Westmont Wildcat's Mighty Mite team secures 3-0 record
On Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, the undefeated (3 – 0) Westmont Wildcats Mighty Mite Black team played at Plainfield High School against the similarly undefeated Plainfield Prowlers.
Westmont won the coin toss but their offense quickly sputtered out after an initial first down. The Plainfield offense came on the field and in 3 short plays found the end zone. The Westmont defense woke up and stopped Plainfield from converting the extra point; however, Westmont was trailing 0 – 6 to Plainfield. This was the first time that Westmont had been behind in any game this season.
The Westmont offense took the field with a new found determination to smash the 0 – 6 deficit. They made multiple first downs before superstar Running Back Chaz Hunter ignited for a 42 yard touchdown run led by Guard Riley Dorsey, Tackle Gabriel Lischalk, Tight End Neo Hotchkiss, Center Kamari Freeman and Tackle Ian Coyle, to tie the score at 6 – 6. Unfortunately, Westmont could not convert the extra point so at the end of the 1st quarter the score remained tied 6 – 6.
After being embarrassed by the Prowler offense, Defensive End Nicolas Gerbasi (3 tackles, 2 for loss of 10 yard, fumble caused and fumble recovered), Hunter (3.5 tackles, 3 for loss of 9 yards), Kadin VanHoegarden, J.J. Sleeper, Camden Hubeny and the rest of the Wildcat defense came back with a vengeance. They totally shut down the Plainfield offense for the entire 2nd quarter holding them to negative yardage for the period. The Westmont offense would also strike during the 2nd quarter, as speedster Running Back Ryan Domin (10 carries for 52 yards) and bruising Fullback Cameron Wanda (10 carries for 45 yards) kept banging out first downs. Hunter came in and capped off this drive with a 22 yard touchdown run. He also finished off this drive with a powerful extra point conversion, giving the Wildcats a 13 – 6 lead going into halftime. Guard, Gerbasi threw the key block on this play and later received the “Tank” award for the team's best blocker.
The 3rd quarter began with both teams exchanging possessions. On Plainfield's 2nd possession they broke off a long run which looked certain to score, but Cornerback Wanda (2 tackles) took down the Prowler running back at the Westmont 4 yard line. Plainfield had a first and goal and decided to try to throw for the touchdown. This decision proved to be a fatal one as Tackle, J.J. Sleeper (2 tackles for 8 yards lost) came flying in off the edge to sack the quarterback and create a fumble, which Linebacker Mico Meluzzi (2 tackles) gobbled up. Westmont Head Coach David Marco stated “Sleeper's play was so critical in this game as it truly cemented our victory.”
Westmont's offense got back to work by going on a long scoring drive that helped secure Hunter's 3rd touchdown carry of the day. Hunter finished the day with 11 carries for 125 yards, 11.36 ypc, 3 touchdowns, however; It was his defensive effort that earned him the “Hitman” award for the team's top defensive player. Domin would cap off this final drive with a nifty run for the extra point giving Westmont a final 20 – 6 victory, driving the team's record to 3 – 0!Plainfield would try to get on the board again but couldn't muster a first down against Tackle James Mendoza, Free Safety Justin Bellas (1 tackle for a loss of 2 yards), Tackle Cameron VanHoegarden (2 tackles) and Corner Back D'Andre Ponce (2.5 tackles).
Westmont Wildcats will take their undefeated record to Chicago to play the powerful Chicago Chargers (2 – 1) at noon at Columbus Park on Saturday, September 15, 2012.