AGAWAM — A week after some missed opportunities and self-inflicted wounds in a loss to Longmeadow, the Agawam football team put it all together Friday afternoon.
That performance came at the expense of an inexperienced Amherst side, as the host Brownies rode the arm and legs of dual-threat quarterback Griffen Levesque en route to a 35-0 victory in Week 2 action.
Levesque, the junior signal caller, completed 9 of 12 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, and he also gashed the Amherst defense for 69 yards on seven carries.
That offensive balance proved difficult to contend with from jump street. Agawam needed just four plays to score the game’s first touchdown just 1:43 into the opening quarter. Levesque connected with Jovaun Tudor on a quick wide receiver screen pattern that resulted in a 25-yard score and a 7-0 advantage.
Amherst’s offense struggled to get its footing in the opening half, as the team’s pistol/wildcat attack with junior quarterback Nate Mills (16 carries, 74 yards) managed to find some daylight but ultimately stalled near midfield on the Hurricanes’ first four possessions.
Agawam doubled its advantage just before the end of the opening period. Levesque’s 31-yard scamper got the ball into the red zone, and tailback Elijah Torres (nine carries, 62 yards) capped a six-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown run off the left side to make it a 14-0 game with 59 seconds left in the first.
On the hosts’ next possession, the Amherst defense looked to spring some life into the offense when Isa Mahal Castro McCauley intercepted a Levesque pass near midfield with 7:11 left before halftime.
The ’Canes were unable to move the chains, however, and Agawam capitalized on its ensuing possession. Set up with good field position, the Brownies needed just four plays to add to their lead when Levesque found a wide open Nick Burbank for a 25-yard touchdown toss to make it 21-0.
The dagger came just before halftime. Agawam took possession with just 25 seconds remaining and the ball on its own 41. Not content to take a knee and head into the break, the Brownies tossed in some razzle dazzle to up their advantage. Levesque connected with Vincent Wallace near the sideline for a 14-yard reception, before the receiver quickly pitched the ball to a streaking Colin Malecki at the Amherst 45. Malecki took the pitch and went the distance untouched, as the hook-and-lateral made it a 28-0 ballgame with just 12 seconds left before intermission.
Torres made it 35-0 early in the third quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run, and Amherst’s defense buckled down from there to prevent further damage. Nolan Klaes recovered a fumble for the Hurricanes in the third quarter, and the visitors halted a pair of Agawam drives in Amherst territory over the final quarter and a half.
Mills finished 4-for-12 for 35 yards through the air in the loss, completing three of those passes to Zayd Sadiq. Tafari Proctor had seven carries for 22 yards while freshman Jameson Dion rushed for 16 yards on seven totes.
Amherst (0-2) was originally supposed to play powerhouse Springfield Central next week, but due to a COVID-19 shutdown of Springfield football programs, the Hurricanes will replace that game on Thursday when they tangle with South Hadley in a game played on the turf at South Hadley (7 p.m.).