Westfield senior Trey Brown had not played defense since he was in eighth grade before Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day rivalry vs. Plainfield.
The Blue Devils coaching staff installed a few defensive packages with Brown at safety, and considering he delivered a game-changing interception late in the first half, it paid big dividends.
Brown’s interception led to his first touchdown pass to create separation shortly after, as Westfield rode that momentum to a 42-13 victory over Plainfield in front of a bi-partisan crowd of 4,000 at Westfield’s Kehler Stadium.
Westfield – which finished 8-3 and is now on a decade long winning streak in the rivalry – leads the all-time series 65-45-7 after the 117th edition. Plainfield finished its campaign with a 5-6 mark.
Trailing 14-7, Plainfield came up with a big stop at the Westfield 32, only to have a pass intercepted by Brown on the first play of the drive. Brown would run the ball back to the Plainfield 10 and connect with Peter Meixner on a drag route a play later to double the lead to 21-7 just before the half.
“I’ve been dying to play defense all year, and I asked for the opportunity,” said Brown. “I’m glad it worked out and we had a chance, as seniors, to play one more time out here and get a big win.”
Riding that momentum into the second half, the Blue Devils would drive 71 yards in 11 plays to extend their lead. At its culmination, Brown would find tight end Colin Coyle from the three for another score.
Plainfield, which showed spurts of offensive explosion throughout the contest, responded when quarterback Alameen Watkins plunged in from a yard out. A play earlier, Watkins connected Al-Khabir Bethune for 18 yards to set up the score.
The ensuing possession would be capped off by Brown’s third touchdown pass of the afternoon, as he found Coyle once again on a 22-yard post route to reestablish a three-score lead after three.
Brown, who is committed to Maryland to play lacrosse, was playing in his final organized football game.
“Trey’s a beast. There’s no other way to put it,” said Westfield coach Jim DeSarno of Brown. “He’s our leader and he set a great example for all of our younger guys. That’s what you look for in a high school kid.”
Senior Paul Tilyou capped off the scoring for the winners with a 22-uard burst up the middle for six with 3:31 to go.
Running behind Dylan Wragg almost exclusively, Westfield struck first with 52 seconds left in the first, when Wragg plunged in from a yard out on his eighth carry of the drive to make it 7-0. Westfield kicker Henry Hipschman was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points in this one.
Yasir Wyatt’s sweep around left end from the 1 would level things up for Plainfield on the ensuing drive.
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