1. The defense held strong, but field position proved costly.The Ghosts’ defense played well overall, but the battle of field position swung the game in Lowell’s favor. With short fields to work with, the Red Raiders consistently had four downs in manageable territory, making it tough for WA to keep them off the scoreboard despite solid effort on the defensive side.

2. The offensive line set the tone up front.The Ghosts’ offensive line put together a solid performance, opening lanes for a productive run game. Still, short-yardage situations proved to be the difference. Football is often a game of inches, and a couple of conversions here or there could have changed the outcome.

3. New faces showed they were ready to compete.Several younger and less experienced players stepped up under the Friday night lights, battling hard and proving they belong at this level. The key now is learning how to sustain that level of play for a full four quarters, something the Ghosts will look to improve on heading into next week.

4. A special debut for kicker Tyler Kane. In his first year of football, kicker Tyler Kane was perfect on the night, converting both of his PAT attempts (2-for-2). His poise and consistency in the kicking game provided a bright spot and will be a valuable asset as the season progresses.

5. The Ghosts look to bounce back.An 0–1 start isn’t ideal, but Westford Academy has been in this position before. The Ghosts are focused on bouncing back quickly with a matchup against Billerica on deck. With the energy and support from a truly electric atmosphere at the Haunted House on Friday night, there’s plenty of optimism that WA will respond the right way.