WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State football kicks off the 2022 season with a home game at Alumni Field, hosting perennial non-conference foe Nichols College on Friday with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
LAST MEETING: The Owls fell to Nichols 21-6 in a defensive battle in the 2021 season opener in Dudley, Mass. Tod Holloway, Jr. accounted for the only Westfield score on the receiving end of a 5-yard TD pass from Miles Forester. Kordell Parrish caught a 78-yard bomb for his only reception of the game. Cameron Danahy led the Owls with 13 tackles. Nichols was led by 86 rushing yards and two TD's from Joshua Pierre-Charles, while QB Logan Sawyer threw for 149 yards and TD to Alpha Barry.
WESTFIELD STATE ON OFFENSE: Junior QB Gabriel Fernandez Gabriel Fernandez is back after splitting time a year ago, when he completed 58 percent of his passes with six TD's against just one interception. Junior transfer Jordan Smith got the lion's share of the carries in the Owls preseason scrimmage, and senior Shane Clark back with plenty of game experience. At receiver, the Owls appear to be very strong, keyed by returner Danny Farrell, who led the team in catches (33) and yards (401) in 2021. Holloway is back after missing time due to injury – he had 17 catches for 185 yards as a sophomore in 2019. Junior TE's Joe DiBlasi and Dylan Disabella are back as the incumbents at the position
WESTFIELD STATE ON DEFENSE: The Owls appear to be strong up the middle, as grad student DT Peter Spinale, and MASCAC All-Conference pick Cade Nelson anchor the defensive line. Veteran linebackers Cullen MacNeil and Danahy led the team in tackles a year ago, and safety Christian Julian is back after playing a key role in 2021. On the defensive line, look for senior DE Julian Bass to emerge in the pass rush game.
WESTFIELD STATE ON SPECIAL TEAMS: The Owls kicking game will likely be led by first-year Evan Milstead, a placekicker from Riverside, Calif. Danny Farrell, who handled extra point duties late in the year in 2021, is also available. Senior Shane Clark and sophomore Owen Thompson split the punting duties last season and will again in 2022.
NICHOLS ON OFFENSE: Nichols has some new faces at the skill positions, with freshman Kyle Keckler tabbed to key the offense from the quarterback position. Running back Zahir Booker was on the depth chart last year with 29 carries for 72 yards. Leading receiver Hunter Ferriera is back for the Bison after recording 55 catches for 576 yards.
NICHOLS ON DEFENSE: Sophomore linebacker Joshua Sayer is the top returning tackler after making 48 stops in 2021. Corner Mark James made three interceptions to lead the team last year, and Jamri Jones and Cai Capozzi are also returning in the defensive backfield.
NICHOLS ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Ferreira averaged 40 yards a punt and pinned opponents back inside their own 20 on almost 30 percent of his kicks. Matt Cahalin takes over in the kicking game. Return man Mark James averaged just under 20 yards per kick return a year ago.
LIVE COVERAGE: You can follow the game live with video and live stats at WestfieldStateOwls.com. The video feed of the game is also simulcast on the MASCAC.TV channel, which is available on Roku and Apple TV devices. Westfield State students Zach Bianco and Nick Malouin have the call of the game.
NEXT WEEK: The Owls will play the annual Presidents' Cup rivalry game at local foe Western New England University on Saturday, September 9 with a 1:00 kickoff at Golden Bear Stadium in Springfield, Mass.