NORTH ADAMS — The Turners Falls High School football team made some monster plays in key situations en route to a 28-0 shutout victory at McCann Tech.
Turners (2-2) put a stranglehold on a scoreless game with two, second-quarter, Kyle Dodge touchdown passes before a pair of Marcus Sanders scores polished off an impressive road trip to the Berkshires.
After a fruitless, 11-play, first-quarter drive, Turners got on the board in the second, when Dodge converted a fourth-and-6, hitting Jaden Whiting in stride on an out-pattern for a 32-yard touchdown.
A McCann (0-3) sack on the next possession forced a third-and-32 situation for the visitors, but again Dodge was up to the challenge. He lofted a pass just over the hands of a defensive back and into the gut of receiver Andy Craver for a 35-yard score.
The Hornets appeared far from out of things, driving from their own 35 to the Turners six on 10 plays, converting twice on third down. However, a sack on second-and-2 drove McCann back and time expired before the Hornets could get back within striking range.
McCann continued to do some good things, like a 28-yard carry by Jason Delisle to start the third quarter. Three plays later, though, on fourth-and-14, the Hornets turned it right back to Turners Falls. The host’s defense did respond, forcing a three-and-out thanks to backfield plays by Josh Brazeau and Tadan Bolte.
The punt, unfortunately, was mishandled and fumbled away in what amounted to a 23-yard gain for the visitors. With big backs John Torres and John Driscoll beating up the defensive interior, Turners pounded away until Sanders broke through some tackles on an 11-yard outside scoring rush to make it 21-0 with 5:24 left in the third.
The teams traded punts into the fourth quarter, but Turners was winning the field-position battle. Starting from the home 44, the Powertown found a way to convert on a third-and-20 and eventually a third-and-4 on a 16-yard TD run, again by Sanders.
McCann had two more possessions in the quarter, but couldn’t claim a first down, leaving Turners with its second victory.