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Cats Claim Metro League Title

Westminster passed their biggest test of the year in John Burroughs with flying colors. They took down the #1 small school in the area with an impressive 27-14 win. The win improved their record to 7-0, and also gave them the Metro Conference title.

The game started out rough for the Cats when the Bombers sophomore standout, Jake Bain, took the ball inside the 20 on the first play from scrimmage. However, the Wildcat defense settled in and held the Bombers to a field goal attempt, which was missed to the left.

The Wildcat offense capitalized on their good fortunes on a touchdown pass by wide receiver Dylan Conway, Junior. Conway got the ball on an end around play and tossed it 43 yards downfield to Logan Sells, Junior, who had beaten his man by a step. The score gave the Cats a 7-0 lead that they would not relinquish.

Zach Hughes, Senior, increased the Cats lead with a 3 yard touchdown early on in the 2nd quarter. It appeared that was going to be the score going into the half after a Bombers punt, but a few costly penalties gave the Bombers new life. The Cats were given two 15 yard penalties on the play; one for a questionable roughing the kicker penalty, and one for an unsportsmanlike conduct. The 30 yards in penalties gave the Bombers great field position in Wildcat territory, which they capitalized on with a touchdown in the final seconds of the half.

The teams traded possessions to start out the half before Conway had what might be the play of the game. The Wildcats were facing a 3rd and goal from the Bomber 4 yard line. Conway caught a swing pass from Evan Johnson, senior, and turned up field to see a herd of Bombers that seemed to have him for a loss. He weaved in between defenders, making two miss before turning the corner and sneaking into the end zone just inside the pylon. The touchdown provided some separation for the Wildcats, and swung the momentum fully to their side.

Burroughs quickly answered with a 31 yard score of their own. They tacked on a two point conversion to cut the Wildcat lead down to seven, setting up a nail biting finish.

The Wildcats went three and out on the next possession, giving the ball back to the Burroughs with a chance to tie. The Wildcat defense stepped up once again, however, and forced a turnover on downs around midfield. They put the nail in a coffin on the next play when Connor Hafenrichter, senior, took a dump off pass 35 yards to make it 27-14. That score proved to hold, as Nick Ebel, senior, intercepted a pass in the final seconds to thwart any miraculous comeback.

The Wildcats are back in action next Friday nigh under the lights against Cristian High.