CHICOPEE — Holyoke football coach Joe Dutsar had many positive things to say about his team after Friday night’s 42-12 season-opening victory over Chicopee at Szot Park.
“I thought defensively we played very stout,” Dutsar said. “Offensively we were opportunistic and executed when we needed to. Our quarterback had a great day, threw the ball very well. Excellent job by the receiving core. The line gave plenty of time for protection. Defensive line was exceptional. Linebackers played well in spots. Secondary was all over the field. Special teams was good too.”
Holyoke quarterback Gabriel Fernandez threw for two touchdowns and 148 yards on 7 of 12 passing. He also ran in a touchdown.
Holyoke’s offense was explosive, scoring 28 points in the first half, but it was the team’s defense that set the tone for the game.
The Pacers struggled to get out of their own territory in the first half due to immense pressure from the Purple Knights’ defensive line and linebackers.
“Our line coach puts a lot of heat on these kids during practice, that is where it all comes from,” Dutsar said. “There is nothing special that we are doing here on the field, it’s all done during practice. We tell our kids that games aren’t won on Fridays or Saturdays, they are won Monday through Thursday.”
Fernandez opened the scoring with 6 minutes, 6 seconds to go in the first quarter with a 2-yard run up the middle.
After forcing a punt on Chicopee’s ensuing possession, Holyoke’s Williams Dumoulin scored on a 3-yard dive up the middle with 11:50 to go in the opening quarter. After an extra point kick from Aiden Consedine, Holyoke led, 14-0.
“Billy (Dumoulin) had some good hard runs, inside and outside,” Dutsar said. “He’s a tough kid. Took a couple of shots, bounced right up and did what he had to do. He’s only a junior and the future is bright for him.”
A 43-yard reception from Scott Leary earlier in the drive helped get the Purple Knights into the red zone.
“Those guys (wide receivers) just find the spaces and get there,” Dutsar said. “Yards after catch today was exceptional. They block well too.”
On Holyoke’s next possession, Jael Cabrera took a pitch out of the backfield and was almost brought down twice, but the sophomore running back kept his feet and sped down-field and into the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown to up the Purple Knights’ lead to 21-0 after an extra point with 9:06 remaining in the half.
Chicopee’s most explosive player on offense was John Gonzalez Vega. The senior running back finished the game with 119 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts. He scored with 1:07 left in the second quarter on a 20-yard run up the middle.
The Pacers went for an onside kick after Vega’s touchdown, but Holyoke recovered at the 50-yard line. With a minute to go in the half, the Purple Knights stormed down the field and completed the drive with a 20-yard touchdown throw from Fernandez to Cabrera. After an extra point, Holyoke led 28-6 with six seconds to go in the quarter.
The Purple Knights’ offense continued to roll moving into the third quarter. On the first play of the half, Fernandez threw a 53-yard touchdown to Consedine. After an extra point, Holyoke led, 35-6.
The second-team offense took the field after the Purple Knights’ defense forced a punt on the following drive. After two 10-yard runs from Alex Hernandez, Holyoke quarterback Quinn Cauley threw a 23-yard touchdown to Khalil Williams in the right corner of the end zone for a 42-6 lead.
“I think any time you get a chance to play younger kids in the second half, it benefits you down the road,” Dutsar said. “The second group might make mistakes, but they are getting their reps and they are getting the same coaching and adjustments the varsity kids would get. That makes them feel more involved in the game and maybe makes them want to come to practice more enthusiastic. That helps build the program.”
Chicopee quarterback Jason Lozado connected with Nathan Serrano for a 31-yard touchdown with 9:02 to go in the fourth quarter to make it 42-12.
Holyoke’s defense was collectively on the same page throughout the game. This year’s defensive unit takes pride in communicating and playing for one another.
“I feel like this year we work really well together,” Holyoke’s Kevin Jourdain said. “We are working as a team. No one man for himself. We go out and put it on the line.”
Holyoke 42, Chicopee 12
|
Holyoke |
7 |
21 |
14 |
0 |
—42 |
|
Chicopee |
0 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
—12 |
First quarter
H—Gabriel Fernandez 2 run (Aiden Consedine kick), 6:06.
Second quarter
H—William Dumoulin 3 run (Consedine kick), 11:50.
H—Jael Cabrera 57 run (Consedine kick), 9:06.
C—John Gonzalez Vega 26 run (kick no good), 1:07
H—Cabrera 20 pass from Fernandez (Consedine kick), 0:06
Third quarter
H—Consedine 53 pass from Fernandez (Consedine kick), 11:44.
H—Khalil Williams 23 pass from Quinn Cauley (Consedine kick), 5:11
Fourth quarter
C—Nathan Serrano 31 pass from Jason Lozado (run failed), 9:02
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Holyoke–Dumoulin 9-82, Fernandez 2-4, Cabrera 1-57, Alex Hernandez 3-30, Moses Oquendo 1-5, Adrian Suarez III 1-2. Chicopee–Vega 14-119, Tadeo 8-11, Steven Matta 2-4, David Charles II 1-2, Kevin Blanton 5-15, Lozado 1-19.
PASSING—Holyoke–Fernandez 7-12-148-0, Cauley 2-3-30-1. Chicopee–Tadeo 0-2-0-0, Lozado 1-3-47-0.
RECEIVING—Holyoke–Consedine 2-63, Scott Leary 2-54, Cabrera 3-30, Adrix Madera 1-7, Khalil Williams 1-23. Chicopee–Serrano 1-31, Scott Williams 1-16.