The Akron-Westfield football team recorded the upset of the night on Friday night with an 18-13 win over No. 7 MMCRU in Akron to open the season 1-0.
The two programs were on just about as far opposite sides of the spectrum for success last year. Akron-Westfield went 2-6 and missed the playoffs while MMCRU won the Class A state championship with a perfect 13-0 record. Akron-Westfield head coach John Sievert says the win was special, and the postgame atmosphere matched that.
Most teams going into a matchup like this to open the season go in with a timid mindset. That was not the case for the Westerners. Coach Sievert says his team was confident going in because he knew he had some great kids coming back.
Akron-Westfield jumped out to a 12-0 lead by halftime and extended that to an 18-0 advantage early in the second half. Running the ball was critical to that early success. Coach Sievert says he loved the play of his offensive line who paved the way for 132 yards rushing and a rate of five yards per carry all night.
After a great start to the second half, the Westerners may have let some nerves get to them. Coach Sievert says he was disappointed in the finish to the game, and it is something the guys will have to clean up going forward.
With a 1-0 record in tow, the Westerners head into district play with a lot of confidence and energy. Coach Sievert says that confidence has to be focused into cleaning up the small things before their next game.
Akron-Westfield continues their season with their district opener in Sloan on Friday night with a matchup against Westwood. Kickoff for that game is at 7:00 PM.
