Head coach Gary Griffo said it would not take long to find out if his Westhill football team still possessed the formula that produced a Section III Class B championship and a run to the state semifinals a season ago. At least through one big test, little has changed, as the Warriors, led by big-play wide receiver Nathan Nigolian, came from behind three times Friday night for a 38-28 victory over Vernon Verona Sherrill, thought to be one of the main challengers to Westhill’s crown. This sets up another showdown next Friday, as the Warriors visit Marcellus, the team it beat for the 2009 title. Hours before Westhill topped VVS, the Mustangs gave new head coach Joe Fiacchi his first win at the helm by going to Phoenix and shutting out the Firebirds 38-0. Though a non-league game, Westhill knew that VVS provided a severe challenge. The Red Devils had most of its team (30 players in all) back from last year’s 7-2 run that got halted when the Warriors (aided by a rash of turnovers)crushed VVS 37-7, in the sectional semifinals. But while Westhill saw many marquee names (like Dan Ross, Jeff Law and Tyler Nigolian) depart, Nathan Nigolian was still around, having won state titles as a junior in both basketball and baseball. On this night, Nigolian would be spectacular, catching six passes from new quarterback Mark McAnaney for 183 yards and getting touchdowns on both sides of the ball to help Westhill survive a seesaw battle. Westhill trailed, 6-0, when McAnaney struck for his first TD pass late in the opening period, a 20-yard strike to Joe Snyder, and R.J. Chester hit the go-ahead extra point. Then, early in the second quarter, McAnaney somehow scrambled out of a possible sack and threw deep downfield. Nigolian timed his leap just right, made the catch and finished off a 30-yard touchdown to push the Warriors’ lead to 14-6. Unfazed by this, VVS tied it, 14-14, by halftime, then moved ahead early in the third quarter when Matt Silker returned a punt 74 yards for a TD. As if on cue, Nigolian returned, again catching a long pass from McAnaney and turning it into a 66-yard touchdown to even it again at 21-21. VVS answered early in the fourth quarter, Collin Way scoring on a seven-yard run. Behind for the third time on this night, Westhill again got a big play – this time from running back Matt Trendowski. Taking a handoff at his own 24-yard line, Trendowski found a seam, then outran the Red Devil defenders to the end zone for the TD that tied it for a third time at 28-28. Not until Chester returned to kick a clutch 35-yard field goal with 1:40 to play did the Warriors move ahead for good. Still, with Tyler Mautner at quarterback, VVS stood a good chance of pulling out the win at the wire. That’s when the turnover bug hit, just as it did in that semifinal 10 months ago – and it was Nigolian stepping in front of a Mautner pass and returning the interception (his second of the night) 36 yards for the clinching touchdown. Aside from his long TD run, Trendowski also led Westhill’s defense with 13 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery, with Jalen Robinson adding six tackles. McAnaney threw 15 passes, completing nine of them for 217 yards. After all this excitement, Westhill knows a similar effort will be needed in the hostile atmosphere it will face in Marcellus – helped in no small part by the way the Mustangs disposed of Phoenix. Not only was Joe Fiacchi making his head coaching debut, so was Kyle Hastings at quarterback, following in the giant footsteps that Will Fiacchi left behind. At least against the Firebirds, it wasn’t tough at all. Ricky Alfreds, on his way to 80 rushing yards, scored from eight yards out to put Marcellus ahead 7-0 in the first quarter. Even the Mustangs’ special teams got involved, as Nick Nye brought back a Phoenix punt 70 yards for a TD late in the period. Chris Charles, perfect on five extra point tries on the day, connected on a 35-yard field goal for the only points of the second quarter, and it was 17-0 going into the break. Not content with that, the Mustangs turned to Hastings, who hit Jeff Ames on a 38-yard TD pass in the third quarter, then scored on an 11-yard scramble in the final period. Brad Kermes went 20 yards for the final touchdown. All the while, Marcellus excelled on the defensive side, keeping Phoenix from even crossing midfield until the second half. Eric Lester earned two interceptions, also getting six tackles, as Hayes also contributed an interception. Zach Wiley led with 12 tackles, including a sack, while Nye earned 11 tackles. Jason Decker had nine tackles and Tyler Tomeny contributed six tackles. Marcellus lost twice to Westhill last season, including that sectional final, the first in the program’s history. The winner here becomes the Class B West division front-runner – and the sectional front-runner, too, adding to the night’s importance.