Bay Path Too Much for McCann Tech in Opener
CHARLTON, Mass. -- In terms of the scoreboard, there was not much for McCann Tech's football team to like after a 60-6 loss to Bay Path in Friday night's season opener.
But for coach Jon Rochelo, the score was just part of the story.
"A lot of these kids, they weren't quitting," Rochelo said. "A lot of them are first-time players coming out. Believe it or not, there's quite a few freshmen that are starting."
And, while the final margin might have stung, the Hornets have to consider the competition.
Bay Path is coming off two straight victories in the State Voc Tournament and a season in which the Minutemen finished as the No. 10-ranked team in Division 6.
McCann Tech was 1-7 last fall in Division 8 and figures to be much more competitive when it settles into its league schedule in a couple of weeks.
But Friday night, it was all Bay Path early and often.
It was 39-0 before McCann Tech earned its first first down on a 12-yard carry by Aidan Ford late in the second quarter.
Bay Path's Gabriel Ortiz ripped off 136 yards rushing and two TDs in the first half.
And the Minutemen got the game to running time when they went up, 47-0, with five minutes left in the first half.
That running time rule may have cost the Hornets a chance to get a score before half-time.
After taking over at its 20 following the hosts' seventh score of the half, McCann Tech's offense drove to the Bay Path 29 before the clock expired.
Hunter Lancto got the drive started with a 19-yard run, and QB Landyn Phillips completed a 3-yard pass to Harley Collins during the drive, which ended on a 4-yard run by Ford as the clock ran out.
After the teams traded fumbles in the third quarter, Bay Path scored again to stretch its margin to 54-0.
But on the ensuing possession, McCann Tech got a 19-yard run from Anthony Trzcinski and a 29-yard run from Lancto to get down to the 35. Backup QB Aiden Mendonca then hit Marquese Moody down the left side for a 35-yard touchdown pass and the Hornets' first points of the season.
Rochelo hopes that with consistent effort Monday through Thursday, that point total will rise next week when McCann Tech hosts Franklin Tech.
"We've got to do a better job of showing up at practice," he said. "Today was a surprise that 42 kids showed up to get on the bus for the game. I had like 28 kids average each day for practice. So it's being accountable. We need to be more accountable as a team.
"But there's a good group of kids here. I knew this one was gonna be tough, driving two and a half hours to play a team like that. But it's a good lesson, in a sense. I'll take that score. We scored against them. So little baby steps there."