NORTHAMPTON – The Smith Vocational football team needed a stop.
The Vikings were down two near the end of the third quarter and Pathfinder just entered the red zone behind their powerful running game.
Smith junior Jett Sabourin read the second-down play perfectly and tackled Caleb Crum for no gain. Junior Dom Servaes then led a gang tackle on Crum, forcing fourth down.
An early snap then bounced off quarterback Grayson Griswold and Smith linebacker Lucas Laclair wrapped up bruising back Cassian Kowalik for a turnover on downs.
The momentum was short-lived. The Vikings went three-and-out and the Pioneers extended their lead four plays later en route to a 31-16 victory, Thursday night.
“The momentum had shifted in our direction,” Smith Vocational coach Alex Subocz said. “Part of being that young bunch, you have to learn to be able to catch the momentum and hold on to it.”
Smith Vocational (2-2, 0-1 Tri-County League) lost its second straight. Pathfinder (3-1, 1-0) rebounded following its first loss.
“We came out and we just couldn’t put everything together,” junior Spencer Warner said.
Penalties hurt the Vikings throughout, but more so in the fourth quarter. Smith trailed 25-16 following Kowalik’s third touchdown, but three penalties marred their next drive.
Jameson Tobin then got the ball back quickly for Smith with an interception. He made the leaping catch at the 10 and returned the pick near the 30, giving the Vikings momentum. A penalty on the return set the Vikings back and that drive stalled near midfield.
“They played all four quarters this week,” Subocz said. “I was so happy with the effort and one of the big differences from this week and last week is these were mid-play penalties; they weren’t pre-snap penalties. It is a young offense. I expect these mistakes and they are making less of them each week. We are progressing the way we need to, to get to where we want to get to this year.”
Smith Vocational trailed early but took advantage of a short Pathfinder punt on its first scoring drive. Facing fourth-and-15, Warner took a double handoff in the opposite direction for a 16-yard touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Frank Szawlowski found Sabourin on the conversion for an 8-6 lead early in the second.
Pathfinder came right back with a 10-minute, 15-play, 76-yard drive to take a 12-8 lead with 1:38 left in the second. The Pioneers then extended the lead to 18-8, 25 seconds into the third quarter.
Smith Vocational answered with a nine-play scoring drive. With Szawlowski in shotgun formation, Warner slipped behind center to take the snap and punch it in from 3 yards. Another Szawlowski to Sabourin conversion cut the deficit to 18-16 with 7:11 left in the third.
“That kept us in it until the end,” Warner said. “We couldn’t come out with it.”
Sabourin finished with 11 carries for 103 yards rushing.
Crum led Pathfinder with 124 yards rushing on 15 carries. Pathfinder outgained Smith 237-142.
“They were big,” Warner said. Stopping the run “was a challenge, for sure.”
