Hurricanes 'Happy to Be Back,' Fall to South Hadley

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- The South Hadley football team scored 20 straight points to break open an eight-point game and went on to a 49-14 win over Hoosac Valley as the Hurricanes returned to the field after a mid-season pause.

 

Nolan Soderbaum threw for 183 yards and three touchdowns for the Tigers, who answered a 76-yard Ben Payton touchdown pass that made it 14-6 by scoring the next 20 points to go up by four scores midway through the third quarter.

 

Hurricanes coach Jeremy Levesque was pleased just to see his team compete after a turbulent September that saw the Hooosac program put on pause after one game so officials could investigate allegations of hazing.

 

While that process plays out, the players got back on the practice field on Monday in time to prepare for Hoosac's league opener against the Tigers.

 

"Obviously, coming off everything we were [facing], the kids came back Monday, and they were hungry to get back on the field, playing with each other," Levesque said.

 

"It is a tight-knit team. They do love each other. ... Unfortunately, things happen, and we have to deal with them. But, again, they enjoy playing with each other and trying to get back in the swing of things."

 

The Tigers took the first swing on Saturday night, blocking Hoosac Valley's punt on its opening possession and taking advantage of the short field.

 

After a procedure penalty pushed the Tigers back to the Hurricanes' 20, South Hadley's first play from scrimmage was a 20-yard run by Chase Pecia (98 yards rushing). Cooper Wall kicked his first extra point of the night, and the hosts had a 7-0 lead.

 

They held Hoosac Valley to a three-and-out on the ensuing posession, and a 25-yard punt return meant South Hadley started a possession deep in Hoosac Valley's end for the second time in the first quarter.

 

On fourth-and-four from the 19, Soderbaum threw his first TD pass of the night, and the Tigers took a 14-0 lead.

 

Hoosac Valley's next possession produced the 76-yard completion deep to the left side from Payton to Carson Ellsworth.

 

Payton ended the night throwing for 147 yards and two scores before leaving the game after taking a sack late in the third quarter.

 

"Ben looked pretty good throwing the ball," Levesque said. ""We had a couple of receivers out there. We had a couple of guys that were playing a little bit out of position this week.

 

"We're trying to come back with the pieces being a little bit different. It's a bit of a learning curve for a handful of our guys."

 

South Hadley answered the Hurricanes' first score with a touchdown on the last play of the first quarter to go ahead, 21-6, and it was 28-6 going to half-time afer a 27-yard scoring strike from Soderbaum.

 

The Tigers drove 78 yards on the first possession of the second half, but after a 17-yard Ellsworth kick return set up the Hurricanes at their 31, they needed just four plays to score on a 57-yard completion from Payton to Ellsworth.

 

"His future is bright," Levesque said of the sophomore Ellsworth. "He's obviously been one of our biggest weapons this year against Wahconah [in the season opener]. Today, he had two touchdowns, and that was through the air, where against Wahconah he was more of a rushing threat.

 

"Again, the future is bright. We've got him. We've got [sophomore Zachary] Mazzeo out there. We've got a couple of other guys. ... It's a young group out there. Room to grow. Room to grow across the board."

 

Any hope of a Hurricane comeback was dashed when South Hadley scored on its next possession to re-establish the 28-point lead in the closing moments of the third quarter.

 

The Tigers then cashed in on a turnover to score one more TD early in the fourth that sent the game to running time.

 

That time proved costly for the Hurricanes as senior Terrell Johnson (39 yards rushing) was hurt on the final play of the game.

 

Although the final score stung a little, too, the Hurricanes did respond to the imperative Levesque gave them before the game.

 

"Play for each other, that was the biggest message from me," Levesque said. "And that was coming from the players as well -- just rally together, play together, love each other and go out there and play football.

 

"It's the game they love. It's the sport they love. Get back after it. They're happy to be back."

 

Hoosac Valley (0-2) is back in action on Friday at Lee.

 

Photos from this game to come.