Owls travel to Castleton for First Ever Matchup

Welcome back as Westfield State football travels up to Castleton, Vt. for the first ever matchup between the Owls and Vermont State Castleton. 

Westfield secured a 35-27 victory last weekend against the Worcester State Lancers to improve to 2-1 in MASCAC play with a new MASCAC opponent next on the schedule. The Owls had 415 total yards on offense plus five touchdowns, two from Curtis Dion, two from Dylan Disabella, and one from Sean Willis. All five touchdowns were from the ground as Westfield posted a staggering 293 yards rushing on Saturday. 

The Spartans fell to 1-2 in MASCAC play as they suffered a 60-10 loss at the hands of the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs. 

THE SERIES: The Owls have never played Castleton - as this is the first and last season in the MASCAC for the Spartans as NCAA Division III leagues continue to re-align. Castleton will have a one-year stint in the MASCAC as Anna Maria and Dean College will fully be incorporated in the ten-team league next fall. 

WESTFIELD STATE ON OFFENSE: The Owls posted 415 total offensive yards on Saturday against the Lancers with 293 of those yards through the rush game. Westfield had four rushers over 35 yards, headlined by Sean Willis with 131 yards on 20 attempts. This now boosts Willis' average yards per game to 91.8, which is good for third in the conference. Curtis Dion rushed the ball ten times, rushing for 49 yards and scored twice. Dylan Disabella also notched two scores to his resume with 36 yards rushing on 5 touches. 

Westfield also had 122 yards passing between two quarterbacks but was led by senior captain Gabe Fernandez. Fernandez was seven-for-eleven with 80 passing yards. Dion was the leading receiver with 53 receiving yards on just three grabs.

WESTFIELD STATE ON DEFENSE: The Owls held Worcester to under 200 total yards, including forcing the Lancers running game to a net of -12 yards. Worcester had 209 yards through the air from the arms of Parke Hardesky and Cam Ayotte. Hardesky led the Lancers' in yards with 143 on nine completions and an interception. 

Corey Henderson, the MASCAC Rookie of the Week, came down with an interception thrown by Hardesky at the end of the game to secure the win for Westfield. That brings the Owls' team total for interceptions to six this season, making them second in the MASCAC in that category. Cade Nelson led the Owls in total tackles including two for a loss and Westfield's only sack. The Owls had three pass breakups, two from Eric Lovell and one by Zach Allen. 

WESTFIELD STATE ON SPECIAL TEAMS: The Owls kicking duo had a successful week for Westfield as Cooper Harvey was five-for-five with point after attempts. Andrew Currier only had to punt the ball once on Saturday for a 38 yard punt that pinned the Lancers' within the 20 yard line. Currier also kicked the ball off six times for 355 yards and a touchback.

Westfield returned two kickoffs between Logan Gallagher and JJ Tauscher that combined for 18 yards.

CASTLETON STATE ON OFFENSE: Castleton was held to 194 yards of total offense in a 60-10 loss to UMass Dartmouth. Of those 194 yards, 184 came through the air for the Spartans. Wes Cournoyer led Castleton with 133 passing yards on Saturday in 11 completions. A trick play in the form of a 51-yard wide receiver pass from Caezar Williams to Leonard Brice was the only touchdown of the day from the Spartans.

Williams is the leading receiver for Castleton with 23 receptions for 401 yards and three touchdown grabs. Tyson Hall and Christian Keeling lead the Spartans in rushing, both having 108 yards and both tallied a touchdown to their line.

CASTLETON STATE ON DEFENSE: The Spartans are ninth in the league for yards per game with 389.5 given up to opponents but 286 yards per game before last week's game, which was good for third in the MASCAC of all teams. 

Linebacker Kevin McDonough leads Castleton in total tackles with 54 and solo tackles with 29, which both lead the MASCAC in those categories. The Spartans also have five players with three plus tackles for loss, Mike Morrisey (5.5), Kevin McDonough (4.0), Tyler Buxton (4.0), Mark Howland (4.0), and Julien Chiemingo Rivera (3.0). Castleton has two interceptions on the year, both by defensive back Ian DeTulleo.

CASTLETON STATE ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Eydan Linares has handled the kicking responsibilities for the Spartans this season as he is four-for-six from field goal range and five-for-seven in point after attempts. Max Fair handles punts for Castleton as he has punted the ball away 18 times with an average of 35.4 with three downed within the 20 yard line and one over 50 yards. Connor Chilson kicks the ball off for the Spartans who average 50.6 per kick and one touchback this season.

Williams headlines both kickoff and punt returns with six kickoff returns for 97 yards including a longest of 51 yards. He has returned five punts for 11 yards in total.

NEXT WEEK: The Owls will have a bye week next week, returning to action Saturday, October 19 at home against Framingham State at 2 p.m. from Alumni Field for the Owls' homecoming game, part of Westfield State's 185th anniversary.

The Spartans also have a bye next week and come off the bye at home against Plymouth State at home Saturday, October 19 at 2:30 p.m.

COVERAGE: Live coverage of the game will be on WestfieldStateOwls.com with live stats and video.

Published by: Hunter Briggs Sports Info GA