Listen to the Westfield / Landstown Game on

Saturday -

A brand new school opens up in a booming area

with top notch athletic facilities, a hand-picked coaching staff, plenty of

talented athletes and complete community support - the perfect recipe for

building a successful football team.

There are some growing pains of course, but within three

years the upstart program is rampaging through its district, putting up absurd

passing numbers and quickly establishing itself as a state title contender.

That sounds a lot like Westfield's meteoric rise to

prominence in the Northern Region. But it actually describes the road taken by

Landstown, the Bulldogs' opponent in Saturday's Group AAA Division 6 state

championship game at University of Richmond Stadium.

There are some differences in the journey the two programs

took to reach the state final for the first time - most notably that Westfield

(13-0) has had the same coaching staff since it opened in 2000, while Landstown

(13-0), the Eastern Region champion, is under the direction of first-year coach

Chris Beatty, a former standout at Chantilly who has made his reputation turning

moribund programs into playoff teams. But the Eagles had no checkered past to

overcome. Only a year of junior varsity competition and a 5-5 season. Now, here

they are on the state's biggest stage.

``I don't think experience and tradition matters that much in

making it this far, and we're both proof of that," said Beatty. ``There are

a whole lot of schools that have been open for 50 years, even 80 years, and have

never played for a championship like this. It's a great opportunity for

us."

If the weather cooperates it should be a far different final

from last year's contest, a 6-0 Hylton victory over Oakton that was the

lowest-scoring Group AAA championship game in Virginia High School League

history. Both Westfield and Landstown made a habit of lighting up scoreboards

and opposing defenses this season. The Eagles average 40 points per game out of

their no-huddle offense and have scored more than 50 points three times,

including a 74-0 win over Salem - the team Beatty coached the previous two

seasons. Westfield hasn't scored as much, averaging 37 points, but has scored

fewer than 34 points just three times and has yet to be held under 21.

``We have a balanced offense and I think the big plays we

make help loosen things up for the running backs," said Westfield senior

All-Journal wide receiver Eddie Royal. ``Max Palmatier had a big run right up

the middle [in the fourth quarter against Hylton] that set up the field goal [by

junior kicker David Miller]. That's what we do."

But whereas Westfield has become more balanced this season,

relying less on the pass and running the ball effectively behind a veteran

offensive line, Landstown goes to the opposite extreme. It's not that the Eagles

can't run the ball. Junior running back Arlo Pugh has 768 rushing yards on 101

carries, and Landstown rushed for 248 yards on 28 carries in a 35-6 Eastern

Region semifinal victory over Oscar Smith. But Beatty has coached the top three

single-season passing yardage quarterbacks in VHSL history for a reason. And

it's not by keeping the ball on the ground.

Senior quarterback Terry Mitchell, who has verbally committed

to West Virginia, broke the VHSL single-season record for passing touchdowns

when he tossed his 44th of the season against L.C. Bird in the Eagles' 34-15

state semifinal win last Saturday. Mitchell, who has thrown for 3,578 yards, is

poised to break the single-season passing yardage record of 3,691, held by Mike

Biehl, who played for Beatty at Salem in 2001. Mitchell passed Chris Ashinhurst

(3,306) for second in that category last week with a 17-for-28, 305-yard,

four-touchdown performance. Ashinhurst played for Beatty at North Stafford in

1999. Mitchell is third all-time in most completions in a single season behind

Biehl and Ashinhurst with 228.

``I know they throw it a bunch, as much as 40 times a

game," said Westfield coach Tom Verbanic. ``They've been lighting up the

scoreboard pretty good and have a lot of skilled kids and an excellent

quarterback who throws well. We have to find a way to slow them down."

Landstown senior wide receiver Jeremy Gilchrist (81

receptions, 1,378 yards, 16 touchdowns) is second in VHSL all-time receiving

yards and two catches away from finishing third all-time in receptions.

Gilchrist also has three rushing touchdowns. Senior Mike Mayers (58 receptions,

786 yards, six touchdowns) and junior Percy Harvin (39 receptions, 600 yards, 11

touchdowns) are Mitchell's other top targets.

Westfield's secondary gave up some big plays to Hylton's

dynamic receiving duo of All-Journal senior receiver Deon Butler and senior

Dominique Mitchell in Monday's 24-14 state semifinal victory, including two

touchdowns. But the Bulldogs have also been opportunistic, intercepting three

passes each against Hylton and Robinson. Westfield's defense has posted three

shutouts and allows 9.4 ppg. The Bulldogs also returned two fumbles for scores

against Robinson in the region final.

``Nothing will change," said Westfield senior defensive

back David Ashton. ``We've made it this far by working hard all season so we

won't take anyone lightly. We can't if we want to win it."

Probably the most effective way to stop Landstown's offense

is keeping the ball away from the Eagles, and that means sustaining lengthy

drives that eat clock and result in points. Sophomore running back Evan Royster

(175 carries, 1,511 yards, 20 touchdowns) has gone over 100 yards rushing eight

times, including in each of the last five games. Royster's season-high was 227

yards in a 38-14 win over Centreville on Oct. 10, and he also had receptions of

29 yards and 43 yards against Hylton. Palmatier (92 carries, 593 yards), a

senior fullback, has been adept at picking up tough yards all season, especially

in playoff wins against Herndon and Robinson. Palmatier and sophomore running

back Darryl Thornton (90 carries, 450 yards) have four touchdowns each.

Westfield senior All-Journal quarterback Sean Glennon

(94-for-161, 1,738, 25 touchdowns), a Virginia Tech recruit, has two speedy

targets of his own in Royal (41 receptions, 875 yards, 11 touchdowns) and senior

receiver Justin Born (28 receptions, 476 yards, 10 touchdowns).

``I saw Glennon live the other night against Hylton and he

throws as good a deep ball as I've seen," said Beatty. ``Royal is a good

receiver and goes after the ball hard. And Royster is excellent, too, maybe

better than his older brother Brandon, who I helped coach in the Super 44 [in

2000]. They worry you so much because they can score right away."

Landstown's defense overcame a shaky start against L.C. Bird

last week. After the Skyhawks scored two touchdowns in the first half, the

Eagles allowed just 90 yards of offense in the second half as their offense to

score 28 unanswered points. Landstown has allowed just 24 points in three

postseason games and has five shutouts. Only four teams have scored in

double-figures on the Eagles, who allow 6.2 points per game. Landstown's

defensive backs are dangerous, but Glennon has been intercepted just 10 times in

three years as a starter, including only three this season.

One final concern for Westfield: Landstown has had two extra

days of rest since it played Saturday and the Bulldogs played Monday night,

giving the Eagles' coaching staff a chance to scout Westfield in person.

``It really is a tough situation," said Verbanic. ``We

couldn't do very much in practice Tuesday because their bodies just weren't

ready for that yet. That only leaves a few days to get ready. But at this time

of year, you don't over-practice anyway so you don't make a big deal out of it.

You just go out and play. We'll be ready to go."

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