Football To Host Anna Maria in Key Conference Clash

WESTFIELD, Mass.  --     Westfield State football welcomes Anna Maria College to Alumni Field on Saturday, Oct. 4 for a key game between two of the top teams in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference standings.   Both teams come into the game 2-1 in the MASCAC, and hold 2-2 overall records.

LAST WEEK: Westfield State University scored a pair of touchdowns on blocked punts on the way to a 31-22, Family and Champions Weekend win over Worcester State University.  The Owls were led by 110 yards rushing from first-year fullback Manny Mengata, and got six catches for 88 yards from wideout Will Brewster. The Owls sacked Worcester State QB's six times for a loss of 46 yards, and held the Lancers to negative rushing yardage on the day. Budder Ferreira and Aydan Verba contributed 1.5 sacks each.

LAST YEAR: The Owls fell to Anna Maria, 41-13 in the 2024 season opener, which was also the first game of Owls head coach Lou Conte, Jr.'s tenure, and the first game running the triple option offense.   AMC quarterback Ryan Russell threw for 278 yards with two TD's and two INT's, and scrambled for 76 more yards including a 5-yard TD run. Owls' returnees Tafari Proctor and Andrew Lovell had the two interceptions for the Wetsfield defense.  Sean Willis ran for 88 yards for the Owls, while Dylan Disabella caught four passes for 54 yards and a TD.  Lance Thomas led the AmCats defense with 11 tackles and a forced fumble.  Blake Simpson had nine stops and a sack for Westfield.

WESTFIELD ON OFFENSE: The Owls are averaging 26.8 points per game on 303 yards per game of offense.   First-year FB Manny Mengata has carried 101 times for 413, yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and has three games of 100+ rushing yards this season.   Aidan Patterson has lent support with 15 carries for 115 yards and three touchdown while giving Westfield a change of pace.    QB Miles Foerster continues to be efficient in the passing game, completing 60 percent of his throws for 483 yards this season, and has tossed four touchdowns to just one interception.  Senior WR Will Brewster has evolved into a favorite target, with 15 catches for 197 yards and two TD's.   Casey Tang has 13 catches for 153 yards, and Patterson has caught eight balls out of the backfield.

WESTFIELD ON DEFENSE: Westfield is giving up 18.3 points per game to its opponents this season.  Senior LB Budder Ferreira leads with 29 tackles, and has generally caused havoc for Owl foes with 3.5 sacks, two blocked kicks, an interception and a forced fumble and recovery. Safety Tafari Proctor has made 20 stops this season and recovered a blocked kick for a TD last week.  Senior LB Justyn Gardener has to be accounted for by opponents as he leads the MASCAC with five sacks, seven TFL's and a forced fumble.  Eric Lovell has a pair of interceptions, which leads the Owls and is second in the conference.

WESTFIELD ON SPECIAL TEAMS:  Brandon Paquette leads the MASAC with nine punt returns, and a 12.6 yards-per average.   Andrew Currier is 8-9 on extra points and 1-2 on field goals, connecting from 27 yards and missing from 47 last weekend.

ANNA MARIA ON OFFENSE:  First year QB Nikolay Boyce triggers the AmCats offense – he leads the conference in completions (73), attempts (113) and passing yards per game (242.8).  Anna Maria is averaging 474 yards and 28 points per game and score 47, 33, and 25 in their last three outings. Ka'Marion Thomas has been a favorite receiver with 20 catches for 298 yards and four touchdowns.   Max Gasinowski has 19 catches for 212 yards and a pair of scores. Treshawn Blair leads a limited run game with 29 carries for 124 yards in three games played.

ANNA MARIA ON DEFENSE:  Tyler Thibodeau leads with 20 tackles and a blocked kick this season.  Charles DeMartino has been in on 26 tackles and forced one fumble.  Graduate DB Mar-Zhon Brinson has 16 stops and the team's lone interception this year.  The AmCats are surrendering an average of 416 yards per game to opponents this year.

ANNA MARIA ON SPECIAL TEAMS:   Ka'Marion Thomas is the primary kick returned with a 23.1 yard average.  Abdul Bangara has been booming them in the punt game to a 41.5 yard average, and is 2-2 on field goal tries, but 4-7 on extra point attempts.

NEXT WEEK:  Westfield State gets the bye week in the conference slate for the long weekend.  Westfield will return to game action on Saturday, Oct. 18 with a noon kickoff at Framingham State, which is currently unbeaten in conference play.    Anna Maria also has a bye week, then gets back on the field in travelling to Plymouth State on Oct. 18.