Westminster overpowers Rockville, 45-29, in 3A Regionals win
November 9, 2024
ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Westminster (7-3) offense proved to be too much to handle for Rockville (6-4), as the Owls defeated the Rams, 45-29, on Friday night in the MPSSAA 3A West Regional playoffs.
Using a balanced attack both through the air and on the ground, fifth-seeded Westminster seemingly moved the ball at will at times, and was able to easily counteract any adjustments made by the Rockville defense.
Fourth-seeded Rockville started the game with the ball, but would quickly relinquish control, as the Rams fumbled on their second play of the game. Westminster was able to take advantage of the miscue, as Casen Doan scored on the ground from a yard away to give the Owls a 7-0 lead.
After forcing a three-and-out, Westminster got the ball back and scored again, this time on a 19-yard run by Jack Hitchcock to extend the lead to 14-0.
But after getting down two scores early, Rockville came back. As play shifted to the second quarter, Rams QB Nicky Holloway broke free and scored from 20-yards away to cut the Owls lead in half. Both teams traded punts, and then Westminster fumbled, setting Rockville up with a chance to score, and the Rams would take advantage. Holloway found a wide-open Josiah Garcia down the middle of the field, and they connected on a 54-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 14 apiece.
Westminster answered back before halftime, as QB Rory O’Connor found receiver Canton Rutters for a 27-yard touchdown pass. The Owls would take a 21-14 lead into halftime, knowing that they would also get the ball to start the second half.
The Owls came out of the locker room on a mission, and in under two minutes marched down the field and scored again, capped by a 4-yard scoring run by Doan. However, just as it seemed as though Westminster was threatening to run away with the game, Rockville’s Raymier Nelson returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, bringing the score back to 28-21.
After the kickoff return, Westminster was able to handle the Rams offense and shut them down for the majority of the rest of the game. The Owls would add two more scores in the third quarter: one on a 24-yard pass from O’Connor to Brayden Trupe, and one on a 1-yard rush by Hitchcock, to take a 42-21 lead into the final quarter of play.
Kicker Trevor Wallace would add a short field goal in the fourth quarter to extend the Owls lead to 45-21, and a late score by Rockville on a 27-yard pass from Holloway to Garcia, coupled with a successful two-point conversion, would bring the score to the 45-29 final.
Rockville’s season comes to an end in the first round of the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, while Westminster advances to the next round to face No. 1 seed Linganore.
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