Experienced Ware overwhelms Belchertown, 45-0

BELCHERTOWN — When a football team loses nine starters on defense and nearly as many on offense, there are bound to be growing pains.

Just ask Belchertown, which opened its season with a 45-0 loss to Ware.

Experience was the difference. Ware returned two of its biggest stars from last season and both Ryan Johnson and Hunter Miller combined to form a two-man wrecking crew.

Miller had touchdown runs of 3, 5, 28 and 37 yards to power a punishing ground game. He broke several tackles en route to his two long touchdown runs.

“We’ll be sure to work on becoming a better tackling team,” first-year Belchertown coach Ed Wyzik said. “We’ll go back to square one.”

If Miller wasn’t enough, there was Johnson. The quarterback shook off a slow start (three straight incompletions) and directed a ground game he was very much a part of.

Johnson helped Ware vault to a 20-0 first-quarter lead when he scored on touchdown runs of 51 and 64 yards. Much like Miller, Johnson demonstrated the ability to shed would-be tacklers as he cruised into the end zone.

“They are both very good players,” Wyzik said. “They’re a tough, strong and physical team.”

Miller led all rushers with 165 yards. Johnson had 115 on only three carries.

For Belchertown, junior running back Joel Wyzik was a bright spot. He showed a bit of toughness with 13 carries for 59 yards.

The Orioles could not get anything going in the passing game. Ware was constantly in quarterback John Flink’s face and held Belchertown to a mere 21 yards passing.

Turnovers also hurt. Inopportune fumbles and interceptions added to Belchertown’s misery.

“These guys have never played together,” Wyzik said. “We hit a few bumps in the road, but we’ll come together.”

Protecting the ball is another area the Orioles will need to concentrate on during practice.

A fumble set up Ware’s first touchdown drive as the Indians marched 44 yards in five plays. Miller capped the march with a 3-yard run to give the Indians a 6-0 edge.

Following a three-and-out by the Orioles, the Indians used another quick-strike drive to expand their lead. Johnson broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run and threw the conversion pass to Keith Smith for a 14-0 lead.

Johnson wasn’t done.

He scrambled 64 yards for another lengthy journey into the end zone to provide the Indians with a 20-0 first-quarter advantage.

Miller scored on runs on 5 and 28 yards as Ware moved to a 33-0 halftime lead.

Miller made it 39-0 following his 37-yard run and Ware scored again just 12 seconds later after Derek Ghidinelli scored by recovering a muffed kickoff in the end zone.

“We’re rebuilding and it’s going to take time,” Wyzik said. “We’ll get there.”

Ware 45, Belchertown 0

First quarter

W-Hunter Miller 3 run (kick failed) 6:05

W-Ryan Johnson 51 run (Keith Smith pass from Johnson) 3:29

W-Johnson 64 run (run failed) 0:06

Second quarter

W-Miller 5 run (pass failed) 4:35

W-Miller 28 run (Johnson kick) 0:44

Third quarter

W-Miller 37 run (kick failed) 4:55

W-Derek Ghidinelli fumble recovery in end zone 4:43

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Ware — Johnson 3-115, Miller 9-165, John Velasquez 8-9, Damon Perry 2-8, Dylan Slattery 1-minus 1; Belchertown – Wyzik, 13-59, Flink 1 minus-9, Lovett, 4-22, Daskim 2-minus-4, Callaghan Daskim 2-minus-4, Joey Douillard 1-minus-7

PASSING—Ware – Johnson 2-6-21, Slattery 0-1. Belchertown – Flink 5-12-21.

RECEIVING—Ware – Janikowski 2-21; Belchertown – Klingersmith, 1-2, Wyzik 1-21, French, 1-0, Daskim 1-minus-2.