[young22]

G7, 2017

October 15th, 2017

ANOTHER NAIL-BITER AS SWARM WIN IN OT

Brandon Butler makes catch of the year to put Swarm up late -- No picks from Robert Hollis -- Swarm surrender just 193 passing yards

Greenville, NC -- Westlake State moved to 5-2 (2-2) on the season with a 30-24 OT win over now 3-3 (1-2) ECU.

The game started off badly for the Swarm, with bad playcalling resulting in 2 easy scores for the Pirates, putting them up 14-0 midway through the first.

Early scores from TE Ben Norris and HB Trace Christian put ECU up 14-0

Then the Swarm made some adjustments, finally stacking the box, and immediately forced a 3rd and long. Senior corner Mark Thompson picked off aKingsley Ifedi pass, and from there, the Swarm were able to get down the field and kick a field goal. The defense was lights out, shutting the Pirates out for the entire second and third quarters. But ECU's defense wasn't breaking either, allowing only an 80 yard TD catch from Brandon Butler and another Logan Ross field goal to make it a 14-13 game heading into the 4th.

At the start of the 4th, ECU made a goal line stand to force yet another field goal. They came back with a field goal of their own to make it 17-16. A few stops in a row, and the Swarm had the football at their own 20 with 2:44 left. After an incompletion and a sack, they were facing a 3rd and 16. Robert Hollis lobbed it up to Brandon Butler, who made a contested catch 2 yards shy of the marker. The Swarm had to go for it, and got it on a read option.

The very next play, Hollis saw saw Butler downfield and lobbed it up to him. The pass was slightly overthrown, and hit ECU safety Justin Robinson in the helmet. Somehow, Butler was able to stay in the air and corral the ball off the bounce, landed, shed a tackle, and went in for a score. WSU opted for a 2-point conversion, which succeeded, making the score 24-17 with 1:20 to go. Hollis was stunned that Butler made the catch, saying the following about his #1 receiver:

Quote: Originally Posted by Robert Hollis

He's insane. He catches everything. All credit for that play goes to him. He's bailed me out a ton this year, anything 1 on 1 is automatic, and he's made catches I don't think anyone else in college could make. He could go pro right now. He'll be scary good as a junior, it's a privilege to play with him.

Catch of the year?

ECU had a chance to force OT, and they took it, with Ifedi leading a quick drive, aided by some defensive confusion on 3rd and long, that ended with tailback Trace Christian scoring his 2nd TD of the game.

A last second Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete, and the teams headed to a short-lived OT.

Westlake State elected to defend, and on the very first play, Ifedi scrambled, picked up the first, but lost the ball after being wrapped up by Joe Moss. Free safety James Small came in to scoop it up, and went the distance, ending the game.


The last play of the game

Head coach Zack Favors applauded his team's improved defense.

Quote: Originally Posted by Zack Favors

We came in and had a great bounce back game. We gave up 14 early, then they didn't score for over 2 quarters. And we won the game on a defensive play. That feels good. Only gave up 193 yards passing, after we came in giving up 250+. We're only gonna improve. Keep in mind we're only losing 3 starters next season.

The Swarm will return to Westlake to face off against #25 Army (6-1, 3-1), who boast the nation's #1 rushing attack, at 329 yards per game.

Westlake State Swarm at East Carolina Pirates
Oct 14, 2017	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	OT	SCORE
Westlake State Swarm (5-2, 2-2)	0	10	3	11	6	30
East Carolina Pirates (3-3, 1-2)	14	0	0	10	0	24

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		WSU	ECU
6:40	(ECU) B. Norris, 23 yard pass from K. Ifedi	0	7
4:49	(ECU) T. Christian, 18 yard run		14
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		WSU	ECU
6:17	(WSU) L. Ross, 22 yard FG	3	14
0:47	(WSU) B. Butler, 80 yard pass from R. Hollis	10	14
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		WSU	ECU
4:53	(WSU) L. Ross, 24 yard FG	13	14
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		WSU	ECU
7:57	(WSU) L. Ross, 24 yard FG	16	14
5:14	(ECU) J. Holland, 53 yard FG	16	17
1:32	(WSU) B. Butler, 53 yard pass from R. Hollis (2-pt good)	24	17
0:28	(ECU) T. Christian, 3 yard run	24	24
OVERTIME SCORING		WSU	ECU
--	(WSU) J. Small, returned fumble 89 yards	30	24

Westlake State Swarm PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Robert Hollis 14/27 270 2 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Tony Davis 14 62 4.4 Robert Hollis 10 50 5.0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Brandon Butler 5 190 38.0 2 Marquis Sims 2 45 22.5 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Joe Moss 8 (1) 0 0 0 George Weisbecker 4 (3) 2 0 0 James Small 5 0 0 1 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Logan Ross 3/3 1/1 10 24

East Carolina Pirates PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Kingsley Ifedi 20/29 193 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Trace Christian 19 103 5.2 2 Kingsley Ifedi 17 113 6.7 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Ben Norris 7 89 12.7 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Jake Gardner 8 (3) 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG James Holland 1/2 3/3 6 53