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Report by Isaac Robinson - November 25th, 2018

Thriller in Westlake! Swarm move to 6-6, beating ECU 50-43 in OT


B.J. Henderson came up huge, tossing a last-second TD to send it to OT

B.J. Henderson shows he's the man, throws game-tying score as time expires -- Swarm overcome 349 rush yards from ECU -- Seniors come up big on Senior Day

Westlake, OH -- We're going bowling! Westlake State are bowl eligible for the first time in program history after beating ECU in OT on Senior Day in a game that featured very little defense.

Lionel Lewis-led ECU came out swinging, as Lewis would find Steve Wright for 13 yards on a 3rd and 7, then tailback Chris Smith ran for 17 a couple plays later before Westlake State were called for a facemask. Smith would run for 7, then 13, and finally a 19 yard score. Aided by a facemask call on ECU (this happened a lot this game), Westlake State would drive down the field and senior tailback James Thompson would score from the goal line in his final home game. The teams would then exchange punts, which proved to be the calm before the storm.

This was the start of absolute domination on the ground by the Pirates. They ran for 63 yards on a drive that ended in a field goal, then forced the Swarm into a field goal attempt of their own, which Joe Romero pushed wide right. James Thompson left the game on this drive, complaining of dizziness, and sat the rest of this one with a suspected concussion.

Westlake State grabbed another facemask, then Lewis converted a 3rd and 3, finding Dallas DeLoach for a gain of 14, before Lewis would run for 27 on an option keeper. A few plays later, Lewis found freshman Greg Wheatley in the endzone from a yard out to make it 16 to 7 for the Pirates, as the PAT was missed by freshman kicker James Murphy.

Lewis runs for 27

B.J. Henderson found Kevin Sykes for 17 yards to get the next drive started, then true freshman Frank Nelson ran for 8 yards before Henderson ran the play-action to perfection, finding Barrett Miller near the sideline for 18 yards. Sykes got to the edge, taking the pitch on an option play, and the big receiver picked up 29 yards, just barely missing out on his first career rushing TD. Johnny Nash punched it it to cut the ECU to 2.

The Pirates scored again, as Lewis completed all 7 of the passes he threw on the drive, ending in a 17 yard score to Dallas DeLoach, and one again, the PAT was missed. Henderson would toss a pick as he tried to make something happen with 30 seconds to go, and the Swarm headed into the half down 22-14.

The Swarm scored, as a huge 42 yard catch-and-run from Robert Coley got them deep into ECU territory, and Frank Nelson found the endzone for the score, the first of his career. Dion Barkley dialed up the 2-point conversion, and Henderson found Josh Roach to tie things up at 22. But the Swarm just couldn't stop the run, and this time it was Marques Fitch wreaking havoc, picking up 45 yards and a score on 7 carries to put his team back in front. Westlake State needed just 3 plays to answer back, as Kevin Sykes caught a short curl and turned it into a 45 yard gain as he threw a defender off and rumbled down the sideline. 2 plays later, Henderson found the endzone from 19 yards out for the score. The Swarm finally got a stop, forcing a 3 and out as a screen to Fitch came up just shy of the sticks on 3rd down. Aided by another facemask that would put them at the 11 following a 13 yard catch from Coley and a 13 yard run from Henderson, Westlake State scored, with Josh Roach making a touchdown catch to put his team in front.

Henderson throws to an open Josh Roach for a score

And it was undone in 2 plays, as Fitch ran for a 71 yard score on a counter to tie it right back up. To make matters worse, Henderson tossed a redzone pick on the ensuing drive as he underthrew Eric Monroe in the endzone. Smelling blood, ECU went deep immediately, but Lionel Lewis was pressured and threw to a double-covered Greg Wheatley, and senior Kyle Wagner made his first career INT. Hell of a time to make it.

Fitch broke a tackle and was able to get to the edge and take this all the way to the endzone

But the Swarm didn't capitalize. A sack that made it 2nd and 21 was too much to overcome, as Henderson had to get rid of it or risk throwing to a blanketed man on 3rd and 13, and ECU, aided by huge pass plays of 21 and 39 yards, would take the lead on a 4 yard score from Fitch with 1:39 to go. 43-36, ECU.

Westlake State had 2 timeouts. The drive got off to an awful start, as Henderson could only find Barrett Miller for one yard, then scramble for 2. 3rd down saw Frank Nelson pick up 3, forcing a 4th and 4 for the game. But Henderson was up to the task, finding Travis Vaughn over the middle for 12 yards and the first down. 30 seconds to go. Henderson misses on a pair of quick strike plays. 25 seconds. Westlake State still have 57 yards to go and just 1 timeout. Henderson tosses a great touch pass over a linebacker's head to Eric Monroe for 13 yards and a new set of downs. Timeout. Henderson incomplete again.



11 seconds to go. Henderson drops back, and instead of the safe checkdown to Kevin Sykes, throws a risky pass to Monroe. It had to be perfect, and it sure was, as Monroe made the grab near the sideline for 18 yards. 7 seconds. On a repeat of the play Henderson threw his redzone pick on, Monroe runs a wheel route from the inside. He gets open, and Henderson tosses a beautiful pass into the endzone... and Monroe drops it.

Awful drop from Monroe here

2 seconds on the clock. It's do-or-die. 5 wide. ECU blitz a corner, leaving safety Darius McKinney in a 1-on-2 situation with both Monroe and Eric Coley streaking to the endzone. Henderson, questionably perhaps, looks for the 6'5 Monroe again. McKinney opted to play the ball instead of the man, and couldn't quite get around Monroe, who hauls it in for the score. ECU tried to ice Joe Romero, but the junior was having none of it, and drilled it to send the game to OT.

If McKinney played Monroe instead of trying to be the hero, he might have been able to force an incompletion

Westlake State kept the momentum, scoring in 5 plays, as Robert Coley caught a slant for a 4 yard score to put the Swarm up 50-43 after B.J. Henderson converted a huge 3rd and 8 with his legs.

Needing a touchdown, ECU finally got stopped on the ground, with Colin Smith going down for a loss of 2 on 1st down. Lionel Lewis completed a screen, but the Swarm were all over it, stopping it for a gain of just 3. 3rd and 9 from the 24. ECU had to convert, but did have 2 downs to do so. Nevertheless, Lionel Lewis took a shot at the endzone, and it would be picked off, as Danny Wilson closed out his last home game with the biggest play of the season to send Westlake State to a bowl game.

Huge pick from Wilson

Dion Barkley was ecstatic postgame.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dion Barkley

We're going bowling baby! I told you! I told you guys, B.J. is the truth. He's next up, I don't care what you say. Thanks to all of my players, especially those seniors, I came into this program and they embraced me right away. We're going to do big things here, I guarantee you that.

Westlake State finish at 6-6 ahead of the AAC title game matchup with #18 Tulsa.

Colin Smith chipped in 87 rushing yards and a score


Dallas DeLoach breaks a tackle to find the endzone


Henderson goes deep on the final play in regulation


Eric Monroe makes a sideline grab


Kyle Wagner picks off Lionel Lewis


Frank Nelson breaks the plane for his first career score