By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area

**Game highlights are posted!!!

Through five weeks, Westfield was off to the worst start -- by far -- in its 10-year history.

Graduation rates had apparently caught up with the Bulldogs, as had the most taxing schedule in the Northern Region, and they lost four of their first five games.

But, in a just a month, the current crop of athletes did not only restore Westfield's legacy.

They've enhanced it.

Recording a fourth-consecutive win Friday, 24-7 at Centreville, Westfield clinched at least a share of the Concorde District championship.

And, aside from a miraculous upheaval in the final week of the season, the Bulldogs (5-4, 4-0) will enter the playoffs in two weeks as easily the most-feared mid-table team.

"I was talking to a lot of the '07 players, Mikey [Glennon] and them. They were telling us to keep our heads up because Coach Verbanic will never give up on us," said senior quarterback Danny Fenyak, 13-for-21 passing for 125 yards with rushing and passing touchdowns.

"Now, finally, we're back in it and have a chance to make a run in the playoffs."

The key to that run will be the Bulldog defense, historically an anchor for the teams that won 65 of 67 regular-season games between 2001 and 2008 and two AAA state titles (2004, 2007).

Since allowing 28 points to Woodson (8-1) in Week 5, Westfield has allowed more than 14 points once -- in its 21-20, overtime win over Robinson (8-1, 3-1).

The Rams have the highest-scoring offense in Division 6 and are otherwise undefeated.

Only Stone Bridge (8-1), the top seed in Division 5, has scored more than 14 points on Westfield in regulation.

Friday, against the Wildcats, the Bulldogs allowed 3.06 yards per carry on the ground and interceptions two passes without allowing a score through the air.

Though Centreville (3-6, 1-3) ran 18 more plays than Westfield -- gaining 18 more yards -- it was timely tackles and swarming coverage against the Wildcat spread that triggered the Bulldogs' defensive success.

Senior linebacker Dylan Doty had a game-high eight tackles.

"I think our defense has been lights-out. Those guys play with so much heart and so much desire," said Tom Verbanic, 93-22 in his 10 seasons at Westfield. "We're not real big, but we fly to the football.

"Dylan Doty has just played fantastic and he's been a real team player. He'd like to run the ball more, but we need him to play every down on defense. [Senior] Nick Grinups has played great, [senior] B.J. Bordley has been super -- I could go on and on."

Added Fenyak: "[Centreville's] spread offense, that's tough. We needed to keep them off the field and they were on the field a lot tonight.

"Our defense just steps up when we need them -- making interceptions, fumbles when we need them, blocked punts, everything."

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com

Box Score      1    2    3    4    --    F  
Westfield       7    3    7    7    --   24
Centreville     7    0    0    0    --    7

Scoring Plays                               
1Q -- WF -- Monticue 29 run (Crossett kick) -- 7:17
1Q -- CV -- Walter 1 run (Rondeau kick) -- 1:57
2Q -- WF -- Crossett 19 FG -- 0:16
3Q -- WF -- Fenyak 9 run (Crossett kick) -- 1:54
3Q -- WF -- Ferington 9 from Fenyak (Crossett kick) -- 8:33

Passing
WF - Fenyak - 13-for-21, 125 yards, TD.
CV - Ca. Walter - 18-for-33, 147 yards, INT; Roman - 0-for-1, 0 yards.
Rushing
WF - Monticue - 13 car, 51 yards, TD; Ferington - 6 car, 26 yards; Anderson - 6 car, 23 yards; Fenyak - 5 car, 5 yards, TD; C.J. Craft - 4 car, 3 yards; Pisarcik - 1 car, -6 yards.
CV - Garrity - 10 car, 63 yards; Man. Smith - 11 car, 47 yards; Coward - 2 car, 0 yards; Ca. Walter - 9 car, -12 yards, TD.
Receiving
WF - Scoville - 5 rec, 61 yards; Turner - 5 rec, 52 yards; Ferington - 1 rec, 9 yards, TD; Anderson - 2 rec, 3 yards.
CV - Denny - 6 rec, 63 yards; Garrity - 2 rec, 45 yards; Man. Smith - 3 rec, 26 yards; Ekanem - 3 rec, 10 yards; Ch. Walter - 2 rec, 3 yards.
Times Targeted
WF - Scoville - 8; Turner - 7; Anderson - 3; Ferington - 2; Nicoll - 1.
CV - Denny - 12; Ekanem - 6; Garrity - 6; Ch. Walter - 5; Man. Smith - 3; Coward - 2.
Tackling Leaders
WF - Doty - 8; Hartman - 6; Lehman - 6; Bordley - 4; Grinups - 4; Millson - 4; Sweet - 4.
CV - Seneca - 7; Anderson - 6; Kennedy - 6; Barbour - 5; Behne - 5; Pearson - 4.
Total Yards
WF - 227. CV - 245.
Time of Possession (First Half TOP)
WF - 25:10 (9:47). CV - 22:50 (14:13).
First Downs (Total; Run-Pass-Penalty)
WF - 13; 9-4-0. CV - 15; 9-6-0.

**Click here for all the highlights from Week 9 in the Northern Region!**