Many will argue that the Westhill football team should not have the no. 2 state Class B ranking – at least not yet, anyway.
Solvay might agree with that high consideration, though, in the wake of the Warriors drubbing the rival Bearcats 48-14 Friday night to improve its record to 4-0.
Due to the annual Westhill bonfire, they didn’t kick off the game until 7:30, an hour later than usual. Needless to say, the Warriors were primed to play, as it jumped all over Solvay for 28 points in the first quarter alone.
Matt Trendowski began the blitz, going 38 yards for a touchdown on Westhill’s first possession. Solvay briefly answered when Paul Clisson broke free and went 83 yards for the longest TD of his varsity career to make it 7-6.
All that did, though, was make the Warriors angry, as it quickly drove to another score, Mark McAnaney throwing 30 yards to Jacob Nigolian.
Not wanting to be left out, Nathan Nigolian returned to catch a pair of TD passes – one of 27 yards, the other of seven yards – late in the period, as turnovers led to those quick Westhill points. Those TD passes were the only throws McAnaney made all night.
Though it went back to a ground game in the second quarter, Westhill’s Joe Perry still found the end zone on a four-yard run, increasing the Warriors’ lead to 35-6 as they went to halftime.
To clinch matters, Westhill got two more TDs in the third quarter as Nick Vitigliano (who had 97 yards on 15 carries) ran 47 yards for one score and Brendon Lamhear found the end zone on a one-yard plunge. Solvay would add a late TD as Clisson went 23 yards in the fourth quarter.
First place in Class B West is at stake Friday when Westhlil meets Homer (3-1, 2-1 league) at 6:30. Solvay returns home to play Phoenix, both teams sporting 1-3 records.
