EAST LONGMEADOW — With Nik Smith out with a shoulder injury, the Northampton football team’s potent running game figured to slow down against East Longmeadow Friday night.
With Smith out, East Longmeadow knew that Northampton’s Elijah Davis would get the ball and get it often. Even with this knowledge Davis ran wild on the Spartans in a 30-0 win.
“It was a different feeling without (Smith) out there,” Davis said. “I was the fastest kid on that side of the ball.”
Davis got most of the carries in the first half, while a trio of running backs shared time in the third and fourth quarter to give Davis a rest.
One of those backs, Beau Garbarini, torched the Spartans for a 90-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Garbarini, known more for his power running, showed breakaway speed in the final score of the game.
“The line opened up a really good gap,” Garbarini said. “There was a huge hole. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the open field. At the 50 I saw a couple shadows but they weren’t going to get me.”
With Northampton (4-0) trying to add to a 16-0 lead in the second quarter, quarterback Ryan Bredin completed a 16-yard pass to wide receiver Robert Kirvin. The play elicited an unusually large cheer from the small group of Northampton fans, considering the play.
Kirvin’s father is battling cancer.
“It’s been hard but our friends and family have helped out,” Kirvin said. “It was nice to get a catch. But he wasn’t here tonight because it was a far ride and he was tired. But I am sure he will be happy when I tell him.”
Davis rushed for 190 yards on 20 carries, while Garbarini galloped for 115 on five carries. As a team, the Blue Devils rushed for 410 yards.
A 5-yard touchdown by Davis in the third quarter put the game out of reach at 24-0.
With a big lead late in the game, Hamp went to Syrus Carey (12 carries, 64 yards) and Devontay Edmonds (four carries, 32 yards) to keep the clock moving.
“That was a good win,” Northampton coach Pat Sledzieski said. “Especially down some weapons.”
Northampton’s defense, often overlooked by the sparkle of the offense, was once again dominant. The Devils held the Spartans to less than 100 yards of total offense.
Aiden Ward rushed for 42 yards on 20 carries for East Longmeadow.
Eamonn Powers had a sack and two tackles for losses for Northampton. Tim Berniche was all over the field for the Blue Devils with eight tackles.
When East Longmeadow went to the air, only Northampton players caught the ball. Sam Ohotnicky got an interception early as well as Bredin, who picked off Tristan Longmore in the fourth quarter.
Davis marched the Blue Devils to East Longmeadow’s 2-yard line on the first drive of the game. Davis did this on runs of 14, 37, 11 and 4 yards. From there, a Bredin keeper gave Northampton the lead.
Bredin scored again on another quarterback keeper in the second quarter.
