Chantilly, VA - In a game that marked the debut of head coach Scott Vossler for the Westfield Bulldogs, the Patriot Pioneers emerged victorious with a decisive 41-24 win. Vossler, who took over after a successful stint at Robinson High School, saw his team struggle to contain the high-powered offense of Patriot, led by standout performances from several key players.
The action started quickly, with Patriot scoring on a 52-yard touchdown run by an unnamed running back just 2:21 into the first quarter, giving them a 7-0 lead. Westfield managed to respond with a field goal later in the quarter, narrowing the gap to 7-3, but it was clear from the outset that the Pioneers had come to play.
Patriot continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, with a 37-yard run by Jackson McCarter setting up a quick touchdown that extended their lead to 14-3. Westfield tried to rally, but penalties stalled their progress, and Patriot capitalized with another touchdown, this time a 43-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Knutson to receiver Diasion Noakes, followed by a short touchdown run that made it 20-3.
Westfield showed some fight before halftime. A 45-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Carlson to Prince Southerland set up a one-yard touchdown sneak by Carlson, cutting the deficit to 20-10 at the half.
The third quarter saw Patriot pulling away. Knutson connected with Noakes for a 48-yard touchdown, and their lead swelled to 27-10. Despite multiple opportunities, Westfield's offense struggled to gain momentum, and Patriot added two more touchdowns to extend their lead to 41-10 by the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Westfield managed a late rally. Carlson scored on another one-yard sneak, and after recovering an onside kick, he found a receiver for a 40-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 41-24. However, it was too little, too late for the Bulldogs.
Patriot's well-rounded offensive performance, led by Knutson and McCarter, proved too much for Westfield to handle in their home opener. Coach Vossler and the Bulldogs will look to regroup and refine their game plan as they move forward in the season.
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