by High School football is finally back in Northeast Ohio. This week 1 matchup between the Midview Middies and the Westlake Demons didn’t disappoint. A high scoring affair with constant action is exactly what you would want to see for a season opener, especially as both teams were coming off losing 2022 seasons.
The start of the first quarter was all Westlake as Malik Musa snagged an interception on Midview’s first drive of the game. This gave the Demons great starting field position. A few plays later, Westlake scored first as running back Matthew Porcelli took the handoff for a six-yard touchdown. The extra point was true giving them an early 7-0 lead. On the very next Middies drive, Cooper Rummel decided to join the Westlake interception party – taking it all the way back 52 yards for a touchdown immediately making the score 14-0 in favor of the Demons. On their third possession of the game, the Middies’ quarterback Ethan Elbert found Dior Jones for a 54 yard strike for a touchdown to get them on the board. Late in the first quarter Elbert made another big play as he tied the game as he scored on a 68-yard quarterback run.
The second quarter continued the scoring spree as Sam Brucchieri connected with Chace Kelly for a 53 yard touchdown pass to put the Demons back on top. Midview didn’t take long to respond as Elbert found Jones on a deep post route for a 64 yard touchdown to tie the game again at 21. As halftime drew near, Loutfi Hassan picked off Elbert’s pass to give Westlake the ball back. The interception led to Matthew Porcelli scoring yet another touchdown, this one from the 8 yard line. Westlake then add a little cushion to their lead right before halftime with Cooper Rummel taking a jet sweep handoff to the outside for a short touchdown run. This put the Demons up 35-21 at the half.
After the players got their rest at halftime, Westlake picked up right where they left off as Mahmoud Mustafa recovered a Midview fumble giving the Demons the ball back. But they soon gave the ball right back as Wyatt Lehman decided to snag an interception for Midview, but the Middies couldn’t capitalize on the turnover. At the end of the third quarter the score stayed 35-21 as neither team could convert turnovers into scores.
The Demons added on to their lead at the start of the fourth quarter with Sam Brucchieri keeping the ball up the middle for a 6 yard touchdown run to put Westlake up by 21. Midview’s comeback bid started a little too late with their response in a 14 yard touchdown pass from Elbert to Michael Passerrello Jr making the score 42-28 Westlake. The Demons let the Middies onside kick attempt roll out of bounds before Westlake ran out the rest of the clock on the scoreboard. The victory formation confirmed their 1-0 start to the season, and Midview dropped their sixth game in a row dating back to last season.
The Demons look to keep their hot start going as they welcome in Rhodes next week, and the Middies look to get back to the win column on next Friday as they travel to North Olmsted.
The player of the game for the Westlake Demons was quarterback, Sam Brucchieri, who carried the ball 14 times for 43 yards and scored 2 touchdowns.
Also, running back Matthew Porcelli who ran for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Midview Middies’ player of the game is wide receiver, Dior Jones who had 169 receiving yards on just five catches including 2 touchdowns.
