Vital Stats: Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Westfield State's Alumni Field, Westfield, Mass.
Media Coverage: The game will be video streamed live online at www.WestfieldStateOwls.com. The web stream will be simulcast on WSKB 89.5FM in greater Westfield, with Mike Drew and Nic Odell on the call. Live stats will also be available at www.WestfieldStateOwls.com
Last Week: Senior running back Michael Mercadante rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns to lead Westfield State to a 28-14 win over Fitchburg State on Saturday at Elliott Field. Westfield got an efficient passing game from senior quarterback Steve Guercio, who completed 8-12 passes for 77 yards and a pair of scores. Boire added three grabs for 35 yards and one touchdown. Westfield junior defensive back Greg Sheridan came up with two of the Owls four interceptions, both in the second half. Worcester State rolled to a 36-3 win over Plymouth State behind 170 rushing yards and pair of scores from Kemani Jones.
The Series: Westfield leads the all-time series 15-13 as the two teams have met every year since 1986. Perhaps the most memorable clash was in 2001 in a game that decided the league title in a 35-31 win for the Owls in a battle of unbeatens. In 2011, Worcester won a 42-40 decision from the Owls in triple-overtime (the game went to overtime tied 24-24) that is the second highest scoring game in Westfield school history (for both teams combined total).
Last Year: Westfield State sophomore Colby Bostek and senior Brian Beauchemin combined to amass 195 rushing yards and three touchdowns to help lead the Owls to a 38-20 victory. Bostek rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown and Beauchemin added 94 yards and two scores. Westfield QB Tim Rich was 11-for-17 for 208 yards through the air to go along with one touchdown. In the receiving game, senior Kevin Nicol had a team-high five catches for 87 yards. The Lancers were paced by junior Pat Viencek who was 23-for-45 with 267 yards and a trifecta of touchdowns, but he threw three costly interceptions. Junior Jack Sprague was his favorite target as he finished with nine catches for 100 yards – just 12 shy of 1,000 for his career. Senior AJ Scerra hauled in seven passes for 64 yards and two TDs to become the all-time Worcester State leader in receiving touchdowns.
Westfield on Offense: The Owls grind it out on the ground to the tune of 183 yards per game, led by Mercadante's 1,003 yards this season. The 1003 yards is good for 17th in the nation, and his 125.4 yards per game is 16th in the country in NCAA Division III. Quarterback Steve Guercio has completed 52 percent of his passes, throwing nine touchdowns against just two interceptions and 1,074 yards this year. The Owls have looked to a trio of receivers of late. Bobby Boire leads the club with 25 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns, and Scotty Nye 17-256-2 and Colby Bostek 11-230-3 have offered big play potential as well.
Westfield on Defense: Westfield has the second-leading defense in the league, allowing just 17.1 points and 294 yards per game to their opponents. Senior linebacker Troy Cutter leads the Owls with 66 tackles. Junior safety Greg Sheridan has earned the league's defensive player of the week award twice, including last week. His four interceptions are tied for the top mark in the MASCAC. Both Cutter and Sheridan were named to the Capital One Academic All-District team this week for their combined performance in the classroom and on the field. Senior defensive end Marcus Pettigrew leads the Owls with 15.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 6.5 sacks.
Westfield on Special Teams: Freshman Jordan Brown leads the conference in kick returns, and ranks 18th in the nation at 28.2 per return. Senior kicker Mike Bortolussi has converted 17 of 20 extra point tries. Freshman punter John Ollari is averaging 37.5 yards per kick and has dropped nine inside the opponent's 20 yard line.
Worcester on Offense: The Lancers have the most potent offense in the MASCAC with 38 points and 452 yards per game. They do the majority of their damage through the air (299 yards per game) but running back Kemani Jones is dueling with Westfield's Mercadante for the conference lead in yards per game. Jones 126.1 yards per game leads the league by seven-tenths of a yard over Mercadante. Jones became the 7th Lancer to rush for 1,000 yards in a season; he is 221 off the single-season record. Pat Viencek is in at quarterback after season opening starter Kevin Bumpus went down with an injury. The Lancers haven't missed a beat with Viencek throwing for 857 yards and 13 touchdowns. Tight end Casey Hippert is the league's second leading receiver at 97 yards per game. Hippert is now second on the Lancers all-time receiving yardage list (2,503 yards) and he's 10 catches away from second place.
Worcester on Defense: The Lancers are allowing opponents 27.9 points per game and have surrendered 40 or more points in four of their eight games this year. Linebacker Sean Hanley leads the team with 66 tackles. The Lancers do a good job getting after the quarterback, as defensive ends Brian Narcisse and Zack Skerry have nine and 7.5 sacks respectively. Mike Goulden has a team high three interceptions.
Worcester on Special Teams: Paz's extra points are a school record 37-39 week and he is six away from the campaign record for kick scoring held by former All-New England standout Tom Gabriel (2006). Kick returner Jack Sprague averages nearly 27 yards per return and has one for a touchdown.
Merc Watch: Mercadante had his fifth rushing game of 120 or more yards, and cracked the 1000-yard barrier for the season, with 1,003 yards. The Owls' big back also moved in to fourth on the Owls all-time rushing list as he now has 2,707 yards, passing Shawn Lyman '01 who totaled 2,659 in his career. Merc is now 293 yards shy of 3,000 yards in his career. This is the seventh time an Owl running back has had more than 1000 yards rushing in a season. Shawn Lyman, Tim Lightfoot, Jason Votzakis and Don Jones are the other Owls to accomplish the feat. Lyman's 1483 yards in the 2001, when the Owls had an unbeaten regular season and reached the NCAA playoffs.
Owls Single Season Rushing Leaders
Name Yards Year
Shawn Lyman 1483 2001 (includes NCAA game)
Jason Votzakis 1468 1999
Tim Lightfoot 1460 1994
Don Jones 1281 2003
Jason Votzakis 1240 1998
Tim Lightfoot 1203 1993
Mike Mercadante 1003 2014
Luke Johnson 998 2009
Jason Votzakis 968 1997
Don Jones 953 2002
Tim Lightfoot 901 1995
Jamie Shankle 886 1990
Next Week: Westfield will host Western Connecticut State on Friday night, November 14, at 7:00 p.m.
Westfield Coach Pete Kowalski Quotes:
On the game:
On Worcester: "They have the number one offense in the league – they have the top rusher, a top 5 receiver, the average about 38 points per game and are running about 80 plays per game, so that is a very formidable and potent offense that we are facing."
"Defensively, they are very sound and do a good job of trying to take away what their opponent does best. They usually have a new wrinkle or two each week."
On Michael Mercadante and his season: "Michael epitomizes our team, he's a blue collar guy, works hard, and will be the first to tell you that anything he accomplishes is due to his offensive line and fullback blocking, and the quarterback and receivers' ability to make plays as well. As a senior he understands it's all about team success – but we are very proud of him and what he has accomplished."
On Greg Sheridan: "He's a solid defensive player and part of an excellent secondary that really communicates well. Greg works hard in practice to get better, and puts himself in a position where he has the opportunity to make some plays. He knows that the pressure the defensive line generates on the quarterback and the linebackers' ability to cover underneath gives help him to excel on covering the deep ball."
On last week: "Coach (Sean) O'Brien (defensive coordinator) had a great game plan and took away their two top receivers and it seemed that we were able to keep their offense off balance all afternoon."