GREENFIELD — Belchertown High School came up with a pair of big plays on Friday night and it was enough to sink Greenfield High School as the Orioles picked up their first win of the season with a 15-12 victory in independent football play at Veterans Memorial Field.
The Orioles (1-2) entered the game off a pair of lopsided losses to start the season but used an early Green Wave turnover to set up the game’s first touchdown. Belchertown added a touchdown on a long pass play just before halftime and the two touchdowns were enough as the Orioles’ defense kept the Wave in check for much of the night.
Belchertown punted on the game’s first possession but on Greenfield’s second play from scrimmage, running back RJ Byrd fumbled and the Orioles set up at the Wave 31. Four plays later, Cameron Cass ran in a touchdown from 14 yards out, and quarterback John Flink found Cameron Supple on the two-point conversion for a 8-0 lead.
The Green Wave offense responded on the very next drive, marching 84 yards in 16 plays, and quarterback Tyler Miner scored on a 3-yard keeper. The two-point conversion try was stuffed and Belchertown clung to the 8-6 lead.
The teams traded three-and-outs and it looked like the Orioles were going to take the two-point lead into the break, as they faced a second-and-11 from their own 27 with just over a minute to play. The Orioles, who use two quarterbacks, got a huge play from quarterback Jackson Leduc when he hit Hunter Klingensmith in triple coverage, and the receiver pulled the ball down and got away from the defenders, scampering to the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown with 1:18 to play in the half. Klingensmith booted home the conversion to put the Orioles up 15-6 at the break.
“We made a lot of mistakes offensively and defensively and I take the hit on that,” Green Wave coach Mike Kuchieski said. “We will get back to the drawing board, but I can’t take anything away from our effort tonight.”
Greenfield had its chances in the second half. The Wave took the opening possession and put together a 14-play drive but on third-and-14 from the Orioles’ 25, Miner’s pass was intercepted by Clayton Daskam, ending the threat. Belchertown then went on a long drive to kill a over eight minutes of the clock, but the drive stalled at the Green Wave 8. Greenfield took over from there with 5:05 left in the fourth, and managed to go 92 yards in four minutes, and Miner scored for the second time on the day when he ran one in from 7 yards out. The conversion attempt was fumbled and it came down to an onside kick with one minute to play. Greenfield had a chance to recover the kick, but Belchertown came up with the ball and picked up a first down on a 35-yard run by Cass to ice the victory.
Cass finished with 87 yards on 15 carries, and Leduc rushed for 59 yards on nine carries. Leduc also completed 2-of-7 passes for 93 yards.
RJ Byrd had another big game rushing the ball for the Wave with 122 yards on 28 totes, and Tyler Townsley added 59 yards on 14 hauls. Miner finished 2-of-4 passing for 34 yards, and also rushed five times for 14 yards and two scores.
Greenfield (1-2) travels to Turners Falls High School Friday night at 7.