EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow poured in 23 unanswered points in the second half to cruise past visiting South Hadley, 23-0, to open the football season, Friday night.

The Spartans began their scoring at the 3-minute, 23-second mark of the third quarter. Quarterback Cam Ottoson connected on an 11-yard pass in the left corner of the end zone to Jack Davitt to give the Spartans the 7-0 lead. The Spartans extended it late in the fourth quarter off a 3-yard run by Gaetano Mancuso. Minutes later, a 49-yard burst from Hunter Mazza and a safety for the Tigers sealed the win.

“East Longmeadow’s good, you’ve got to give them their credit,” said South Hadley coach Scott Taylor. “We’re a small school, playing a much bigger school and we started three freshmen tonight.”

The Tigers had their scoring opportunities. On a third-and-3 late in the second quarter, Hunter Borowski broke out for a 38-yard to the East Longmeadow 16-yard line. After four incomplete passes from South Hadley quarterback Ethan Murphy, the Tigers turned it over on downs.

Starting the third quarter, Hunter Carey took the kickoff 32 yards and put South Hadley on its own 45-yard line. After a 6-yard run from Ben Watkins, two consecutive false starts put the Tigers back in their own territory.

South Hadley committed eight false start penalties.

“It’s hard to get any offensive momentum going when you’re constantly shooting yourself in the foot,” Taylor said.

Taylor eluded to the fact that he had young players at important positions.

“We started a freshman at center tonight and it is what it is and we’ll learn from it,” Taylor said.

After the Spartans took the 7-0 advantage in the third quarter, Carey, one of the Tigers’ main offensive weapons, limped off the field and never returned.

Borowski rushed for 38 yards while hauling in four catches for 58 yards.

“(Borowski) played his heart, I can’t be upset with any of my kids in the effort they gave,” Taylor said.

Using a two-quarterback system, South Hadley received some production under center from sophomore Shawn Mitchell, completing 5 of 8 passes for 67 yards.

“We’ve just got to get better next week,” Taylor said. “We’ve got to get ready for Mashpee.”

South Hadley hosts eastern Mass. power Mashpee next Friday at 6 p.m.

East Longmeadow 23, South Hadley 0

South Hadley

0

0

0

0

—0

E. Longmeadow

0

0

7

16

—23

Third quarter

E—Jack Davitt 11-yard pass from Cam Ottoson (Patrick Malmborg kick), 3:23.

Fourth quarter

E—Gaetano Mancuso 3 run (Patrick Malmborg kick), 5:43

E—Hunter Mazza 49 run (Patrick Malmborg kick), 3:31

E—Safety, 1:22

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—East Longmeadow: Jack Davitt 10-22, Gaetano Mancuso 12-27, Hunter Mazza 5-98, Zachary Robidoux 4-13, Cam Ottoson 3-0. South Hadley: Hunter Carey 6-10, Ben Watkins 6-9, Hunter Borowski 6-38, Shawn Mitchell 2-15

PASSING—East Longmeadow: Ottoson 2-7-35-1. South Hadley: Ethan Murphy 3-16-16-0, Mitchell 5-8-67-0.

RECEIVING—East Longmeadow: Devoie 0-0, Davitt 2-35. South Hadley: Hunter Carey 1-13, Evan Piquette 0-0, Borowski 4-58, Watkins 5-4, Carey 4-13, Kyle Johnson 1-5, Tyrell Braithwaite 0-0