BELCHERTOWN — The tough part of the schedule is mercifully over and now the Belchertown football team will hope for better days.
Belchertown opened its season by playing up and once again, the playing field was hardly level as the Orioles dropped a 72-6 decision to Taconic of Pittsfield Friday night.
The Orioles are now 0-2 after also losing to Chicopee in their opener. They have been outscored 114-21 in the two losses.
“These are teams we should never be playing,” coach Chris Bourget said. “They’re a senior-laden team and we’re starting freshmen.”
While it would have been a lot more satisfying had Belchertown come out of these two games with a win, they did serve a purpose.
Going up against stronger teams hopefully will make the Orioles a better team when they play teams at their own level, starting with Greenfield next week.
“My kids played hard and this is going to make us better,” Bourget said. “Now we will start playing teams who are like us and we hope to turn this team around.”
Quarterback Jackson Leduc battled through a tough evening. He was under tremendous pressure from the fierce Taconic pass rush and had several bad snaps sail over his head for losses.
Leduc had completions of 22 and 18 yards, respectively, to Clayton Daskam and running back Cam Cass.
Cass gained some tough yards against an experienced defense that was much bigger and stronger.
The Braves used the big play from several players to score points in bunches.
Taconic delivered the knockout punch early. The Braves put up 38 first-quarter points en route to a 46-0 halftime advantage.
Taconic was relentless from the start. Anthony Whiteley’s 30-yard opening kickoff return set the tone for the game.
It took Whiteley only one play to open the scoring. His 40 yard touchdown run came 25 seconds into the game to provide the Braves with a 6-0 edge.
Brandon Peaselee got into the act less than three minutes later. He scored on a 3-yard plunge and after Whiteley ran in the conversion, Taconic led, 14-0.
Quarterback Jake McNeise showed some quick feet and deft moves when he race 31 yards for a touchdown. Cedric Rose scored on the conversion run for a 22-0 Taconic lead.
Taconic showed it also has a passing game. Devon Walker hauled in a 9-yard pass from NcNeise and Zach Gage’s conversion run raised the lead to 30-0
Gage broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first quarter. Jack Cooney caught the conversion pass from McNeise to give the Braves a commanding 38-0 first quarter lead.
Gage scored Taconic’s only second quarter touchdown on a 42-yard run and McNeise ran in the conversion for a 46-0 halftime lead.
Hunter Johnston had a fumble recovery in end zone 55 seconds into the third quarter as the Braves went ahead, 52-0.
Then came another big play. Lucien Almedia scored on a 72-yard run, before Haywood Euqhart had scoring runs of 7 and 44 yards.
Belchertown averted the shutout with 48.1 seconds remaining when Bradley Lovett scored on a 17-yard run.