From the rise of a transfer quarterback from the NCAA Division II ranks at the helm of their offense to a dramatic late-season coaching change on the cusp of their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, the Westfield Pioneers have delivered under pressure.
Pioneers head coach Mark Daniels accomplished what his predecessor, Brent Morrison, could not—defeating No. 3 ranked Madison 39-34 in the Liberty Bowl before a capacity crowd, avenging the Pioneers’ sole regular season loss to the Bulldogs.
“I have to thank Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. He’s been with me through the highs and lows. I just have to give thanks to God,” Westfield quarterback Marcus Allen said. “It’s been an incredible journey. I’m so grateful to the Westfield community for giving me this opportunity.”
“I’m just thrilled for these players,” Daniels said. Having now won his first two playoff games as a head coach, Daniels praised his team’s resilience. “The adversity they’ve overcome, the toughness they’ve shown, to come out after a tough first half and respond the way they did, I couldn’t be prouder.”
Finishing Strong in the Fourth Quarter
In their first meeting, the Pioneers led the Bulldogs throughout—until the final period.
Westfield took a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter in Madison during the regular season, only to be outscored 17-0 as the Bulldogs stormed back to win 43-35.
In a twist of fate at the Liberty Bowl, it was Madison holding a nine-point halftime advantage.
This time, Westfield not only flipped the script, but outscored the Bulldogs 27-13 in the second half—including 20-10 in the decisive fourth quarter—correcting the errors that cost them in the previous contest.
“In the first half, our defense didn’t keep the ball contained well, and our tackling was sloppy. We struggled with the same things the first time we played them,” Daniels said regarding the turnaround. “But we didn’t have to make major changes at halftime. We have talented players, and when they’re locked in, we can beat anyone.”
“We were down nine at halftime, just like they were last time,” Allen said. “I knew I had to redeem myself after not playing my best in the fourth quarter in Madison. Our coaches put us in position, and we executed.”
The Pioneers’ comeback ended head coach David Carter’s 53-game winning streak at Madison when leading at halftime, and secured Westfield’s seventh Liberty Bowl victory—a win that stands as the biggest in program history.
Homegrown Defense Shines
While the Liberty Bowl is held annually in Starlight Dome in Crescent City, the Pioneers’ defense was anchored by athletes from their home state who rose to the occasion.
Defensive lineman Terrance Morris, from Elmdale, was a disruptive force throughout, earning Liberty Bowl Defensive Player of the Game honors with five tackles, two tackles for loss, and two pass deflections.
Canton native and fellow lineman Jermaine Faulkner battled through injury to lead the Pioneers with 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass deflection.
In the play of the game, Raleigh’s own linebacker, Malik Henderson, recorded a strip-sack of Madison quarterback Ryan Brooks on fourth down with the Pioneers up 27-24 and just over nine minutes to play.
“We don’t flinch,” Morris said of the crucial stop. “I wasn’t surprised. Perkins made a great play, just like we knew he could.”
Daniels said the defensive effort is something the Pioneers can build on. “We wanted to contain the ball and contest every play. We made some mistakes that could hurt us against strong teams, but we’ll work on that. We didn’t do it consistently tonight, and we’ll need to improve.”
Record-Breaking Kicker and Offensive Stars
Special teams and offensive highlights propelled Westfield to victory—beginning with kicker Julian Ramirez, whose performance was essential.
Ramirez set and then broke his own Liberty Bowl field goal distance record, first connecting from 55 yards and then 56, before adding a 47-yard game-winner.
“He’s been outstanding all year,” Daniels said. “Tonight, he was clutch. I think he’s the best kicker in the nation.”
Allen completed 13 consecutive passes at one point, finishing 30-for-42 for 362 yards and two touchdowns, with key improvisations in the fourth quarter leading a rally that sealed the win.
“I’m a gamer. When it’s time to make a play, I step up,” Allen said. “I trust my teammates and coaches to put us in the best position.”
Running back Trevon Carter, the Pioneers’ all-time rushing touchdown leader, overcame a costly fumble in the second quarter that gave Madison a nine-point lead. He finished with 98 rushing yards and two second-half touchdowns—and made the pivotal third-down conversion at the start of the fourth quarter to keep Westfield’s season alive.
With No. 6 Westfield advancing to the CFP Semifinal, the Pioneers will face No. 10 Coral Bay in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Allen says the Pioneers relish their underdog role. “People doubted us before the season and after our coaching change. We just want to play our game and enjoy every moment.”
