GREENFIELD — Behind the efforts of senior quarterback David Carey and wide receiver Brendan Driscoll, the Greenfield football team aired out its passing attack en route to a 24-6 victory over Chicopee High School in an independent contest Friday night at Vets Field.
Greenfield (1-0) came out of the gates running and never looked back as it opened the game with a 12-point first quarter before tacking on six more points before the half. The Green Wave turned the ball over twice in the second half, but the Pacers weren’t able to take advantage until punching in their only touchdown of the game with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Greenfield head coach Mike Kuchieski said the team put together a solid performance in the season opener, but the club needs to sharpen up for future games.
“We came out like a house on fire, played real well,” Kuchieski said. “We’ve just got to make sure that we don’t turn the ball over late in the game. It was a good first game.”
Carey threw for two touchdowns and completed 7-of-8 passes for 199 yards. He added another 94 yards on the ground, while Driscoll caught five passes for an impressive 147 yards.
Carey found Driscoll open in the middle of the field for a 73-yard touchdown in the middle of the first quarter, then found him deep again in the second quarter for a 41-yard completion.
Driscoll said his connection with Carey is a constant and they have a productive partnership.
“It’s always been there,” Driscoll said. “He’s got a great arm and I like to catch balls.”
Carey said the first-quarter touchdown was an improvisational act, but the duo knew they were going to hit for a deep connection at some point in the game.
“That wasn’t really the route,” said Carey about the 73-yard touchdown. “I had to wait for the perfect second for him to be open, but yeah we knew it was coming.”
Kuchieski said the two have had a bond forming since the Fall II season held in the spring.
“They’ve got a pretty decent bond,” Kuchieski said. “It was fun to watch those kids, they think like each other so it’s nice.”
Juniors Trevor Kuchieski and Ryan Pulizari represented the other half of the Green Wave’s offensive output. Kuchieski caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter as he broke several tackles near the goal line, and Pulizari dashed in and out of traffic on his way to a 9-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Despite being undersized, Greenfield’s defense stymied the Pacers offense for much of the night. Chicopee junior running back Jonathan Escalera towered over most players on the Green Wave defense, but they were able to hold him to 55 yards and just a single touchdown.
Kuchieski said the team saw the Pacers’ size on film and emphasized the importance of playing as a team.
“We kind of reiterated all week that big doesn’t always matter and they bought into that,” Kuchieski said. “They came out and played real hard and on defense we swarmed to the ball.”
Friday was the first game of what is expected to be a more-normal football season for the players. Carey said the Wave definitely felt the energy.
“The fans make the biggest difference in the world. And the band,” Carey said. “Everyone’s back, the bleachers are filled, I love to see that.”
The Green Wave will stay at home for another independent game when they host Belchertown next Friday at 7 p.m.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.