Westwood football posts Large win

September 10, 2022 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Westwood football coach Brandon Large commends his team after their first win of 2022 and his first as a head coach. (Azpreps365 photo)

Westwood's first-year head coach Brandon Large acquired his first victory on Friday night.  Large had to be patient a bit longer than normal to nab it.

Two lightning delays in Westwood's victory over host Dobson pushed back the finish time by about an hour. Most games finish by 9:30 or so. This one went to 10:30. All worth the wait.

Westwood spotted Dobson the game's first touchdown, but closed the second through fourth quarters with 29 unanswered points in posting a 29-6 triumph. Westwood improved to 1-1 while Dobson is now 0-2. The victory was also the first in a rather early region battle with one of its Mesa sister-schools.

"It feels great," Large said, who tends to offense since that was his forte as an assistant at Higley. "Defense played lights out. Not so well on offense. We need to more consistent."

Large utilized two quarterbacks and both led a pair of TD possessions. Junior Giordan Hanks' scoring drives ended with a rushing score and passing score. The rushing tally was his 59-yard  run on a draw play.  The Warriors snapped the brief 6-6 tie with Hanks passing to his QB mate James Wright for the two-point conversion with 4:22 left before half. Dobson's score came with 5:16 left in the first period. Quarterback Jordan Legg hooked up with Dasean Shepard from 5 yards out for the early lead.

Hanks second TD pass came late in the third quarter with plenty of help from the receiver on the play - Saveon McCrimon. McCrimon broke a couple tackles after a short reception turning it into a 35-yard TD for a 15-6 advantage.

Wright, a senior, tossed his TD passes in the fourth quarter. The first was a 70-yarder to Saveon McCrimon that McCrimon stumbled at the point of the catch, regained his balance and completed the TD reception. Wright wrapped up the game's scoring with 3:31 left connecting with Nikita McCrimon, older brother of Saveon, good for 70 yards.

Westwood and Dobson are back in action next Friday, each with road games. Westwood visits American Leadership Academy Gilbert North and Dobson travels to Betty Fairfax.