WILBRAHAM — Holyoke football coach Joe Dutsar has of list of things that his team could have done better on Friday night against Minnechaug.
“Breakdowns in coverage, missed tackles on yards after catch, missed opportunities on offense, under thrown balls and misplaced balls,” Dutsar said. “We knew coming in that (Minnechaug) were talented, and they were. … Our kids didn’t quit, we just didn’t have it.”
Holyoke (2-2) was defeated by Minnechaug, 56-13.
Holyoke quarterback Gabriel Fernandez threw for 193 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 19 of 36 passing.
Minnechaug (3-0) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with 1-yard touchdown runs from Joey Maurer and Mitchell Talaia.
Late in the first quarter, a pass from Minnechaug quarterback Anthony Izzo was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Omar Gomez at the Falcons’ 24-yard line. Minnechaug’s defense almost kept Holyoke out of the end zone, but 11 plays after Gomez’s interception, Fernandez threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Scott Leary near the sideline with 7 minutes, 23 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Falcons responded with a five-play, 61-yard drive, capped off by a 40-yard touchdown reception from Alex Henry up the middle to put Minnechaug ahead, 21-7.
“(Izzo) is the best quarterback we have seen,” Dutsar said. “Minnechaug has the best passing game we have seen, probably the best we are going to see.”
On the ensuing Holyoke drive, a 66-yard reception from Leary down the middle of the field, set up Aiden Consedine for a 12-yard touchdown reception after getting open in the back of the end zone.
The Falcons came back with a time-consuming, eight-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a 30-yard James Jolicoeur rushing touchdown.
The momentum really shifted toward Minnechaug in the final minute of the half.
With a little over a minute to go in the second quarter, Holyoke fumbled deep in its own territory and Minnechaug recovered at the Purple Knights’ 17-yard line. Four plays later, Izzo found Henry for a 10-yard touchdown to push the Falcons’ lead to 34-13 before halftime.
“That was one that hurt,” Dutsar said. “I think that took a little wind out of our sails.”
Minnechaug received the second-half kick and scored with another long drive. On the 11th play, Henry beat his defender, got open in the back-left corner of the end zone and scored a 23-yard touchdown to make it 42-13.
The Falcons had a balanced attack in the first half, throwing the ball 11 times and rushing nine times. With a three-possession lead going into the break, they ran the ball more to start the second half. The Falcons’ offensive line opened up huge holes for Maurer, Landen Gore and Sam Manteria. The trio each scored a touchdown in the second half.
Due to Minnechaug’s ability to control the clock with run plays, Holyoke barely had the ball in the last two quarters and was held to seven plays on offense, compared to 30 in the first half.
“I know that we are somewhere in the middle of the pack,” Dutsar said on the state of his team. “I know that we are nowhere near as good as the top of the pack right now … (Minnechaug) is somewhere near the top.”
Minnechaug 56, Holyoke 13
|
Holyoke |
0 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
—13 |
|
Minnechaug |
14 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
—56 |
First quarter
M—Joey Maurer 1 run (Dominic Beck kick), 8:05.
M—Mitchell Talaia 1 run (Beck kick), 3:31
Second quarter
H—Scott Leary 2 pass from Gabriel Fer nandez (Consedine kick), 7:23.
M—Alex Henry 40 pass from Anthony Izzo (Beck run), 5:48.
H—Consedine 12 pass from Fernandez, 4:28
M—James Jolicoeur 30 run (Beck kick), 1:02
M—Henry 10 pass from Izzo (Beck kick), 0:06
Third quarter
M—Henry 23 pass from Izzo (Beck kick), 5:55.
M— Landen Gore 23 run (Beck kick), 0:07
Fourth quarter
M— Sam Manteria 13 run (Beck kick), 5:50
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Holyoke–Fernandez 6-12, William Dumoulin 6-5, Quinn Cauley 1-8; Minnechaug–Maurer 11-104, Talaia 3-14, Isaiah Roberson-Barron 8-55, Gore 2-24, Manteria 3-7, Izzo 3-17, Jolicoeur 2-33
PASSING—Holyoke–Fernandez 17-30-1-193; Minnechaug–Izzo 14-16-1-227
RECEIVING—Holyoke–Jacob Swinehart 2-19, Leary 7-109, Jael Cabrera 2-11, William Dumoulin 1-2, Adrix Madera 1-10; Minnechaug–Gore 2-10, Henry 3-126, Ryan McConnell 3-15, Josh Kozub 1-11