Tag: Jim DeSarno

by Mike Pavlichko

Westfield keeps it in-house, names ’02 alum Matt Andzel new Blue Devils’ football coach

With longtime football coach Jim DeSarno stepping off the football field and into administration – taking over for the retiring Sandra Mamary in June to be Westfield’s next Athletic Director – the Blue Devils have a new head coach.

DeSarno has decided to keep things in-house in naming Matt Andzel as the 13th head coach in the storied Westfield program’s history. Andzel has been the defensive line coach for Westfield, spending the past eleven seasons under DeSarno, and also played for the Blue Devils under Ed Tranchina from 1999-2001.

Despite the late date of the higher, having someone inside the program who’s been around the current players their entire careers, whether freshmen or seniors, would appear to be key to maintaining continuity. And for course, DeSarno will still be on campus as the AD.

Andzel played his college ball at The College of New Jersey, his final season being in 2006. In three seasons, he played in 18 games – ten of which came in 2005 – and had 29 career total tackles on the D-line, along with a pass breakup and three fumble recoveries.

DeSarno spent five years at Kinnelon – going 18-32 – before coming to Westfield, where he spent over two decades leading the Blue Devil program. He was 122-63 in that time, including an remarkable stretch where Westfield went 36-0 from 2015 through 2017, winning three North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 titles, all at Met Life Stadium, and all over Bridgewater-Raritan; Andzel was on the staff during that run.

Westfield went 6-5 in 2023, capping its season with a 28-9 win over longtime Turkey Day rival Plainfield, in one of the few remaining local rivalries still played on Thanksgiving.

Click below to hear new Westfield head coach Matt Andzel talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

by Mike Pavlichko

It’s all Westfield as Blue Devils blank Scotch Plains-Fanwood with balanced, efficient attack

Westfield got two first quarter scores to put rival Scotch Plains-Fanwood behind the eight ball early, and the Blue Devils’ never took their foot off the gas the rest of the way in a 31-0 win Friday night in Scotch Plains.

In a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, Westfield rolled off 362 yards of total offense – with 184 through the air and 178 on the ground. Senior quarterback Mac Cho threw three touchdown passes.

Westfield led 17-0 after the first 13 minutes and change, with the run kicked off by Josh Caramagno scoring on a 17-yard run with 7:47 left in the opening quarter.

Nick Lukis added a 27-yard field goal nearly four minutes later, and Sebastian Magherini added an 11-yard TD catch just 1:09 into the second quarter.

For insurance, Enzo Ferrero added a 51-yard touchdown catch, and Magherini had his second touchdown reception of the game – this one a five-yarder – in the first quarter.

Westfield (2-2) has now won two straight, while Scotch Plains-Fanwood dropped to 1-4 and has lost four straight since a season-opening win over Monroe.

Click below for postgame reaction presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Westfield senior quarterback Max Cho
Westfield head coach Jim DeSarno
by Mike Pavlichko

DeSarno not hitting the panic button as Westfield heads to Scotch Plains for first-ever meeting under the lights

For a team that went 8-3 a season ago, including 4-0 in Big Central American Gold Division Play, it would be easy to panic following an 0-2 start. But at Westfield, under head coach Jim DeSarno in his 18th season, that’s just not in their nature.

After suffering two tough losses to open the season to teams currently ranked in the Big Central Media poll (No. 5 Watchung Hills and No. 10 Union), the Blue Devils bounced back last week with a 23-21 win against a very talented Elizabeth team.

Westfield (1-2) looks to make it two-in-a-row with a short trip to Scotch Plains-Fanwood (1-3) Friday night, for the first-ever night meeting between the schools. It’s the 60th meeting, with the Blue Devils ahead 43-13-3.

The first meeting came back in 1929, and while they didn’t play again until 1961, they’ve played all but five years since.

Quarterback Max Cho, in his first season as a starter, has thrown for over 500 yards and three scores. His classmate and backfield partner, running back Josh Caramagno, has run for nearly 300 yards and totaled four scores. Caramagno carried the ball for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns in last week’s win over Elizabeth.

Coverage begins at 6:40 from Perry Tyson Field in Scotch Plains on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe will have the play-by-play call, with kickoff at 7:00.  Click here to listen.

Listen below to hear Westfield coach Jim DeSarno and Justin Sontupe preview Friday night’s game:

by Mike Pavlichko

Westfield uses ground game and its usual stellar defense to top Bridgewater-Raritan, move on to North 1, Group 5 semis

The Westfield defense might not hold its next opponent to seven points.

But they did in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5 playoffs, as the 3rd-seeded Blue Devils topped 6th-seed Bridgewater-Raritan Saturday afternoon at Kehler Stadium in Westfield, 28-7.

Dylan Wragg rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Trey Brown rushed for another 123 yards and two scores ,also throwing a touchdown pass. The Panther offense was held to just 107 yards of total offense, 53 on the ground and 54 through the air.

Defense has been a calling card of Westfield for years under Jim DeSarno. And Saturday afternoon was no exception. It’s the fifth time this season the Blue Devils (7-2) have held an opponent to 12 points or fewer, while they also have two shutouts.

Bridgewater falls to 4-6, having played one of the toughest schedules in the entire Big Central Conference.

Next up for Westfield is second-seed Union City, which plays on the roof of its Hudson County high school. The 2nd-seeded Soaring Eagles – now 8-1 – beat 7th-seed Union at home Friday night 62-20 to make it to their ninth sectional semifinal since 2010.

Westfield is looking to make it to a sectional finals for the first time 2017, when they won the last of three in a row, all over Brigdewater-Raritan, in a stretch that saw the Blue Devils go 36-0 from 2015 to 2017.

Click below for postgame reaction from Chris Taskonas who was in Westfield for today’s game:

Senior RB Dylan Wragg

Head coach Jim DeSarno
by Mike Pavlichko

Pesky Westfield can pickup signature win today when No. 2 Hillsborough comes to town

Westfield is not one to go quietly.

Two straight losses by fewer than two touchdowns has not deterred the Blue Devils from keeping at it this season, and head coach Jim DeSarno will expect nothing different Saturday afternoon.

That’s when No. 2 Hillsborough pays Kehler Stadium a visit for the Saturday Big Central Game of the Week, driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland!

Listen live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, as Mike Pavlichko and Tim Catalfamo call all the action with kickoff at noon, with pregame starting at 11:45 am. Click here to listen.

Two weeks ago on the Big Central Game of the Week, Westfield lost 14-3 decision to Union, in a game of missed opportunities.

They had three long drives against Union, including one that opened the game and took about half the first quarter. But they just couldn’t capitalize, coming away with three points on three trips into the red zone.

Defensively, they were better than anyone else has been against Union all year. They held Davison Igbinosun in (relative) check, and limited the Farmers, who had not scored fewer than 28 points all season, to half that:

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s conversation with Westfield head coach Jim DeSarno:

by Mike Pavlichko

This Week in the Big Central – Episode 7: The Midway Point

Half the regular season is in the books in high school football across New Jersey, and we talk about it on Episode 7 of “This Week in the Big Central,” driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland!

Mike Pavlichko starts the show with a look at the playoff standings – interrupted by a mild rant on the state’s multiplier formula for power points.

Then, it’s a look at the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week, South Brunswick’s Khiri Summers, who had three receiving touchdowns on offense, and two interceptions on defense, against Monroe.

Mike and Dom Savino wrap it up with a look at the Week 6 slate, including some playoff implications.

by justinsontupe

Resurgent Westfield can make a big statement with a win Friday night over No. 2 Union

Every team looks for that signature win.

For Westfield in 2021, this could be it.

The Blue Devils Friday night will get their shot at the No. 2-ranked team in the Big Central Conference, when they visit Union at Cooke Field on the Big Central Game of the week, driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland, on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Coverage begins with the pregame show at 6:45, followed by kickoff at 7 as Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe have the call. Click here to listen to the live audio broadcast for free.

Union leads what has been a tight series throughout the years, one which began in 1930. There were a a couple of long stretches where they didn’t play, but they’ve met every year but two since 1973 (2014 and last year, when Westfield managed only two games due to COVID shutdowns).

Union leads all-time 31-26, and has won the last two in the series. The Blue Devils’ last win at Cooke Field came in 2017, a 7-6 road victory en route to their third straight North 2, Group 5 championship, a stretch that saw Westfield win 36 straight games in three years, and was part of an overall 37-game winning streak.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Justin Sontupe talk with Westfield head coach Jim DeSarno:

by Mike Pavlichko

This Week in the Big Central – Episode 6: The Live Show

Episode 6 of “This Week in the Big Central,” driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland finds us on the road – where else – at Autoland Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram on Rt. 22 East!

Mike Pavlichko previews Friday night’s Big Central Game of the Week driven by Autoland, featuring Westfield (2-1) and No. 3 Union (3-1).

Mike Pavlichko is joined by Westfield senior defensive back James Csorba, and senior offensive linemen Duke Edmonson and Jack Price. Representing Union is senior wideout/defensive back and Rutgers commit Davison Igbinosun, senior quarterback/defensive back Jaden Stewart, and senior two-way lineman Najee Bowe Pinckney. The Farmers’ cheerleaders welcomed and sent off the group.

  • Westfield players talk about their season. From l. to r., OL Jack Price, OL Duke Edmondson, DB James Csorba, and host Mike Pavlichko. (Photo: KJ Singh)
  • The Union cheerleaders welcome the Farmers players before they take the mic. (Photo: KJ Singh)
  • Union players talk with Mike Pavlichko (far right). From l. to r.: OL/DL Najee Bowe Pinckney, QB/DB Jaden Stewart, WR/DB Davison Igbinosun. (Photo: KJ Singh)
  • Westfield head coach Jim DeSarno (left) and Union head coach Lou Grasso talk about their teams and Friday night’s game with Mike Pavlichko. (Photo: KJ Singh)

Then, coaches Jim DeSarno of Westfield and Lou Grasso of Union join Mike to talk about their careers and Friday night’s game.

Mike wraps it up with a quick look at the Week 5 slate coming up this weekend.