H.S. football: Easthampton stays unbeaten with 42-0 rout over Smith Voc (VIDEO)

NORTHAMPTON — Easthampton’s Chase Canon-Smith compared his first game of the season to Christmas. He was so excited to get back on the field, he got very little sleep Wednesday night.

And less than 24 hours later on Thursday, he got some unforgettable presents: an Eagles’ win and in his own words, “not one, not two, but three touchdowns.”

Canon-Smith caught two touchdowns and ran for another as Easthampton continued its hot start to the season with a 42-0 win over Smith Vocational. The Eagles are 3-0 and have scored 36 or more points in every game this season.

“Out of every football team I’ve been a part of, this is the best one so far,” Canon-Smith said. “Everyone is locked in and wants the same goal.”

The junior didn’t get a ton of touches, but he made the most of his opportunities. On the Eagles’ first drive of the game, Canon-Smith took his first carry of the season through the line for the 2-yard touchdown carry. After a successful 2-point conversion, Easthampton went up 8-0 less than four minutes into the game.

It would be the first of just two carries on the day for 8 yards.

His next touch didn’t come until late in the second quarter. Facing a 4th-and-10 from the Viking 15-yard line, the Eagles decided to keep their offense on the field.

Quarterback Patrick Larson took the snap from the shotgun. Seeing the pressure coming, he flicked a desperation pass to the end zone. Both Canon-Smith and Luis Selgado were in the vicinity of the ball, each one looked ready to make the catch.

But it was Canon-Smith who would come down with the ball for the 16-yard touchdown catch.

“I knew it was coming to me,” Canon-Smith said. “When it was up in the air, I was like, ‘this has to be mine.'”

His catch put the Eagles up 22-0 after another successful 2-point conversion.

But neither he nor Larson were done making spectacular plays. The duo connected again near the goal line in the fourth quarter.

On another fourth down, Larson broke from the pocket looking to run, but the Vikings’ defense collapsed on him quickly. As he was getting tossed to the ground, he had enough strength to get the ball to the end zone for Canon-Smith to secure the ball. That play capped off a third week of offensive fireworks for the Eagles.

Canon-Smith finished with three catches for 46 yards.

“To come out after not playing the first two games, not playing last year and to play like that is big for us,” Larson said.

Whereas Canon-Smith left his mark in the scoring department, Selgado had an equally successful, yet different first game of the season. He didn’t find the end zone, but Selgado ran the ball seven times for 115 yards. Muscles cramps seemed to be the only thing that forced him off the field. Twice he had to take a break, only to make his way back to play.

“I just wanted to set the tone and show what Easthampton was about,” Selgado said.

Now a prominent part of the backfield, Selgado slides in as one of the team leaders to continue an already successful start to the season.

“As long I’ve known him, he’s one of the toughest athletes I’ve ever met. He’s a tremendous leader, and he goes at 120% every game,” Easthampton head coach Tom Hogan said.

While it’s been different players taking carries or making catches for the Eagles each week, Larson has been one constant this season.

The Eagles’ QB threw for 55 yard and completed 5-of-7 passes, plus he was a threat in the run game. He rushed for 113 yards on 14 attempts and two scores. On defense he also picked off Smith Voc quarterback Frank Szawlowski twice.

“I’m impressed by some of the defensive work that we’re able to do,” Hogan said. “Our defensive coaches continuously have made adjustments to try and be successful.”

Smith Voc had several moments throughout where it looked like the momentum was shifting in their favor. The Vikings forced and recovered several fumbles and found themselves in Easthampton territory. But each time they got in their own way. Pre-snap penalties and five turnovers killed drives.

“We were by far the more undisciplined team tonight,” Smith Voc head coach Alex Subocz said. “You can’t win games if you’re undisciplined. It was a point of emphasis this week, which is an extra part of it being disappointing. We have plenty of time to get better at things, so I’m just looking for improvement from here.”

Szawlowski completed 8-of-17 passes for 35 yards.

Subocz said it is not all “doom-and-gloom” for the Vikings. Forcing turnovers were among the positives for a team that still has a winning record at 2-1. They host Pathfinder next Thursday.

The Eagles hope to stay perfect when they head to Greenfield next Friday.

Other Hampshire County scores

Holyoke 14, Agawam 6

Wahconah 36, Northampton 12