Holyoke can’t get the defensive stops in 69-54 loss to Westfield

HOLYOKE — 69. 53. 35. 56.

That is how many points Holyoke has let up in its last four games. The team’s offense hasn’t had many, if any, problems this season, but the team’s defense is a different story.

The Purple Knights gave up 10 touchdowns to Westfield en route to a 69-54 loss Friday night.

“If we can find a way to stop drives, we win some ball games,” Holyoke coach Joe Dutsar said. “Obviously we have a potent offense. …. You can’t up give up that many points and expect to win. I don’t care who you are.”

Holyoke has one senior, Jacob Swinehart, starting on defense. The team has experienced players like Jael Cabrera and Kevin Jourdain at other spots, but a lot of the defensive unit was new coming into this year.

“There are eight other positions out there that are new,” Dutsar said. “There is a lot of jelling that has to take place. When you are under constant attack, your head is spinning. They’re trying, and that’s all I can ask, but we have to right the ship here.”

The first few minutes of the game put Holyoke in a hole. Westfield running back Christopher Barber capped off a three-play drive with a 18-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing kickoff, Holyoke fumbled and gave the Bombers the ball deep in Purple Knights territory. Westfield quarterback Matthew Adamites capitalized one play later with a 26-yard touchdown run to put Westfield up 14-0 with 10:30 to go in the opening quarter.

Once Holyoke got the ball, the offense fell into its usual rhythm. A five-play drive by the Purple Knights was capped off by a 50-yard touchdown reception by Cabrera.

Both teams traded touchdowns for the remainder of the opening quarter. Cabrera scored on a 9-yard reception with 4:14 to go in the period. Fernandez scored with a 8-yard run with a minute to go in the quarter.

The Purple Knights had a promising start to the second quarter with a 8-yard touchdown reception from Aiden Consedine to tie the game at 28-28, but then Holyoke started to make mistakes.

Following a Westfield touchdown, Gabriel Fernandez threw an interception with 6:34 to go in the second quarter. Westfield capitalized and scored one play later to increase the gap to 42-28. The Bombers went for an onside kick on the following kickoff, recovered and scored one play later on a 33-yard reception from William Brewster to make it a three score game.

“We had a great week of practice. Probably the best we have had in a month,” Dutsar said. “It’s not that they aren’t working hard in practice. The lessons we are teaching in practice are not transferring over to the competition.”

Adamites threw a touchdown to Michael Collins before the end of the quarter to make it 56-28.

The Purple Knights outscored Westfield in the second half, 26-13, with two touchdowns from Leary, one from Cabrera and one rushing from Fernandez, but the team’s inability to halt drives on defense was too much to overcome.

With the loss, Holyoke (2-6) is mathematically eliminated from earning a berth in the Division 3 playoffs.

“Last year we underachieved in not making the playoffs, we lost a couple of close ones,” Dutsar said. “This year we knew we were young, but knew we had some skill on offense and could score points. What we don’t know, and still don’t know, is when our defense is going to jell. We are trying different things. Different fronts, tactic and strategies.”

Fernandez set a school record for total touchdowns with eight.

“I’m excited, but at the same time it’s tough. It’s hard,” Fernandez said. “It’s a good thing, but if we came out with a win I’d have a lot more energy right now.”

Fernandez and the team’s seniors strove toward qualifying for the playoffs this season. Although that goal wasn’t achieved, he thinks the program has a bright future.

“The future of Holyoke is bright,” Fernandez said. “We have a bunch of young guys. It sucks personally, because I want to win, but at the end of the day, if I’m getting these younger guys ready, that’s all I can ask for.”

Westfield 69, Holyoke 54

First quarter

W—Christopher Barber 18 run (Hunter Cain kick), 10:47.

W—Matthew Adamites 26 run (Cain kick), 10:30

H—Jael Cabrera 50 pass from Gabriel Fernandez (Aiden Consedine kick), 8:48

W—William Brewster 17 pass from Adamites (Cain kick), 6:01

H—Cabrera 9 pass from Fernandez (Consedine kick), 4:14

W—Barber 52 run, (Cain kick), 3:10

H—Fernandez 10 run (Consedine kick), 1:01

Second quarter

H—Consedine 8 pass from Fernandez (Consedine kick), 9:35

W—Nicholas Clauson 29 run (Cain run), 7:45

W—Anthony Suhocki 1 run (Cain kick), 6:28

W—Brewster 33 pass from Adamites (Cain kick), 5:40

W—Michael Collins 59 pass from Adamites (Cain kick), 1:18

Third quarter

H—Scott Leary 55 pass from Fernandez (run failed), 10:33

W—Barber 3 run (kick failed), 5:40

H—Cabrera 28 pass from Fernandez (pass failed), 4:19

Fourth quarter

W—Barber 6 pass from Adamites (Cain kick), 8:26.

H—Leary 12 pass from Fernandez (Consedine kick), 5:13.

H—Fernandez 8 run (Consedine kick), 0:07

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Holyoke–Dumoulin 7-19, Fernandez 13-83, Cabrera 1-7. Westfield-Clauson 17-153, Barber 9-111, Adamites 6-104, Suhocki 1-1, Ryan Cimini 3-27, Josiah Alvalle 2-(-3)

PASSING—Holyoke–Fernandez 18-33-334-2. Westfield–Adamites 6-8-164-0.

RECEIVING—Holyoke–Leary 5-135, Cabrera 6-119, Consedine 5-52, Dumoulin 3-26, Jacob Swinehart 1-14. Westfield-Brewster 2-32, Barber 2-49, Collins 1-59, Jhon Cruz Medero 1-8.