BUCKLAND — Athol High School was determined to gets its first win, and the Red Raiders delivered in a big way.
Athol broke open a close game with 20 second-half points to run away from Mohawk Trail Regional High School, 33-6, in an independent football game Friday night at Pollard Field.
“It feels awesome,” said Red Raider head coach Bill LaRose afterward. “We’ve found some creative ways to lose football games, but (tonight) the kids played well for four quarters. It feels great to finally get a win.”
After stopping Mohawk on third-and-1 to open the third quarter, Athol (1-4 overall) took over at its 47-yard line and drove 53 yards in just seven plays to extend it’s lead to 20-6. Fullback Robbie Nelson did the honors, taking a handoff and sweeping around the left for the 10 yard-score. Kris Selanis added the PAT kick.
Nelson led the Raiders with 21 carries for 119 yards.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders broke it open when, on a third-and-17 from its own 41, Mason Barrieau (11 carries, 92 yards) took a reverse and broke a 59-yard touchdown run. Selanis’ extra point kick made it 27-6.
On the Warriors next position, backup quarterback Shawn Davenport’s pass was tipped and picked off by Nelson, who returned it 42 yards for the final score. The extra point failed.
“We just plain got beat,” surmised Warriors’ head coach Doug McCloud. “They’re real tough up front. I can’t believe this was their first win. They played well.”
Athol wasted little time getting on the board, as it marched 48 yards in nine plays for the first score. After running eight straight plays, quarterback Keegan Lutz rolled out and found Nelson in the right flat for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Kris Selanis boomed the PAT through the uprights for a 7-0 lead.
The Warriors (2-3) responded with a 13-play, 61-yard drive to pull within a point on the opening play of the second period, as signalcaller Ryan Walker punched it across in a sneak from inside the 1. He was stopped short on the two-point conversion attempt, leaving the score 7-6.
Lutz’s 62-yard kickoff return to the Mohawk 25 set up the Red Raiders’ next score. Athol needed seven plays to reach paydirt, and Nelson took an off-tackle handoff and barreled his way into the end zone from 8 yards away. A fumbled snap on the conversion left the lead at 13-6.
Dylan Castine blocked a Warrior punt and returned it for a TD later in the game, but a block-in-the-back penalty brought the ball back to the 25. Four plays later, Nelson was unable to haul in a pass from Lutz and Athol turned it over on downs.
The Red Raiders held Mohawk to just 121 yards of total offense.