TURNERS FALLS — Visiting Palmer scored early and often Friday night, as the Panthers found paydirt the first three plays they touched the ball en route to a convincing 56-8 victory over Franklin Tech in an Intercounty League North contest.

Palmer (6-1, 3-1) jumped ahead quickly, as Jason Cousineau recovered a fumble on Franklin Tech’s very first play of the game. Panthers quarterback Jack Letendre wasted no time putting the visitors on the board, as he connected with Xavier Nava on a swing pass out of the backfield for a 20-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Palmer kept the pressure on defensively on the next drive, blocking a Franklin Tech punt and doubling the advantage to 14-0 on the first play when Nava scored an 18-yard rushing TD.

The Panthers made it a 21-0 lead thanks to another special teams gem, as Trey Yesu returned a punt 67 yards for a score with 7:22 left in the opening quarter.

Franklin Tech (2-5, 1-3) finally slowed the momentum thanks to a special teams play of its own. On the ensuing kickoff, Logan Call weaved through Palmer players for a 71 yard return to put the Eagles in business at the Panthers 15. Josiah Little and Ryan Demers ripped off back-to-back four yard carries, setting up a 7-yard touchdown run from Max Bastarache around the end with 5:46 left in the first period. Demers’ two-point conversion run cut the deficit to 21-8.

It was all Palmer from there, however, as the visitors ripped off 29 unanswered points into halftime. Letendre, who has picked apart opposing defenses throughout the fall campaign, didn’t have to do much under center, completing just two passes for 45 yards, but Palmer took advantage of short fields and cashed in quickly.

Leading 28-8 in the final minute of the first quarter, Palmer intercepted Franklin Tech QB Gabe Tomasi and needed just one play to cash in when Chance Lee ripped off a 27-yard touchdown on the ground with 46 seconds left.

Tech lost Tomasi early in the second quarter to an injury, as he landed awkwardly on a tackle out of bounds during a five-yard rush. Demers handled the quarterback duties the rest of the way for the Eagles.

Palmer scored two more touchdowns and added a safety in the second quarter, including a 1-yard TD run from Brady Goguen with nine seconds left before intermission to make it a 50-8 game.

That set off running time for the entire second half, though Palmer tacked on a garbage score in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter to account for the 56-8 final.

Little rushed for a team-high 38 yards on nine carries, while Demers amassed 35 yards on 10 totes for Franklin Tech.

The Eagles take to the road next Friday to close out their IL North schedule against Athol. Palmer closes out its league schedule at home against Mahar.