H.S. Football: Easthampton Eagles fall to Hoosac Valley Hurricanes 35-12

EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton football team trailed by two scores, but the Eagles had momentum.

A slight halftime adjustment with the formation made a difference on the first drive of the third quarter. The Eagles picked up four first downs and had first-and-10 from the Hoosac Valley 12-yard line.

The Hurricanes clamped down, stopped the drive, then answered quickly to pull away for a 35-12 victory, Friday night at Mountain View School.

“It was a tough game,” Easthampton coach Kyle Dragon said. “I’m proud of them. That’s a tough team to play.”

Easthampton (4-3) fell to 2-2 in the Suburban North. The hard-hitting Hurricanes (6-1, 3-1) are in second place, one-game behind undefeated Lee.

“Lee was pretty hard (hitting), but they’re harder,” Dragon said. “They are tough, physical kids. We hung in there with them.”

The Eagles opened the third quarter with a 15-play drive, during which they converted three times on third down. A key play came on second-and-8 from the Hoosac 35-yard line. Larson rushed up the middle, spun and broke tackles on a 23-yard carry to set the Eagles up at the 12.

“We made a little change with the offensive line,” Dragon said. “The attitude adjustment in the second half really helped a lot.”

Easthampton quarterback Colin Hogan was sacked on first down though, then Jake Kostek picked up short yards on second down. Two incomplete passes followed to end the drive.

“It sucks we couldn’t get in there,” Larson said. “It was a good drive. To end with nothing hurt.”

Five players later Kamarion Kastner rushed for a 27-yard touchdown and a 27-6 lead.

“We couldn’t stop that outside run in the second half,” Dragon said.

Like the series that opened the third, the Eagles came back with an eight-play scoring drive to pull within 27-12 with 9 minutes, 22 seconds left in the fourth. Larson took a handoff 20 yards untouched for his second touchdown.

“It was a counter, and it worked to perfection,” Larson said. “There was a good hole from the line and I saw daylight.”

Hoosac closed the game with an eight-play, four-minute drive. Quarterback Ben Payton punched it in from 5 yards to give the Hurricanes a 35-12 lead.

Trailing 19-0, Easthampton scored with 1:26 left before halftime. The Eagles took advantage of a short field when Hoosac’s onside kick failed to go 10 yards.

Facing third-and-14, Hogan rolled out but kept the ball for a 13-yard gain. His keeper up the middle added another 7 and a first down. Three players later, Hogan found Larson downfield for a 26-yard touchdown pass.

Larson ran the seam, then cut toward the corner to make the catch and run.

“It was a designed out, but it also involves some reading,” Larson said. “If the safety is covering me one way, I go the other. Colin put the ball right where it needed to be.”

Noah Geddis and Larson each had one sack, Marty Charron had an interception for Easthampton.

Easthampton closes league play Thursday when it hosts South Hadley (4-3, 2-2) at 7 p.m. The Eagles and Tigers have not played since 2022.

“It will be fun to play against them,” Dragon said.