SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – In a hard-hitting game fitting of the rivalry, Western New England delivered the final blow on a 38-yard catch and run by Alejandro Colon to give the Golden Bears a 17-14 win over the Owls on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams traded blows all day. Two of the best running backs in New England were featured, as Westfield State's Mike Mercadante ground out 132 yards on 32 carries and scored both Westfield State touchdowns on runs of 13 and six yards. Western New England received 90 yards from senior tailback Kevin Cook, who also passed the 3000-yard mark for his career.
Westfield's defense and special teams posted two interceptions, and forced three fumbles, recovering one.
Western New England got on the board first, marching 76 yards on 13 plays on its second drive of the game, capped by a 1 yard td run from Cook. The TD was the 39th of Cook's career, tying the WNE rushing record.
Midway through the second quarter, Westfield mounted a strong drive of its own. The Owls started with a short field at the Western New England 43 after the WSU defense had forced a three-and out and the Golden Bears had to punt from their own 6-yard line. Westfield moved the 43 yards in nine plays, capped by a 13-yard touchdown run from Mercadante.
The Golden Bears led at the half, 10-7, after a 29-yard Kevin Patterson field goal with 1:26 left in the half.
Westfield State got a lift on special teams midway through the third quarter. After WNE drove the ball from it's own seven-yard line to the Westfield State five-yard line on 10 plays. The Owls defense held with three straight and-goal stops inside the five yard line to force a 22-yard field goal try. Sam Laurin rushed from the right end and dove to block the try to keep any further damage off the scoreboard.
The ensuing Owls drive stalled, but special teams came up big again. Freshman John Ollari boomed a 42-yard punt, and then Westfield's Marcus Pettigrew forced a fumble from WNE return man Tucker Schumitz, which was recovered by the Owls William Tejada at the WNE 36-yard line.
Westfield struck quickly, as senior QB Steve Guercio connected with tight end Peter Knowles for a 15-yard gain, and a face mask penalty moved the ball to the Western New England six yard line. Mercadante then rushed up the middle, dragging tacklers into the end zone for a 14-10 owls lead with 14:26 left in the game.
The two teams traded a pair of short drives. After WNE was forced to punt, Westfield fumbled on the next series to give the Golden Owls a short field. But the Westfield defense again came up big, this time with senior linebacker picking off Western New England quarterback Tyler Ward's pass at the eight-yard line and returned it to the 11.
The Owls' ensuing possession went nowhere after a pair of holding penalties. After another punt, Western New England started with good field position at the Westfield State 49-yard line. Two rushing plays gave Western New England a first down at the Westfield 38, and then Ward completed a middle screen to Colon, who avoided a couple of tacklers and then sprinted downfield for what proved to be the game-winning score, and a 17-14 Golden Bears lead with 4:18 left in the game.
Westfield marched from its own 21 to the Western New England 48 on a its final drive with a chance to win the game. Five runs from Mercadante and a Guercio completion to Yinka Areago put the ball across midfield, but the drive stalled at the Western New England 48-yard line after three straight incompletions.
Western New England was able to run out the final 57 seconds to seal the win, and regain the President's Cup. Westfield leads the all-time series 14-12.
"It was a hard-fough game, very evenly matched," said Westfield State head coach Pete Kowalski. " There were a couple of big plays each way, and they ultimately made the big play that won it. Western New England has a good team and a good program."
Western New England improved to 2-0 with the win.
Guercio finished 9-19 passing for 93 yards for the Owls. Bobby Boire had five catches for 47 yards to lead the receiving corps.
Westfield falls to 1-1 with the loss. The Owls will travel to UMass-Dartmouth next Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff against the Corsairs.