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In a game filled with big plays, the Weston High football team seemed to always come up with one more than Notre Dame of Fairfield. Despite giving up more than 200 rushing yards to the Lancers, Weston's passing game was just as explosive, winning a seesaw battle, 34-20. Weston, now 2-0, is off to its best start in recent years, having won only three games last year.
"That's not good to give up that much [yardage], but these kids are playmakers, too," Weston head coach Joe Lato said. "I think it's pretty big to start this way. It's sure better than 0-2."
Jacob Spencer provided the scoring highlights, recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown on defense and catching a beautifully thrown pass from quarterback Tyler Hassett for a 37-yard score. Senior captain Eddie Hutchins ran for two touchdowns, including the game-winning 6-yarder out of the Wildcat Formation, in which the running back takes the snap instead of the quarterback. Jack Crowell, another senior captain, had two huge sacks and several batted-down balls.
It seemed unlikely that the offense would show up after the first half when the score stood at just 10-6. When the offense finally appeared, Notre Dame seemed to answer every time with explosive runs by sophomore phenom Nigel Beckford. Beckford ran for 187 yards, including 27-yard, 62-yard and 81-yard touchdown runs, handing the lead back to Notre Dame on each occasion. The only thing that slowed Beckford was a minor ankle injury. The Weston defense made a huge fourth down stand with Notre Dame threatening on the 11-yard line. Hutchins iced the game with his second touchdown in garbage time.
"As a team we kind of needed this type of game, I think," Spencer said. "Things weren't going our way at first, but we still kept plugging away. In the end, the scoreboard went our way."
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