After an interesting start to the high school football season, what’s in store for Week 2?
Local teams went 4-4 during the opening week of the season, and independent tilts continue Friday night for the area programs.
The slate is one game lighter than anticipated, as Northampton confirmed Thursday that it had forfeited its Friday night game at Westfield. The Blue Devils were missing too many players to safely compete, and will fall to 1-1 on the season following a Week 1 win over Hoosac Valley.
Here’s a quick glance at what to look for in Week 2.
The Green Wave head to Belchertown looking to bounce back after a 16-14 overtime loss at Chicopee in Week 1. … The Orioles handled their business in Week 1, pulling away from Smith Vocational in the second half en route to a 36-14 victory. … Greenfield won last year’s meeting, a 24-14 win. … The last time Greenfield came to town in 2019, Belchertown won via a 20-0 score that kept the Green Wave out of the postseason. … Belchertown scored 22 unanswered points in its win over Smith Vocational. … Tailback Chris Daskam finished with 17 carries for 99 yards and two scores against the Vikings.
The Eagles travel to Great Barrington for an independent game in the Berkshires. … Easthampton is riding high after an impressive 16-14 win over South Hadley in Week 1. The Spartans dropped their opener, falling to Lee, 24-6. … Easthampton has dominated this series in recent years, including a 32-0 shutout last fall. … Easthampton’s Angel Moody paced the offense in Week 1, finishing with a team-high 58 rushing yards on 14 carries. He also converted two key two-point conversions. … Quarterback Shea Healy was 9-for-11 for 51 yards through the air.
The Hurricanes stay at home after dropping their opener 42-15 to high-powered Westfield in Week 1. … Pittsfield also fell in its opener a week ago, as East Longmeadow rolled past the Generals, 50-0. … Offensively, Amherst’s Jameson Dion finished with 140 yards on 25 carries, while Jensen Taylor ran for 34 yards on eight carries and Matthew Hawk rushed 35 yards on nine carries. … Pittsfield rolled to a 52-8 win when these teams met last year in the Berkshires. The Generals rushed for over 200 yards in the win. … Amherst’s last win in the series came back in 2019 — a 53-22 victory.
A pair of 1-0 teams meet in South Deerfield, and offense might be hard to come by. … The Redhawks notched a tight 12-6 win over Ware in Week 1, while Palmer edged Pathfinder, 14-6. … Ian Burt scored both Frontier TDs in the victory. … The Panthers won last year’s meeting, 25-6. Frontier’s last victory in the series came in 2018 — a 20-14 win. … Burt led the Redhawks last week with 122 yards on 11 carries, providing the bulk of their 148 yards of total offense.
The Tigers look to rebound from a Week 1 loss to Easthampton, though they’ll have a sizable challenge on the road against a Spartans team that is fresh off a 50-0 win over Pittsfield in their opener. … East Longmeadow has won the last five in the series, including a 14-8 win in South Hadley last fall. … It’s been a full decade since the Tigers beat the Spartans. Their last win, a 31-28 decision, came back in 2012. … SH tailback Owen Dawson led the Tigers with 11 carries for 74 yards in Week 1 against Easthampton.
One of the more intriguing matchups of Week 2 kicks off at the Roberts Complex in Holyoke between a pair of 1-0 teams. … Holyoke rolled to a 35-0 win over Putnam in Week 1, making first-year head coach Dave Guzman a winner in his debut. Guzman was the Purple Knights’ quarterback during their Super Bowl days of the 1990s, and was the offensive coordinator at his alma mater prior to being promoted to the head job after Joe Dutsar stepped up in the offseason. … The Brownies were 36-6 winners over Chicopee Comp in Week 1. … Agawam has won the last two meetings, including a 38-7 victory last fall. … Holyoke’s last win in the series came in 2019, a 35-20 victory.
The Vikings played well for a half in Week 1, finding themselves locked in a 14-14 game with Belchertown before the Orioles pulled away. … Now they turn their attention to a road game at Quaboag, which blasted Ludlow, 40-6, in its opener last week. … Quaboag won last year’s meeting in Northampton, a 42-6 victory. … Smith Voc’s offense in its opener was led by QB Alex Martinez (156 yards, 2 TDs) and Jared Baer accounted (4 receptions, 114 yards).