Westfield Hornets host Terrell Academy in our Week 13 Game of the Week

The Westfield School Hornets (8-2, 4-0) prepare to take on the Terrell Academy Eagles (6-4, 1-3)

PERRY, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – The Westfield Hornets have caused a buzz after winning their District Five Region Championship with a perfect 4-0 region record. It’s the first region title for the Hornets since 2015. Second year Hornets Head Coach Chad Campbell has this team exactly where he wants them after winning the last 5 straight games.

Not only have the Hornets outscored their opponents by over 200 points this season, but they have outscored their region foes 112 to 36. Westfield is averaging 33 points a game and giving up only 12 a match on defense all season, including a 41-0 shutout victory over region opponent Calvery Christian.

This Westfield squad could have gone undefeated this season had they not lost two games by just a total of nine points combined, which included a tough loss in our Week Six Game of the Week at FPD. However, that game lit a spark under these Hornets. After they had committed too many turnovers in their game with the Vikings, Coach Campbell credits the team’s excellent play since to mistake-free football, and when they perform well in all three phases.

Now, Class AAA one seed Westfield faces a tough battle against a 6-4 Eagles squad that is led by Head Coach Bill Murdock in his nineteenth season with Terrell Academy. The Eagles have averaged 23 points a game so far this season.

Last time these two teams faced off was in 2021, when the Hornets won 56-35 to improve to 6-2-1 in the all-time series after back to back wins. However, these two teams are all-new squads and this Westfield team is hungry to grab their first state title since the Hornets were back-to-back champs in 2013 and 2014.

Coach Campbell is also excited to start a run at his first state championship since 2009, when he led Peach County to glory, as the Westfield Hornets hope to sting the Eagles’ playoff chances in our Week 13 Game of the Week.

“It seems like we’ve just progressed each and every week. Especially down the stretch here in the last three or four ball games” said Coach Campbell at Thursday’s practice. “We are playing really good in all three phases. Special teams has been big for us this year. We’ve done a great job at special teams. On defense, we’ve done a good job of not allowing the explosive plays, and offensively, we’ve been pretty consistent throughout the year. I’m pleased where we are at right now.”

Coach went on to say, “this time of year, one or two plays can tell the whole ball game. So, we’ve got to prepare each and every play, and when one play is over, you’ve got to go to the next play. You can’t think about the last play, or whatever. Every play is important this time of year. So, were looking forward to the challenge tomorrow night.”

Senior Hornet Nick Free is ready for a physical battle. “I feel like we just didn’t play our best football then. I feel like we had a lot of times we were just shooting ourselves in the foot” said Free Thursday. “I think coming back from that, we came out of practice saying we’ve got to play better football. They were good competition, and a great team, but we’ve come back, and we are playing like Westfield football should be played. It’s been close to 10 years since we’ve won [a championship], so its been a huge confidence boost. We just got to stay levelheaded, and stay humble, and go out there, and punch them in the mouth.”

Senior Hornet Grayson Waller likes the team’s chances of coming out on top Friday night. “I think our defense has been really big for us this year. We’ve played really well together as a team. Our Quarterback Brayden Gay has done phenomenal this year. We’ve run the ball really well, we dominate the line of scrimmage very well. I think we have a good chance at making a run at this.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Marvin Arrington Stadium.

Catch live pregame coverage during 41NBC News at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m. Don’t miss highlights from our Game of the Week, and others, on this Friday’s edition of The End Zone during 41NBC News at 11.