It was a fight that kept both teams close. One drive at the end defined the game.

SHS lost to Westfield 40-36. This was the first loss of the season for the Cards and their first loss at home since the 2012 season.

“It’s not something you want being a senior leader on this team,” senior quarterback Luke Johnston said. “It’s not something that you wanted to end.”

Senior tight end Evan Higgs caught a six yard touchdown for the first score of the game. In the first quarter, the score was 7-7. A lot happened in the second quarter for the Cards. Johnston threw a pick six, junior running back Andrew Mappes had a one yard rushing touchdown and the last score of the half was a 19 yard scramble by Johnston for a touchdown. Despite getting three touchdowns in the first half, Westfield kept up and the Cards were only up 21-20.

At the end of the third quarter Westfield was up 27-21. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Westfield made a field goal, but soon after that drive junior running back Micah Walker had a 13 yard rushing touchdown. Later in the quarter Westfield kicked another field goal but time was ticking. With 1:20 left of the game Johnston passed the ball to Higgs for a six yard score. SHS then converted a two point conversion by using a trick play.

1:20 was left on the clock for Westfield. After many plays, time was running out and there were only six seconds left. Despite being on SHS’s 40 yard line, Westfield managed to get a 40 yard passing touchdown to bring up the score to 40-36.  After a short kick return SHS had the ball with a 3.7 seconds left. Johnston threw a hail mary but it was incomplete and the game came to an end.

Johnston went 21 for 31 for 268 yards, two touchdowns passing, one touchdown running and two interceptions. Mappes had 17 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Blake Evans had nine receptions for 147 yards. Higgs had 7 receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Junior strong safety Sergiey Slaughter had 10 total tackles. Junior middle linebacker Jalen Williams had 10 total tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.

“We had three turnovers offensively and that was the biggest issue with us,” head coach Bill Peebles said. “Early in the game we struggled (with) protecting the quarterback (and) defensively we just missed some keys on some option plays and we didn’t get into some pass zones. That’s really what it came down to.”