Pittsfield-Taconic Rivalry Game Highlights Opening Weekend
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Pittsfield and Taconic football teams figure to have no trouble gearing up for this year's season opener.
The city rivals start the fall by facing one another on Saturday afternoon at Taconic High.
"We're excited about it," PHS senior captain Parker Blessing said. "It's something different.
"It's good to change it up once in a while."
Taconic coach Jim Ziter said that he doesn't mind opening the season with a rivalry game, but admitted that the stakes are maybe even higher than they'd be if they played later on.
"A win would definitely help going into the next couple of games," Ziter said. "I hate to say the first game is a big turning point, but if you can get a win under your belt in the first game against your rival, it works out. It's a big momentum booster.
"For my kids -- and I'm sure [Pittsfield's] kids too, the buildup's been all summer."
Pittsfield-Taconic is one of two games on the schedule for Saturday afternoon. In North County, Drury will open up at home against Lee.
The season opens up on Friday night with three teams playing in their respective leagues.
In Williamstown, Mount Greylock will host Monument Mountain in the Berkshire County League, while McCann Tech of the Tri-County goes on the road to face Palmer.
Two inter-league games highlight the county's schedule. Hoosac Valley opens at Adams' Renfrew Field against 2014 Division 4 semi-finalist Chicopee Comp. Defending D4 Western Mass Champion Wahconah hosts its big non-league rivalry game against Northampton.
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Wahconah is one of three Berkshire County teams looking to defend a sectional title in 2015.
McCann Tech and Pittsfield also moved on to the state semi-finals out of Western Mass.
While every team re-invents itself each fall, Pittsfield has some of the highest-profile holes to fill after the graduations of quarterback Chad Shade and running back Devon Tucker, who broke loose for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns in last year's 39-23 win over Taconic.
This year's Pittsfield seniors say last year's crew will be missed, but there is plenty left in the cupboard for Generals coach Brian Jezewski.
"We're trying to build off of what we did last year," Shane Cronin said. "It was great for the city and great for the school, but we're looking forward and trying to do even bigger things this year.
"We had a lot of spots to fill, but we have a lot of returning people on our defense. We have a returning linebacker corps, returning D-linemen and a lot of people who were role players last year and are really stepping up and doing big things for us this year."
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One team that did not win a Western Mass title last year but came oh so close is Hoosac Valley, a 13-12 loser to Pittsfield in the Western Mass D5 title game.
The loss stung a little more because a disputed non-fumble call late allowed PHS to overcome a 12-7 fourth-quarter deficit.
"Just knowing that we lost that game because we ... we just died out," Hoosac senior QB Matt Koperniak said. "We didn't finish it. It's all about finishing in the fourth quarter.
"It's definitely etched in our brains. Off-season was about getting back to it and remembering that championship game."
Like Pittsfield, Hoosac Valley loses a big offensive weapon with the graduation of the speedy Ty Mach. But Koperniak said he expects the Hurricanes to be more balanced offensively with a variety of different ball carriers.
Hoosac coach Dayne Poirot has the confidence of knowing Koperniak is there to distribute the ball.
"He's comfortable there," Poirot said. "He's done well with it. It's his third year doing it. We'll let him get out there and do what he normally does.
"The guys around him are working hard. They make him better, and he makes them better."
Hoosac Valley has a long way to go before getting back to the sectional playoffs, but it gets its next shot at Pittsfield on Thursday, Sept. 24, in Adams.