WESTFIELD, Mass. (September 8, 2023) – The Western New England football team took care the hosting Owls of Westfield State University on Friday night after a delayed start, winning the President's Cup Trophy in the final game between the two schools in their rich history. 

Records:

• Western New England: 1-1
• Westfield State: 0-2

How it Happened:
A ten play, 60-yard drive in just 2:54 was all Western New England needed on their opening drive to grab the first six points of the game. The connection of Conrad Swanson and Ryan Larson would show as the first completed pass went 16 yards to get the Golden Bears started early.  Swanson would finish the job with a run up the middle of the field, a 17-yard run the led to the first six points of the game, giving WNE the early edge. The next three drives of the game would all end in punts as neither team could find their offensive game. Western New England would take their 6-0 lead into the second quarter of play. 

WNE would create a 12-play, 69-yard drive in the second quarter to grab their next six points of the game after the WNE defense would continue to rush the Owls off their own field. Tyler Millerick would see his first action of the season and score his first touchdown of the season on a 19-yard rush to get the Golden Bears a 12-0 lead. Thomas Gasbarro, Rogan Wotherspoon, Cam Leblanc, Brandon Myers, and Jake Chiasson would rush the Owls off the field in a hurry as the offense would go back to work and score a touchdown in 56 seconds to take an 18 point lead. Dillon Kohl would get the drive running with a four-yard carry on third down to continue to move the chains. Conrad Swanson would then link up with De'Andre Harris for a 20-yard gain to move WNE to the Westfield three yard line. After a penalty on WNE, the Golden Bears would grab a touchdown from 13 yards out when Greg Perry snatched a pass from Swanson out of the air, getting the Golden Bears back on the board, taking a 18-0 lead nearly as time expired in the half. Western New England would lead 18-0 through the first 30 minutes of play. 

The Golden Bears opened the second half with the ball and scored for their third consecutive drive. Dillon Kohl would power through the Westfield State defense, grabbing 38 yards on the drive and scoring a nine-yard touchdown to give Western New England a 24-0 lead. Andrew Havens would stick one through the uprights to add on an extra point for WNE, giving the Golden Bears a 25-point advantage. Danny Gisonno would take care of business for WNE on the next drive, scoring a rushing touchdown that got Western New England a 32-0 lead over the hosting Owls. Western New England would not be done there as they would come in and score on their very next offensive drive, capping off a nine play, 75-yard drive in just under six minutes of play. Cam Winder and Matt LaMontagne would help Western New England on the drive get down field before Tyler Millerick would connect with De'Andre Harris for the 15-yard touchdown pass, giving the Golden Bears a 39-0 lead. 

The Western New England defense would be too much for the Owls offense to handle, as the Golden Bears would force Westfield State off the field quickly to end the third quarter where the Golden Bears took a 39-0 lead out of, scoring 21 points in the quarter. 
WNE would burn 5:13 of clock on their opening drive of the fourth quarter which, once again, led to seven points on the scoreboard. Matt LaMontagne ran to the endzone for the first time as  a Golden Bear to help Western New England take a commanding 46-0 lead. Neither team would collect a point after that as the final seven minutes of clock would run out as Western New England recorded a 46-0 win over the Owls, securing the President's Cup for the ninth consecutive time, winning the final game between the two schools. 

Inside the Box Score:

• As a team, Western New England recorded 38 total first downs, while Westfield State managed just eight in the full 60-minute contest. 
• WNE recorded 527 total yards of offense at Westfield State, 287 yards on the ground and 240 yards through the air. The Golden Bears ran 90 plays under the Friday night lights. 
• WNE used four quarterbacks in their blowout victory as Conrad Swanson completed ten passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, Tyler Millerick recorded four completions for 47 yards and a touchdown, Danny Gisonno recorded three completions for 44 yards, and Brady Lafferty made his WNE debut, complete his lone pass for nine yards. 
• Dillon Kohl ran through the WSU defense, recording 15 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. Kohl's 21-yard rush was his longest of the night. 
• Matt LaMontagne made his debut for Western New England on the field tonight, running 11 times for 51 yards while scoring his first collegiate touchdown. 
• Western New England ran for five touchdowns on the night with Conrad Swanson, Tyler Millerick and Danny Gisonno recording the other three. 
• Through the air, De'Andre Harris caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Borwhat caught three passes for 60 yards. Callaghan Daskam tied with Harris for four catches, good for 43 yards. 
• Defensively, Western New England shutout the Owls for the third time in the last nine years. Jake Chiasson led WNE with eight tackles, four solo and four assisted. Cam Leblanc recorded six tackles, one solo and five assisted in the win. Chiasson and Alex Boutin recorded the two sacks on the night for WNE. 
• WNE grabbed six consecutive touchdowns on six consecutive drives to put the game out of reach for the Owls. 
• Due to the addition of Castleton University in the MASCAC in 2024, this will be the final President's Cup game between the two schools in their rich history. WNE has ripped off the last nine meeting, winning by a combined score of 360-99. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England returns to Golden Bear Stadium on Saturday, September 16 for a 1:00 PM game against St. Lawrence University.