Westminster Academy flips script, dominates previously unbeaten University School
Sometimes you get a chance at redemption.
And in this case, Westminster Academy’s football team made the most of it on Thursday night.
Three weeks after suffering a 35-point, mercy-rule defeat to NSU University School, the Lions flipped things on the host Sharks when it mattered most.
Senior quarterback Anthony Barbar accounted for four Westminster Academy touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 41-20 victory over previously unbeaten University School in a Sunshine State Athletic Association semifinal playoff at AutoNation Field.
The Lions (9-1) will next play either Oviedo Master’s Academy or Jacksonville Zarephath Academy for the independent conference’s state championship on Nov. 11 at Bryant Stadium in Lakeland.
“It took discipline and us wanting it more as a team,” Barbar said. “It didn’t matter what offense or defense they came out with, it was about us.”
Westminster had several things working against them the first time the teams met on Oct. 12 when University School scored a 42-7 victory.
The Lions were missing multiple players due to injuries. They also fell behind quickly and University made their offense seem one-dimensional, relying almost solely on the passing game.
On Thursday, Westminster made it a point to establish its running game early and often. And with senior running back Alonso Collins, one the Lions’ starters who missed the first game vs. University due to injury, rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, Westminster was the team that seized control of the game quickly this time.
“We were able to do some things early that we couldn’t do the first time because of those guys being out,” Westminster Academy coach Ehren Wallhoff said. “They played a heck of a game and we made a lot of mistakes (in the first game). We cleaned that up for this game. Our guys wanted some payback obviously. Being able to get big yardage against their 3-man front, we knew we could pound it and we knew we could get big chunks and be in second-and-2 and second-and-3.”
Barbar didn’t need to throw the ball much, completing 7-of-13 passes for 164 yards, but threw three touchdown passes including two to Dwayne Wimbley, who caught five passes for 101 yards.
“We came in with the mindset that whatever happens we knew we were going to give it all we got and we did that from the start,” Wimbley said. “There’s no feeling like this, but we have to lock in on Monday and get back to work.”
The Lions’ defense set the tone on the game’s second play when University quarterback Jett Yurgealitis was intercepted by Amari Deer, leading to Westminster’s first score when Barbar found Wimbley for a 34-yard touchdown pass.
“It helped our kids understand it was going to happen if we stuck to the game plan and the kids bought in,” Wallhoff said. “We haven’t won a championship since 1991 so we want to get that trophy.”
Deer then made a huge play on offense when he caught a quick pass over the middle and ran 57 yards for a touchdown.
Yurgealitis completed 21 of 43 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. Carlos Avila-Lopez had nine catches for 109 yards and Ian Donahue caught seven passes for 95 yards.
But Westminster’s defense came up with a pair of stops on downs in the first half in addition to the turnovers.
The Lions’ special teams also made heads up plays like when Deer picked up a punt return on a ball that took an unfavorable bounce for University School yet was never downed by its coverage team. He then returned it to the U-School 4-yard line, leading to a Wimbley touchdown run moments later.
“Our guys just carved it up and did what we had to do to win,” Wallhoff said. “They’re a high-scoring team and we put them in a good position to contain them and never let them get going. I felt like us winning the turnover battle made the difference in the game.”
The Lions built a 28-0 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
University School chipped away though as Jacques Dixson Jr. ran for 87 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Yurgealitis’ 7-yard touchdown pass to Bradyn Potter late in the third quarter cut the Sharks’ deficit to 35-20.
But Westminster put the game out of reach with four minutes left in the fourth with Barbar’s 14-yard fade pass into the corner of the end zone to Wimbley.
“There’s no feeling like this, but we have to lock in on starting Monday and get back to work,” Wimbley said.
This story was originally published November 3, 2023 at 12:29 AM.
