AMHERST — Miles Foerster started the game wearing his usual No. 1.
After his jersey was ripped to shreds following a tough run, he switched to No. 20.
It was run Foerster, run Friday night as the scrambling quarterback had touchdown runs of 38 and 44 yards to spark Amherst to its first victory this season, a 32-12 triumph over Monument Mountain of Great Barrington at Community Field.
“The number switch didn’t matter because it’s still football,” Foerster said. “I love to run and we have running backs like Will Budington and Alexsander Fernandes, who are great runners.”
So strong was Amherst’s running game that Foerster threw only six passes. Three of them went to Budington for 71 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass during the third quarter that iced the game.
It was the first victory for new coach Chris Ehorn Jr. and the first win at home for the senior class.
“It’s been so long since we won, I don’t know how to react,” Foerster, a junior, said. “It feels great. And everyone did something.”
It should feel great because of what it took to get the win.
The Hurricanes (1-3, 1-0 Intercounty South) overcame a rash of mistakes. They committed six penalties during the first half and Foerster lost a fumble at the 3-yard line.
“We came out kind of shaky,” Foerster said. “But we came together, put our minds on right and we connected.”
Shamaal Schoonmaker made Amherst pay for the mistakes. The Spartan running back had touchdown runs of 85 and 21 yards. The 85 yard score following Foerster’s fumble and provided the Spartans with a 6-0 lead with 7:16 remaining in the first quarter.
“We were down early, but then we came up big,” Foerster said. It was beautiful.”
Foerster quickly atoned for his earlier miscue when he ran 38 yards for the tying touchdown with 4:53 left in the first. His rumble into the end zone capped a five-play, 47-yard drive.
Monument Mountain (0-3, 0-1) broke the 6-6 tie by answering Amherst’s first score as Schoonmaker ran into the end zone from 21 yards.
The drive covered 59 yards in only 3 plays and provided the Spartans with a 12-6 edge with 3:52 left in the opening quarter.
Foerster scored on a 44-yard keeper with 1:20 remaining in the first half to break the 12-12 tie.
Fernandes followed with a 29-yard run that saw him break several tackles en route to the end zone to give Amherst a 20-12 lead at the break.
Budington scored on a 23 yard run to give Amherst a 26-12 lead in the third.