NORTHAMPTON — What a difference a week makes.
Seven days after being walloped by South Hadley, 47-0, the Northampton football team downed Holyoke, 20-7, in front of a home crowd on Friday night in what head coach Rocco Fernandez classified as a “statement win.”
“Guys came out, ready to go,” Fernandez said. “Unlike last week where we give up the first score and feel defeated, this week, we gave up the first score, alright shake it off, let’s move on.”
The Blue Devils’ air attack looked nearly unstoppable against the Purple Knights as quarterback Dion Cadiz connected with receivers Bradyn Rios and Brayden Nichols-Staples for several lengthy completions, including a touchdown toss to each, in the bounce-back victory.
“I’ve played football with both [Rios] and [Nichols-Staples] for a little while, so I kind of know what type of players they are,” Cadiz said. “I know if I throw the ball up, they’re going to grab it.”
Rios got Northampton on the board with a one-handed, touchdown grab down the left sideline less than a minute into the second quarter. Rios’ 25-yard catch made it a 7-6 ballgame at 11:42 of the second quarter and served as the turning-point in this one.
“That’s a kid that’s going to be reckoned with in the league,” Fernandez said on Rios. “Great athlete, started as a true freshman both ways for us last year and he’s just a kid that, we get the ball in his hands, great things happen.”
Cadiz doubled the Blue Devils score with a 3-yard keeper score with less than a minute remaining in the first half. Northampton failed to convert on the 2-point attempt to make it a 12-7 score.
The final seconds of the first half were wild as three total interceptions took place (two from Holyoke, one from Northampton), however none of them yielded points as the Blue Devils’ five-point lead held at the break.
Northampton’s all-important insurance score didn’t occur until the last three minutes of the fourth quarter as Cadiz feed Nichols-Staples for a 25-yard score across the middle of the field at 2:39.
The Blue Devils cashed in on the 2-point attempt and made it a 20-7 score.
Northampton’s defense was solid all game long, finishing with three interceptions altogether and only allowing a handful of explosive plays from the Purple Knights during the 48-minute affair. Zavian Nieves hauled in two of the Blue Devils’ picks.
“My boy Zavian [Nieves], he’s a younger dude, he’s gotten a lot better since freshman year and I can’t wait to see him moving forward,” Cadiz said.
Holyoke’s opening touchdown was a 20-yard pass-catch combination from quarterback Eladio Pacheco to Georlee Aponte at 3:38 of the opening frame, yet it proved to be the only time the visitors reached the end zone.
With the win, Northampton moves to 1-1 and have all the momentum heading into another home game next week, this one against Wahconah Regional on Thursday, Sept. 24.
“Last week was obviously upsetting,” Fernandez said. “We game planned well against South Hadley, a few big plays is what really hurt us. We focused this week on making sure we shut those big plays down…we work on minimizing those big plays and I think that’s what showed up [Friday].”
Holyoke (1-1) will look to turn the page with a home contest against Agawam next Thursday.
OTHER AREA SCORES
Belchertown 44, Ware 12
South Hadley 35, Agawam 0
