South Lakes Visits Westfield in Top-20 Regular-Season Finale
The final weekend of regular-season play in the Concorde District brings us another top-20 matchup, this time at Westfield. Although Oakton has already clinched the district title, there is still plenty at stake, with playoff seeding and home-field advantage on the line. South Lakes enters at 8-1, with its only loss coming in a 42-38 road defeat at Oakton. Westfield, meanwhile, is looking to finish the regular season at 8-2 before the playoffs get underway.
The Westfield Bulldogs started the season undefeated before dropping their first two games of district play. Head coach Scott Vossler has the Bulldogs back on track, relying heavily on a talented group of running backs featuring Prince Jaeden A. Sutherland, Casey O’Neal, and sophomore Eli Otchere. Sutherland has been the workhorse, averaging 100 yards per game while leading the team with 11 touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Aaron Preti has provided balance to the offense with his quick release, throwing for more than 1,000 yards while accounting for 13 total touchdowns.
South Lakes brings one of the region’s most explosive offenses, averaging more than 36 points per game. Christian Wyatt is the trigger man for head coach Jason Hescock, and his numbers have been staggering: 128-of-192 passing for 1,573 yards and 17 touchdowns, along with 343 rushing yards and seven more scores on 88 carries. Joshua-Benjamin Dagbe has been the primary weapon, hauling in 16 of Wyatt’s 17 touchdown passes while accumulating 878 receiving yards. Senior Nick Picarelli has also been a reliable target, recording 56 receptions for 511 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Seahawks will look to Sebastian Valencia to help keep the Bulldogs in check. The senior leads the team in tackles and has been a disruptive force up front, totaling an impressive 21 tackles for loss this season.
With leaves on the ground and the smell of postseason football in the air, this promises to be a playoff-caliber showdown in Chantilly under the Friday night lights. Both teams have plenty to play for, and neither will be eager to see its regular season end on a losing note.
