WILLIAMSTOWN — By the time Mount Greylock quarterback Michael Wellspeak took the field, the Mounties were already up and running against Smith Vocational.
Cal Messina returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown and Reece Gillette recovered a fumble in the end zone as Mount Greylock jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 48-7 win over the Vikings.
“We didn’t come out very sharp in our execution,” Smith Voke coach Tony Capua said. “We’re getting better, but we’ve got a long way to go. We’re a new coaching staff, new offense, new defense, everything is new from a program perspective. What I do like from the guys is their steady engagement and steady improvement. We are getting better as we move forward.”
Greylock took a 42-0 lead into halftime. Smith Voke (0-2) got on the board when quarterback Jacob Erali scampered in from 7 yards out late in the fourth quarter.
Erali rushed for 23 yards on 10 carries while Cam VanBuren rushed for 30 yards and Stone Mitchell added 23. Erali completed four passes for 38 yards and an interception, while Parker Affhauser led the squad with 31 yards receiving.
And while Greylock finished with only 175 yards of total offense, the Mounties forced five Vikings turnovers, scoring twice on defense in the first half.
Greylock, after inserting backup players sometime around the early-to-middle part of the second quarter, capped its scoring in the fourth when Jude Rorke scooped up a fumble during a punt return and scampered 25 yards for the score.
That gave the Mounties two special teams touchdowns to pair with the two defensive scores.
And when Wellspeak did take the field, starting with a 14-0 lead, he made it count. The sophomore threw three touchdowns — including two in the first quarter to Sean McCormack of 9 and 16 yards, respectively — as Greylock (2-0) took a 28-0 lead through one quarter.
“It was obviously a really good start,” Mount Greylock coach Andrew Agostini said. “We played well in all facets, so that was good to see. “This is a really hungry group, they prepare well each week, they’re really focused in practice. So a start like that is not unusual.”
Wellspeak also connected with Reilly Parker for a 24-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
“There were never any questions with any of the coaches or players on this team about Michael,” Agostini said. “He’s been the guy, he was great last year as a freshman on jayvee and in practice. We’ve had zero concerns with him, and he’s shown that in the first two games.”
Parker followed his touchdown grab with a 41-yard interception return that gave the Mounties a 42-0 advantage only 27 seconds into the second stanza.
Wellspeak finished 4-for-4 for 61 yards and the three touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 21 yards.
Greylock is back in action at Ware on Friday night. Smith Voke faces Drury in North Adams on Oct. 1.