TURNERS FALLS — The Franklin County Technical School football team used a stifling defense and capitalized on five turnovers to shut out visiting Greenfield High School, 13-0, in an Intercounty League North tilt Saturday afternoon.
“It wasn’t the prettiest game but an ugly win is certainly better than a pretty loss,” said Tech head coach Joe Gamache.”
It was a slow start for both squads, largely assisted by inclement weather, as the wind, rain and cold put a damper on both offenses out of the gate. Things stayed that way until about midway through the second frame, when Tech took over at its own 5-yard line following a Greenfield punt that pinned the Eagles deep.
From there, Tech embarked on the most impressive sustained drive of the day, marching 95 yards on 18 plays, through the worst of the wind and rain that was seen all day.
Most notable of all was that the Eagles were able to use their passing attack in the face of the harsh elements. Quarterback Seth Adrich was 3-for-4 on the drive for 53 yards, the last of those a 10-yard touchdown to Dalton Wesoloski in the right corner of the end zone with just over a minute to play. Bailey Young then split the uprights for the PAT and the Eagles hit the locker room with a 7-0 advantage.
Tech (2-5, 1-3 North) started with the ball in the second half and any momentum it had quickly disappeared. After one quick first down, Aldrich was picked off by senior Collin Kosuda, who returned the ball all the way to the Eagle 21, giving the Green Wave its best starting field position of the day.
The euphoria didn’t last long for Greenfield, which could not manage a first down. A fumble on first down and an 8-yard sack on fourth gave the ball back to the Eagles at their own 26. It was the last time the Wave ran an offensive play in the quarter.
The ensuing Tech drive took the game into the final stanza, but fizzled after penalties led to a fourth and 19 that the Eagles could not convert, and the Wave took the ball at its own 27.
On the first play from scrimmage, senior running back Elijah Brown, who had not had a big gainer all day, finally broke free, rambling 43 yards to the Eagles’ 30. Greenfield could not cash in, however. Two plays later, there was a fumble on the transfer and the loose pigskin pounced upon by the Eagles.
The Wave had one more chance, getting the ball back at its own 7-yard line after a punt by Tech, but things only got worse for Greenfield (1-5, 1-3 North). After a 3-yard loss and a false start backed the Wave up to the 2, the ball was again fumbled, and this time, a streaking Spencer Telega jumped on it for a touchdown before it rolled out of the end zone. That touchdown was the dagger, producing a game-set-match 13-0 lead.
It was an impressive overall defensive by the Eagles, who allowed the Wave only 83 offensive yards, 43 of them coming on Brown’s fourth-quarter burst. The only Greenfield completed pass on the day was for a loss of 2 yards. That, coupled with the trouble the Wave had holding onto the ball, sealed the deal for Tech.
Offensively, it was a career day for senior Eagles wideout Wesoloski, who was a force both on the ground and through the air. Wesoloski racked up 99 yards on eight carries and added 33 more on two receptions, one of which put the game’s first six points on the board.
It was the Eagles’ first league victory of the season, and Gamache was proud of his squad, which has faced a very tough schedule and has several key players out with injuries.
“We had a lot of the younger guys step up today,” said Gamache. “They did a really nice job.”
Franklin Tech next travels to Mahar Regional School, while Greenfield will play host to Athol High School. Both games kick off Friday at 7.