare that could cut glass, acknowledging the high stakes of this undefeated matchup. Both teams entered the stadium with perfect records, but only one could depart with that status intact– and with the conference title.
The game began with the Hilltoppers stumbling on their opening drive, gaining little ground on the first down. But on second down, Summit quarterback Rebecca Harris flicked a pass to junior Catherine Fagan, who cradled the ball and sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown in the game’s opening minutes.
With the sudden Summit blow, Westfield was left rattled and never regained their footing. The Blue Devils suffered their first loss of the season, falling 0-19.
“A lot of people gave up on themselves after the first touchdown,” said senior captain Emma Sullivan. “We needed to keep our energy up and it would have been a completely different game.”
The Blue Devils’ first possession showed little promise, settling for a punt after failing to convert a first down. Yet, Summit’s ensuing possession fared no better, also settling for a punt.
Pinned back at their own 15-yard line, Westfield’s senior quarterback, Priscilla Dayon, managed a completion to junior Lea Passarelli for a first down. The sun peeked from behind the clouds as it seemed the Blue Devils might be finding their rhythm. Momentum shifted again— junior Jaina Shah leaped for an interception and gained a 10-yard run to begin Summit’s next scoring opportunity at their own 35.
It didn’t take long. Once again, a short pass from Harris to Fagan led to a 30-yard run and a touchdown for the Hilltoppers, followed by a 1-point pass to extend Summit’s lead, 13-0.
“We need to work on not making as many mistakes,” said Passarelli. “I think a lot of our offense when it comes to completing passes, setting blocks so jets and running plays can be made, and simple things like that we need to work on.” With only 4 completions of the 15 attempts throughout the game, it was evident that the Blue Devils’ offense struggled.
Sullivan pointed to the lack of preparation. “One thing that didn’t go well was coming off of spring break. A lot of people just came back today or yesterday,” said Sullivan.
The next two Westfield possessions resulted in punts, as they were unable to build any offensive momentum. “We need to execute our base plays better,” said head coach Matthew Andzel. “This taught us a lot. We did not have the best week of practice. We had to practice with ten or less people which made it really difficult to get timing down and hone in on our basic skills. If you miss as much as you do and play a good team, you can expect to lose.”
Before halftime, Summit forced their way up the field once more, capping the drive with a short 3-yard touchdown pass. The Hilltoppers entered the break with a commanding lead 19-0.
A year ago, the roles were reversed. The Blue Devils traveled to Summit and shut them out 20-0. This time, Summit came for revenge and Westfield was not prepared for their aggression.
Coming back from the half, Westfield’s gameplay improved drastically on both sides of the ball. Although the Blue Devils did not score, their offense propelled them toward the end zone, and their defense held firm, prohibiting any further Summit scoring.
“The game has taught us that we really need to rely on each other,” said Sullivan. “And once we came back from the first half – although we didn’t score – the energy was up a lot more and we were able to drive more. As a captain, I strive to be there for my team and pick them up, and losing one game does not define us,” said Sullivan.
The Blue Devils also played today against Kent Place, where they bounced back and won 18-6.
