CHICOPEE — When the opposition has a dynamic running back like Chicopee’s Issaiah Jackson, there is little choice but to have the defense key on him.

Sound game plan, indeed, but there was one slight problem. Belchertown’s double team on Jackson opened the door for Korey Potter to take charge and he did not disappoint.

Potter rushed for 124 yards and scored three first-half touchdowns Friday night to power Chicopee to a 42-15 triumph over the Orioles at Szot Park.

The Pacers did not attempt a pass in the game, instead relying on a punishing ground game.

The Orioles may have been up against a bigger and more experienced opponent, but they showed a lot of fight. But they could not avoid the big play, which proved to be their fatal flaw.

“We need to do a better job of tackling,” Belchertown coach Chris Bourget said. . “But that’s something we can work on and get better at.”

Potter had a field day running the ball. He scored on runs on 37, 52 and 4 yards to power the Pacers to a 21-7 halftime advantage.

Then Jackson took over. He led all rushers with 165 yards, including touchdown runs of 67 and 18 yards. Four other big gains were called back because of penalties.

He went over the career 2,000 rushing yard mark in the game.

Cameron Supple and Cam Cass had the touchdowns for Belchertown.

Leduc alternated between quarterback and running back and made several good plays.

“He’s a jack of all trades,” Bourget said.

Losing has been tough on seniors like Leduc and Cass. But playing up against teams like Chicopee and next week’s opponent, Taconic, could pay dividends in the long run when Belchertown enters league play.

“Our kids played hard and they have a positive attitude,” Bourget said. “We did some things we can build on.”

One of which is to avoid falling victim to the big play.

That’s what happened on Chicopee’s first drive. The Pacers opened the scoring when Potter scored on a 37-yard touchdown run.

Then he scored on Chicopee’s next possession. This time on a 52-yard run as the Pacers built a 13-0 lead.

Potter’s third score of the game came from 4 yards out with 7:23 left in the half and the 2-point conversion to Christian Edwards raised the lead to 21-0. Belchertown got on the board with six seconds remaining in the half when LeDuc floated a perfect fade pass to a wide-open Supple for the score that cut the margin to 21-7 at intermission.

Things looked promising for the Orioles on their first drive of the second half. Leduc rushed for a 15-yard gain before the drive stalled with negative yardage.

It was a big momentum swing as Chicopee used a 67-yard touchdown run from Jackson to key a 21-point third quarter that put the game out of reach. Matt Swenor and Jackson scored later in the quarter.

The Orioles did finish on a positive note. Cass capped an 89-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run followed by a Clayton Daskam conversion run.

“Our three captains (Leduc, Cass, Daskam) all played well,’’ Bourget said.

Chicopee 42, Belchertown 15

Belchertown

0

7

0

8

—15

Chicopee

13

8

21

0

—42

First quarter

C- Korey Potter 37 run (Dillan O’Connor kick)

C-Potter 52 run (kick failed).

Second quarter

C- Potter 4 run (Matt Swenor pass to Christian Edwards)

B- Cameron Supple 8 pass from Jackson Leduc (Hunter Kingersmith kick)

Third quarter

C- Jackson 67 run (Swenor to Curtis Coombs)

C- Swenson 4 run (O’Connor kick)

C- Jackson 18 run (kick failed)

Fourth quarter

B-Cam Cass 12 run (Daskam run)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING— B — Leduc, 12-32, Cass, 10-52-1, Daskam 1-4, Brad Lovett 1-minus 7. C —Potter 7-124-3, Jackson 17-165-2 Matt Swenor 1-4-1, Curtis Coombs 5-37, Elmer 1-3, Sliwa 2-2, Jacobs 2-minus 7, Escobar 1-0.

PASSING—B_Leduc 9-15-76-1, Flink 0-1.

RECEIVING—Amherst–Sylla 3-30, Cruz 3-36, Cage 1-4, Morrisey 1-31, 2-19, Forrester 2-19. Minnechaug-Christman 4-63, St. Marie 1-20.