Heartbreaking 4th Quarter Loss for Westerly Bulldogs Against Portsmouth Patriots
In a game that had all the makings of a classic Friday night showdown, the Westerly Bulldogs fell to the Portsmouth Patriots in a gut-wrenching 34-27 loss. Despite a valiant effort and a late lead, the Bulldogs saw victory slip away in the final minutes of a contest that will be tough for both the team and fans to forget.
The Patriots took control early, using their powerful ground game to march down the field and build momentum. Portsmouth quickly established a lead that left the Bulldogs on their heels. However, Westerly refused to back down. Quarterback Landon Husereau orchestrated a comeback that saw the Bulldogs tie the game 20-20 midway through the third quarter. A quick strike early in the fourth quarter put the Bulldogs ahead 27-20, seemingly shifting the momentum in their favor.
But Portsmouth wasn't done. The Patriots responded with a scoring drive of their own, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to 27-26 after a missed extra point. In a game full of twists and turns, it was still anyone's to win.
With just minutes left on the clock, disaster struck for Westerly. A hard hit on Husereau led to a fumble that gave Portsmouth one last shot. The Patriots capitalized on the opportunity, converting multiple 4th down attempts to keep their drive alive. With just 24 seconds remaining, they found the end zone to take a 34-27 lead.
The Bulldogs had one last chance to salvage the game, but Husereau's desperation Hail Mary was intercepted—his first pick of the season—sealing the Patriots' victory.
Despite the loss, Husereau turned in another outstanding performance, finishing the night with 338 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, marking his third consecutive game with at least three TD passes. Senior Caleb Williams was a force, hauling in 12 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Daniel Cummings continued to impress, racking up 97 yards on five catches with two scores. Calvin Hill III and Jake Caron both contributed solid games with 50+ receiving yards each.
However, the Patriots' defense managed to stifle the Bulldogs' running game, holding Terell Hill to just 35 yards on 21 carries, though he did find the end zone once.
It was a tough night for Westerly, both for the players on the field and the thousands watching at home. Now, the Bulldogs will need to regroup as they prepare to face Woonsocket next Saturday, October 5th, for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
In other local football news, the Chariho Chargers fell to 0-3 with a 49-0 loss to the Classical Purple. The Stonington Bears won their 2nd straight game, this time against Quinebaug Valley 42-19 last night in Putnum Ct lead by senior Chase Spurley at quarterback. 321 will be bringing you live coverage next week of both schools as the Bears and the Chargers both return next Friday night while the Bulldogs are away.