Pat Cayer (27) hands the ball to the official after running for a first down. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Entering off the heels of a 21-15 season-opening defeat to Dedham on September 10, Westwood High School varsity football travelled to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday night looking to rebound against North Quincy.
North Quincy received the game's opening kickoff and put together an almost flawless six-play, 59-yard drive, capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by Thomas Murray to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead.
On the second play of Westwood's opening series, North Quincy's Hunter McIsaac picked off Westwood quarterback Brendan Donegan to set up the Raiders in plus territory. Westwood's defense was able to force North Quincy to a fourth-and-two from the 30-yard line. The Raiders opted to go for it and the risk paid off as McIsaac took a toss out of the backfield, cut to his left and dashed 30 yards for a touchdown to double North Quincy's lead to 14-0.
Still trailing by 14 late in the quarter, Westwood caught a break when McIsaac muffed a punt deep in his own territory to set up the Wolverines at the North Quincy 24-yard-line. Back-to-back sacks of Donegan stopped the Wolverines from capitalizing on the botched punt, as Westwood was pushed out of field goal range and forced to punt.
North Quincy took its 14-0 lead into the second quarter and later extended it to 17-0, thanks to a 30-yard field goal by Murray with 3:06 to play before halftime. Westwood's offense was unable to muster any points in the final three-plus minutes as the game entered halftime with North Quincy ahead by 17.
After Westwood's offense was forced to punt on its opening series of the second half, North Quincy put together a 10-play, 52-yard drive, capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by Matt Craig (13 carries, 137 yards, two touchdowns) to make it a 24-0 game with 2:58 to play in the third.
On the first play of the fourth quarter following a Westwood punt, Craig put the game away with a highlight-reel 27-yard touchdown run, which featured a multitude of broken tackles. Westwood was unable to spoil the shutout as North Quincy prevailed by a final of 31-0.
Westwood will look to rebound at home on September 24 when the Wolverines play host to Quincy at Flahive Field at 7 p.m.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
