LINDEN – The Linden football team defeated Westfield 14-7 Friday night to even its record at 1-1.
Westfield entered with a 37-game winning streak and fell to 0-1. Westfield’s previous loss was at Linden four years ago in the North 2, Group 5 playoffs by the score of 14-6.
Linden scored on its first possession to go ahead 7-0. The Tigers marched 72 yards in seven plays and reached the end zone on a 42-yard pass from Zion Marshall to Schadrac Petit-Homme. Marshall rolled right and threw a pass that Petit-Homme beat single coverage on, with Petit-Homme coming down with the ball right before entering the end zone. Rafael Martinez kicked the extra point.
Westfield reached the Linden 25 on its first possession before Linden’s Alex Dorce came up with an interception at the Linden nine-yard line.
Linden was driving again on its second possession and reached the 50 before losing a fumble after a Westfield strip.
Westfield reached the Linden 34 before punting.
In the second quarter, Westfield blocked a punt and went on to reach the Linden seven-yard line before that drive was stalled on a 10-yard pass completion from Hank Shapiro to Tim Alliegro that fell two yards short.
Linden reached the Westfield 37 on its next drive before punting the ball back.
The first half took only 46 minutes, in large part because of a lot of running plays and there was only one penalty – an offensive holding call on Linden with 3:50 left in the second quarter.
Linden’s B.J. George rushed for 99 yards on 14 carries in the first half, Marshall 26 on seven and Alliegro 21 on eight.
Westfield tied the game at 7-7 after scoring on its first possession of the second half. The Blue Devils took the second half kickoff and fell on a short kick to start at their own 38.
Westfield reached the Linden 37 and on fourth-and-two Alliegro ran right for 11 yards and a first down. That gave him 30 yards on 11 carries at that time.
Two plays later Shapiro found Justin Chambliss wide open on the left side for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Mack Prybylski (No. 16) kicked the extra point.
The drive was 10 plays, 62 yards and took up 5:52.
Linden immediately responded to take the lead for good. The Tigers marched 65 yards in eight plays, with a 3:52 drive culminating with a two-yard touchdown run up the middle by George.
Two plays earlier George produced a 36-yard run to the left to give Linden first-and-goal at the Westfield six.
Martinez kicked his second extra point to put Linden ahead 14-7.
George finished with 190 yards on 26 carries and scored one touchdown.
When Linden took the lead there was 2:07 left in the third quarter.
Westfield punted the ball back to Linden on its last possession of the third quarter.
Linden was then on the move again before losing a fumble after just entering Westfield territory. Westfield took over at its own 48 and reached the Linden 15 before the snap went over Shapiro’s head on fourth down and he was tackled for a loss.
When Westfield got the ball back again after a Linden punt – this time by George – Linden’s Dami Awoyinfa came up with a big solo sack one play after several Linden players combined to sack Shapiro.
Westfield’s final possession saw the Blue Devils punt the ball back to Linden from their own 20.
Linden was then able to run out the final 4:22, with Marshall icing the game with an 11-yard run on fourth down that gave Linden a first down at the Westfield 22.
Marshall finished with 70 yards on 15 carries.
Alliegro was held to 36 yards on 13 attempts.