LONGMEADOW — Nothing worked on either side of the ball for the Northampton football team Friday night.
Receivers weren’t open, pockets were collapsing and the defense could not slow down Longmeadow’s multifaceted running attack.
The young Blue Devils, not quite ready for a road game against a western Massachusetts power, lost 49-14 to the Lancers.
“We are inexperienced,” Northampton coach Eddie Jewel said. “It was a dogfight and we just didn’t show up.”
The Lancers handed off to seven different running backs who rushed for 323 yards.
Meanwhile, Northampton did not get a first down until late in the first half when Tom Jacques hit Ben Fowler for a 12-yard gain.
The Lancers’ ability to get pressure on Jacques disrupted Northampton’s offense. The Lancers also had two deep safeties to guard against long passes the entire game.
With the pressure, coupled with the tight coverage from Longmeadow’s corners, there were not many openings for Jacques.
Jacques did hit Jake Brittain for a 49-yard gain in the fourth quarter. On the play, Brittain fumbled, but pounced on it.
From the 1-yard line, Henry Doherty scored his first rushing touchdown for Northampton.
Jacques went 5-for-17 for 89 yards, was sacked five times and took multiple hits trying to escape the pocket.
“First time he really got hit,” Jewel said. “Some games you are going to learn to get hit. He’s got to slide and throw the ball away.”
With final seconds ticking off the clock, the Blue Devils handed the ball to Braeden Tudryn three straight times from Longmeadow’s 40-yard line.
Tudryn scored from 24-yards out with no time remaining for Hamp’s second touchdown.
“We didn’t stop fighting even if the scoreboard didn’t show that,” Tudryn said. “We love each other. We are brothers. A family. We will bounce back from this and have a better game next week.”
Andy Grygorcewicz (two catches, 22 yards) had an interception for the Blue Devils, and Jack Diggins added a sack.
Kicker Natnael Walton hit two extra points, and is now 9-for-11 on the season.
The Lancers led 28-0 at halftime.
“We learned how to lean on each other,” Jewel said. “It’s a learning experience.”
Longmeadow’s 11-play, 63-yard opening drive ended in a Joey Cosenzi 4-yard touchdown.
Isaiah Dubois scored later on a 7-yard rushing score.
Clay Moseman (seven carries, 73 yards) scored in the second quarter on a 41-yard score.
Cosenzi scored again from a yard out with 42 seconds left in the half to make it 28-0.
Mike Carterud had a 14-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter along with Dubois who scored from 22 yards out.
Nate Hunter showed off some speed for Longmeadow, scoring on a 56-yard touchdown late in the third to make it 49-0.
Longmeadow 49, Northampton 14
|
Northampton |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
—14 |
|
Longmeadow |
14 |
14 |
21 |
0 |
—49 |
First quarter
L— Joey Cosenzi 4 rush (Cosenzi rush), 7:05
L—Isaiah Dubois 7 rush (pass failed) 2:21
Second quarter
L—Clay Moseman 41 rush (Aiden Coughlin kick) 3:33
L—Cosenzi 1 rush (Coughlin kick) :42
Third quarter
L—Mike Carterud 14 rush (Coughlin kick), 7:58
L—Dubois 22 rush (Coughlin kick) 3:25
L—Nate Hunter 56 rush (Coughlin kick) :53
Fourth quarter
N—Henry Doherty 1 rush (Natnael Walton kick) , 3:56
N—Braeden Tudryn 24 rush (Walton kick) :00
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Northampton—Gavin Bullock 5-1; Grygorcewicz 1-5; Doherty 5-14-1; Tudryn 4-40-1; Longmeadow—Cosenzi 5-18; Moseman 7-73; Carterud 7-46; Adam Hannah 4-0; John Bouvier 3-42; Sean Tashjian 4-35; Hunter 4-68; Dan Attassi 2-0; Dubois 7-41
PASSING—Northampton: Jacques 5-17-89; Bouvier 2-4-46-1
RECEIVING—Northampton: Grygorewicz 2-22; Jake Brittain 1-49; Ben Fowler 2-18; Longmeadow: Ryan Stocks 1-15; Dubois 1-31
