TURNERS FALLS — Turners Falls High School loves to run the football and Amherst Regional High School knew it was coming, yet the Hurricanes could not stop it.

Using a punishing ground game to control both the clock and the scoreboard, the Indians were able to eke out a 30-24 triumph over stubborn Amherst Friday night at Bourdeau Fields.

Turners Falls simply played a ball-control game to perfection. The game ended with the Indians driving to the shadow of the goal line as the game clock expired.

The Indians (3-0) rode the strong running of Quinn Doyle. Even though Amherst keyed on him, Doyle ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns.

Doyle has been a workhorse for the Indians, who hardly ever throw the ball. Turners Falls attempted only nine passes in its previous two games and one this time around. But the Indians were able to confuse the Hurricanes by operating out of multiple formations. Turners was effective running out of the I, the wing, and even from shotgun.

Doyle, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in five straight games dating back to last season, was hardly a one-man show. Jack Darling and Ricky Craver also contributed to the ground game.

For Amherst (0-3), it was another frustrating night. The Hurricanes fell quickly behind before bouncing back to make it a 14-8 game midway through the second quarter. But a costly turnover on an ill-timed interception led to another Turners Falls touchdown, a 1-yard run by quarterback Tionne Brown, and subsequent conversion run by Darling to make it 22-8.

Winless teams have one thing in common — they tend to be done in by mistakes. And Amherst sure made some costly ones. Eight penalties for 50 yards sure didn’t help.

“They have a very good running game,’’ Amherst coach Chris Elhorn, Jr. said. “We made some big plays as well as some frustrating ones.’’

The Amherst offense could not do much because they did not spend a lot of time on the field. Turners Falls was able to keep its offense on the field by staying on the ground and chewing up valuable minutes.

“We just couldn’t stop them,’’ Elhorn said. “It’s a matter of execution. This was the first game we were in it late in the fourth quarter.’’

Amherst had the ball only three times during the first half as the Hurricanes fell behind, 22-8. One of those lasted only one play following an interception which came after Amherst stalled a Turners Falls drive with a pick.

Brown recovered his own line-drive kick that bounced off an Amherst player. The Indians were driving but ran out of time as the half ended.

There was no quit in the Hurricanes. A halfback option pass from Will Buddington to Foerster resulted in a 28-yard touchdown.

It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but it got the job done. Buddington’s pass was deflected by a Turners’ player, but it caromed right to Foerster, who took it in for the touchdown.

Then Foerster hit Buddington with the conversion to cut the deficit to 22-16.

That’s as close as Amherst could come. Turners held the Hurricanes to three second half possession before running out the clock by staying on the ground.