The Westlake Demons will look to remain consistent next season
WESTLAKE, Ohio — What. A. Season. After a pandemic-twisted 2020, the Westlake Demons varsity football team scrapped together a season whose 3-5 record does not represent the adversity the team overcame or the effort they put forth. While the team ended the season with more games in the 鈥淟鈥� column, they certainly put up their share of offensive fireworks. If there鈥檚 a take-away that will be a focus of the offseason, it will be finding ways to maintain consistency from week to week.
The season started out with a tough 43-7 loss to North Royalton. Unfortunately, the following week, the offense was still falling into place and the Demons suffered a similar fate with a 30-7 loss to James Rhodes.
Their offensive drought didn鈥檛 last long though as just a week later, the Demons cruised to a 49-8 victory over a tough Warrensville Heights team. The Westlake team was firing on all cylinders in the third week of play with special teams even adding to the total as Will Ostrowski returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown (after he had scored a rushing touchdown just a few plays earlier). The defense added some points of their own to the pile when Josh Bauer ran a mid-game interception back 45 yards for a pick six.
Seven days later, the Demons added another 鈥淲鈥� to the win column with a hard fought 21-18 victory over a seasoned Parma Senior team. The Demons jumped out to an early 14-point lead behind a 37-yard touchdown run and a quarterback sneak that was set up by a strong defensive stand which resulted in a fumble recovery by Matthew Porcelli.
On Sept. 17, the roles were reversed and the Demons found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard, losing to Bay Village 21-7. This was an especially tough loss as it was not only the Westlake Homecoming game, but it was also the fabled battle for the Little Brown Jug.
As if there wasn鈥檛 enough excitement on the field that night, former Westlake coach Vern Long was joined by former Bay Village coach Tom Kaiser to unveil an all-new Brown Jug trophy. This was the 71st matchup between these two schools and with their win, Bay Village took a slight edge in the long-running series. They have now notched 35 wins, with Westlake taking the title 34 times (and there have been two ties).
The team traveled to North Olmstead for the Horns and Talons game the following week but were unable to overcome a talented North Olmstead team, losing 41-20.
Oct. 1 was a home game. During halftime, the seniors of the marching band were celebrated. Unfortunately, there was little to celebrate during game play as the Demons continued their offensive struggles and were overpowered by Elyria Catholic 41-10.
A two-week break turned out to be just what the team needed. On Oct. 15, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, the Demons sent their football and cheerleading seniors off in style with a strong 34-14 win against Fairview Park. The Demons found their offensive stride early in the game and capitalized on a flurry of first half scores that staked them to a fourteen-point lead going into the half.
The Demons were led through their 2021 campaign by head coach Dan LaRocco.
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