ORANGE — A new era began Friday night for Mahar Regional School’s football program as the Senators fell to visiting Mount Greylock Regional School, 35-8, in an independent contest at the Woodward Complex.
It was a tough opening night for the Senators, who struggled all night long, including turning the ball over six times in the debut of new head coach Chris Bailey.
“You’re not going to beat anyone when you turn the ball over six times, never mind a good team like Mount Greylock,” said Bailey. “We came out pretty flat and things got out of hand pretty early.”
The Mounties came out fast and furious, forcing a three-and-out on the game’s first possession. Greylock then struck quickly, using a balanced offensive attack of four runs and three passes, culminating in a 62-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown run by Pat Storie, and after the two-point conversion led 8-0 with 6:01 remaining in the first quarter.
Mahar put up a sustained drive on its next possession, with the first quarter ending with the Senators facing a fourth-and-14 from the Mounties 19 yard-line. The drive would end on the first play of the second stanza, on an incomplete pass by Senators’ signal caller Sam Paul.
The Mounties would waste no time after taking over on downs, and went 81 yards on five plays. the dagger being a 62-yard touchdown pass from Mounties’ quarterback Michael Wellspeak to a streaking Brandon Condon. The two-point try was again good, and Greylock held a 16-0 advantage with 8:02 remaining in the first half.
After another three-and-out culminating in a punt by the Senators, the Mounties again were on the march, and six plays later made the score 22-0 on 14-yard scoring run from Storie. Mahar then fumbled the kickoff, giving the ball back to Mount Greylock at the Senators’ 25. It took just one play for the Mounties to get on the board again, this time on a 25-yard strike to the right corner of the end zone from Wellspeak to receiver Sean McCormack for a 28-0 lead.
Mahar nearly scored on its last possession of the half, but a perfect pass from Paul bounced off the fingers of receiver John Gariepy, who got behind the defense, on a fourth-and-19 from the Senators’ 44. The Mounties were not content to take a knee with under a minute remaining, and came within 5 yards of making it 34-0 when time expired after a catch and run by McCormack was stopped as time expired.
Mahar made a strong defensive stand to begin the third quarter, but disaster struck when the Senators took over at their own 12, and proceeded to fumble the ball on a handoff attempt. The Mounties picked it up and ran it in, and after an extra point kick, their lead was 35-0. Mahar fumbled again on the first play of its next possession.
The fourth quarter featured three more lost fumbles by Mahar, but the Senators kept the Mounties, who went to their backup players, from any further scoring. The Senators finally found the end zone with 1:17 remaining on a two-yard plunge by running back Ryan Dube.