No. 1 Westfield Shuts Out No. 8 Oakton, 35-0

It
could have been the momentum of an undefeated season. Or maybe it was
the intensity of the long-standing rivalry. The fact that it was
Oakton�??s senior night was also a major motivating factor on a cold, wet
Saturday night game.

But more than anything, No. 1 Westfield
just came ready to play in a 35-0 victory over No. 8 Oakton to resulted
in its fourth shutout of the season.

For the Bulldogs (9-0
overall, 5-0 Concorde District) , it was apparent from the first few
drives of the game that the Cougars (5-4, 3-2) were in for more than
they had asked for that night. Oakton�??s offense was challenged from the
start as Westfield, putting faith in their defense, won the toss and
elected to defend on the opening kickoff.

	Only a few drives into the game, Westfield senior linebacker Brian Kennedy put aside the night�??s cold atmosphere and made his own bone-chilling tackle deep in Oakton territory, knocking the ball loose. Westfield recovered, but a David Skahn 42-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. Kennedy, ever the playmaker, would create another opportunity, this time on the offensive side of the ball. On Westfield’s next possession, he broke free on a 25-yard touchdown run up the middle of the field for a 7-0 lead. The rest of the first quarter remained scoreless as the teams battled, Westfield trying to pull ahead Oakton trying to catch up. Just before the half, the Bulldogs got on the board again with a 13-yard scoring pass from senior quarterback Mike Glennon to senior wide receiver Johnny Pickett — his first glorifying moment of the night. Westfield was hurt by its own errors in the second quarter as two apparent touchdowns were called back because of penalties. That was in addition to another 6-yard touchdown reception by senior running back Steve Tabot in the first quarter that was similarly negated by a holding penalty.
Westfield senior Brian Kennedy, pictured here against Chantilly earlier this season, stood out both offensively and defensively for the Bulldogs in Saturday’s title-clinching win at Oakton.

Shortly after halftime, though, the Bulldogs got going. Glennon completed a pass to fellow senior — and back-up quarterback — Billy Samson
for a 15-yard score for a more comfortable, 21-0 lead. Late in the 3rd
quarter, Westfield secured its lead as they made a second attempt at
giving Pickett a chance to throw the ball up field on a wide receiver
pass. It took two attempts for the play to work, but finally senior
wide receiver Randy Johns hauled in Pickett�??s second passing attempt for a 30-yard touchdown.

The Bulldogs added one final score when Glennon completed a 10-yard pass to senior wide receiver David Kruchko early in the fourth quarter.

Westfield,
which with Chantilly’s loss to Centreville on Monday has already secured
the 2007 Concorde District Championship, will look to put the finishing
touches on its undefeated regular-season when it travels to face
the Wildcats Friday.