On September 19, Westwood and Blythewood faced off in a thrilling football match, known as the Battle of the Axes.
The game was the biggest rivalry matchup between Blythewood and Westwood, with Westwood’s varsity football team securing a decisive victory on Blythewood’s homecoming night.
Head Coach Stephan Burris led Westwood to another hard-fought victory, adding to the rivalry’s ongoing history.
“When things go bad, we have to play the next play; when things go well, we still have to play the next play.” – Stephan Burris.
Coach Burris kept encouraging his team to play through every situation, his perseverance fueling their determination throughout the game.
Coach Burris praised several players during the game, especially the running backs, for their strong contributions. “We had two very good running backs, Jovan Howard is a sophomore, and Angelo Rios is a junior.”
Westwood had one fumble in the first quarter, with Howard’s fumble triggering three consecutive Redhawk turnovers in the second quarter.
Blythewood scored the first points, taking an early lead as the teams began. “Blythewood scored first with an Ashton Davis 26-yard field goal with just over 3 minutes left in the opening quarter.” – The Lancaster News.
Westwood scored the next points with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter.
”With a Carrington Carter to Angelo Rios 25-yard pass with under a minute to go in the first quarter. Muhsin Yakubu made good on the pass, and the Redhawks went up at the end of the first 7-3. Carter went 16 of 19 for 180 yards. Rios had 4 catches for 61 yards.” – The Lancaster News.
The second quarter ended with neither team scoring, with Westwood struggling offensively, committing two fumbles and one interception.
In the third quarter, Westwood punted twice, and Blythewood lost a fumble. Afterward, Blythewood gained a first down on an 11-yard pass from Vesey to Strong.
The Westwood football team received strong support from its school community, with students and parents in the stands showing school spirit and cheering throughout the game.
Westwood students showcased their school spirit by wearing neon colors: freshmen in pink, sophomores in yellow, juniors in green, and seniors in orange, creating a vibrant, coordinated display.
Westwood freshman Mariah Prioleau-Johnson cheered for the team in neon pink, joining many students in showing school spirit. “For the game, I dressed up in neon pink to show my support.”
Blythewood freshman Kirsten Scott said she actively cheered for her team from the stands, and she noticed how the stands were supportive no matter what. “The crowd reacted to everything, whether good or bad.”
Westwood’s offense took the field near the goalposts and ran out the final seconds by kneeling on the ball, securing their victory.
Westwood supporters cheered excitedly after the win, matching Blythewood’s larger crowd in pride and enthusiasm throughout the game.
Coach Burris expressed pride in his players, noting their dedication both in after-school practices and during the game.
Burris said. “Our punter Shareef Pitts did a great job of flipping the field a couple of times, our kickoff coverage was better, our placekicker Mushin Yakubu did a great job. An overall team win.” – The Voice of Blythewood & Fairfield County.
The Battle of the Axes was a closely contested and hard-fought game between two determined teams. Both Westwood and Blythewood showed strong effort throughout, with Westwood ultimately securing the victory for the second year in a row. The win adds to the ongoing history of this long-standing rivalry.
