Mistakes cost Easthampton in 38-6 loss to Ware

WARE — Following another high snap, Easthampton quarterback Nick Pellegrini was in trouble with a couple of Ware defenders closing in on him.

Pellegrini put on his best Harry Houdini move and escaped the sack. After eluding the defenders, he calmly unloaded the ball.

The pass landed in the waiting arms of Max Daviau for a 33-yard touchdown and after the conversion pass failed, the Eagles trailed by one.

They got the ball back right away when the kickoff caromed off a Ware player and the Eagles had momentum.

But Easthampton failed to capitalize on it and fell to Ware, 38-6, Friday night at Veterans Stadium.

High snaps hindered the Eagles (4-1) for most of the game and resulted in Pellegrini being sacked six times for 57 lost yards.

Ware’s defense was relentless and forced three costly turnovers that doomed the Eagles.

“We made too many mistakes,” Easthampton coach Matt Bean said. “We’ll need to regroup and get ready for next week.”

This was a game of field position and Ware played it to near perfection. Ware (6-0) pinned Easthampton back on its own 5-yard line late in the first quarter and forced the Eagles into a three-and-out.

Ware took advantage of good field position and following a short punt opened the scoring with 3:13 remaining in the first quarter. John Velasquez burst through the middle for a 15-yard touchdown run and Ryan Johnson added the extra point to provide the Indians with a 7-0 lead.

Thanks to its defense, Easthampton was able to go into halftime trailing 7-6.

“We were in the game in the first half,” Bean said.

Ware scored on its first possession of the second half. The Indians marched 45 yards in five plays capped by Hunter Millier’s 5-yard touchdown run that gave the Indians a 13-6 edge.

Ware delivered the knockout punch with four fourth quarter scores, including three during a span of less than one minute, as mistakes plagued the Eagles.

Velasquez started the avalanche with his second touchdown on a 10-yard run 25 seconds into the quarter. Johnson ran for a pair of scores 23 seconds apart thanks to another Eagle turnover.

Millier closed the scoring when he recovered a fumble in the end zone with 7:03 remaining. That capped a spree of four scores in 3:52.

Easthampton faces a big Intercounty North showdown with Frontier Regional on Friday. The Eagles are still unbeaten in league play.

Ware 38, Easthampton 6

First quarter

W-John Velasquez 15-yard run (Ryan Johnson kick), 2:13

Second quarter

E-Max Daviau 33 run (pass failed) 6:38

Third quarter

W-Hunter Millier 5 run (kick failed) 9:14

Fourth quarter

W-Velasquez 10 run (kick failed) 10:35

W-Johnson 12 run (pass failed) 8:22

W-Johnson 8 run (Johnson kick) 7:58

W-Millier fumble recovery in end zone (kick failed) 7:03

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Easthampton: Pek 7-14, Pellegrini 7-(-53), Malek 3-15, Daviau 2-19, Murphy 1-(-12); Ware: Millier 13-56, Johnson 10-119, Velasquez 4-26

PASSING—Easthampton: Pellegrini 12-20-151; Ware: Johnson 3-7-35

RECEIVING—Easthampton: Baker-Cisero 3-21, Helems 5-70, Daviau 1-33, Duluzio 3-27; Ware: Millier 2-30, Slattery 1-5