Billerica High football pulls away for win

The Billerica High football team scored 20 unanswered points on the way to a 32-14 victory over Westford Academy on Friday at Westford.

“The kids played great,” said Billerica coach Duane Sigsbury. “Westford is a good football team, they have some great skill.”

Down 7-6 at the end of the first quarter, BMHS took the lead for good when senior quarterback JT Green scored on a 6-yard run just two minutes into the second quarter. The Indians missed their second straight 2-point conversion attempt to lead 12-7.

Westford had a chance to retake the lead, driving inside the Indian 25-yard line before an interception by sophomore Matt MacLeod.

“That was a great play,” Sigsbury said. “He was a defensive lineman last year and he’s moved to linebacker and he’s played unbelievable for us as a first-year varsity linebacker. I’m really proud of him. He works hard.”

With seven seconds left in the half, Billerica scored again on a 3-yard run by Green. Senior Jason Chaffee’s extra point pushed the lead to 12 at halftime.

During that drive, the Indians went 53 yards in seven plays with junior Gus O’Gara leading the way, making two catches for 27 yards and drawing a pass-interference penalty.

Green ran for Billerica’s first three scores of the game and then added a 39-yard touchdown pass to senior Scott Einarson to give the Indians a 26-7 advantage in the third.

Green set up the touchdown with a 34-yard completion to senior Sebastian St. Pierre.

Billerica (2-0) had the only touchdown of the fourth quarter, a 20-yard scoring pass from Green to O’Gara.

The BMHS defense started strong, forcing a punt on Westford’s first possession.

Junior Cole Dillon contributed a solid tackle on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

The Indians opened the scoring with a 57-yard drive that lasted 10 plays and ended with a 16-yard run by Green. Sophomore Djoodny “Judd” Dorival picked up three yards on a fourth-and-one from the WA 22-yard line to set up the touchdown two plays later.

The Grey Ghosts answered with their best drive of the night, a 66-yard trip to the end zone that took nine plays and ended with a 15-yard scoring strike from junior quarterback Jake Cullen to sophomore Quinn Reynolds. Senior Peter Burdin’s extra point put Westford in front.

The lead didn’t last long with the Indians moving 68 yards in 12 plays, anchored by Dorival’s running. The sophomore picked up 12 yards on a big third-and-nine carry to the 3-yard line and had six carries for 41 yards during the possession. After a penalty, Green’s 6-yard run followed and the Indians were off to the races.

“Defensively we made some plays and got some big stops,” Sigsbury said. “And i thought we were awesome on offense. I thought scoring five touchdowns was good against a good team like that. I’m proud of our guys and proud of our coaches and we’re ready to move on to Wilmington.”

Down 26-7, the Ghosts scored late in the third quarter when Cullen hit senior Matthew Hagan with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 56 seconds left in the stanza. A fourth-down completion to senior Joshua Forty set up Westford’s second touchdown.

Billerica hosts Wilmington next Friday night at 7 p.m.