Varsity Football bags end-of-season Thanksgiving win vs. AB
November 25, 2021
WA Varsity Football won the annual AB-WA Thanksgiving Day game 38-21 on Thursday, Nov. 25. This marks the first time the seniors on the team have taken down AB.
Lacking momentum from both the offense and defense at the beginning, the Ghosts started the game with a three-and-out followed by a quick rush touchdown from AB, taking the early 7-0 lead. Then, WA sophomore quarterback Jake Cullen attempted to rush the ball past the 50-yard-line, but the team instead received a 10-yard penalty. After regaining possession, AB’s quarterback Teddy Murray quickly made a pass touchdown to senior Dorian Baker-Santoro, extending the lead to 14-0.
The second quarter saw a complete shift in energy, as WA’s offensive game dominated the field. After a third-down conversion and substantial yardage gained by junior running back Anthony Rudiman, an AB foul led to a pass touchdown from Cullen to senior wide receiver Kyle Doney. WA made up for some of the ground lost in the first quarter, bringing the score to 14-7.
Following a three-and-out, this time by AB, Rudiman and Doney both failed to complete second and third down plays. But with three minutes left in the quarter, a pass from Cullen to junior Matty Haggan from nearly forty yards away led to a successful touchdown. WA tied the score, 14-14.
The rest of the quarter proceeded with both teams coming short on breakaway opportunities. After senior Ethan Ewing made an interception on AB’s 20-yard-line, AB returned with an interception of their own, this time in the end zone. AB’s advantage was similarly short-lived, immediately ending in a three-and-out following a defensive stop by WA.
However, a 25-yard-pass to Doney from Cullen opened another chance to score. With seconds left in the half, the team opted for a field goal at the 18-yard-line, securing a 17-14 lead.
WA carried their winning streak into the second half, starting off strong with Haggan’s punt return of 28 yards. Doney then proceeded to carry the ball 12 yards, before Rudiman finished off with a rush touchdown from AB’s 25-yard-line. Two minutes into the quarter, WA successfully increased their lead to 24-14.
After AB failed to convert on the fourth down yet again, Rudiman rushed the ball on the following plays. Accompanied by a 25-yard pass from Cullen to Haggan, as well as 15 yards rushed by Cullen himself, a 12-yard pass touchdown from Cullen to senior Rohun Voruganti secured another seven points. The third quarter ended with a steady 31-14 lead, with WA having scored 31 unanswered points thus far.
As WA waited for a challenge, AB finally found their answer in the fourth quarter. Within the first minute, AB made a passing touchdown from WA’s 30-yard-line, bringing the score to 31-21. Rudiman carried the ball ten yards on the kick return, but after missing a pass on the 20-yard-line, WA was met with another third-and-out, giving AB yet another chance to score.
But AB failed to start a streak, unlike WA had, as both teams engaged in a back-and-forth.
Senior Ethan Ewing’s tackle, causing AB to lose yardage, followed by junior Drew Wilson’s interception, returned possession of the ball to WA. However, a fumble then caused them to lose it.
Subsequently, an incomplete pass led to a failed fourth down attempt for AB mere feet from the goal line.
The play that caused the most outrage in the WA stands was a failed punt. Because WA had accidentally kneeled in the process of punting the ball, AB was once again looking to score, this time from WA’s 3-yard-line.
But while AB seemed to be on their way to another touchdown, a critical fumble destroyed any chances at catching WA’s lead. Ewing capitalized on the mistake, rushing over 90 yards to secure yet another touchdown on the fumble return, pushing WA’s lead to 38-14.
Ultimately, with seconds left in the game, an interception by senior Ryan Jacobsmeier sealed the deal. There was no shortage of excitement on the field, as players, coaches, and spectators all celebrated the win against a longstanding rival.
Head Coach Bruce Rich commented on the team’s grit, the mid-game comeback symbolic of their hard work across the entire season.
“We saw some adversity at the beginning of the game, down fourteen to nothing. We [talk] all year long [about how] we’re going to face adversity and [how] we got to learn from [it]—and we did. We did play awesome and I’m proud of every single one of them,” Rich said.
Despite facing their fair share of challenges, the Ghosts close out their successful season with an overall 8-3 record.
“We had a couple tough losses in the middle, [but] they kept fighting and fighting and fighting. And so it was exciting for them that we ended up at 8-3; that’s a big deal. It’s one of the best records in Westford Academy history,” Defensive Coordinator Eli Gioumbakis said.
