GREENFIELD — The opening drive of Friday night’s season opener at Vets Field showcased just the type of offense the Greenfield football team is hoping to employ this season.
The Green Wave marched down the field, covering 70 yards in just eight plays. Quarterback Gavin Arsenault hit Bodie Burke for a 30-yard touchdown, staking the hosts to a 6-0 lead just 5 minutes, 18 seconds into the opening quarter against Chicopee.
But while Greenfield held that 6-0 lead into halftime, the second half showcased some of the things head coach Mike Kuchieski is hoping not to see from his troops this fall. The Wave committed untimely penalties, and a few key injuries spread an already thin roster depth-wise even thinner. The Pacers took advantage, scoring 15 unanswered points in the second half en route to a 15-6 independent victory.
“We’re just a young football team,” said Kuchieski of his squad. “Not necessarily age-wise, but playing-wise we’re very young and inexperienced. The effort’s there, but a few stupid penalties and we put ourselves in a bad situation. And we weren’t able to overcome the adversity that resulted from that.”
A healthy dose of tailback Angel Politis (19 carries, 119 yards) kickstarted the scoring drive for Greenfield, as the senior bellcow carried the ball five times 25 yards on the opening stanza. He ripped off gains of 22 and 17 yards on the team’s next drive, which saw Greenfield reach the Chicopee 36-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
While the Chicopee defense settled in from there, Greenfield’s defense was outstanding in the first half. The Pacers gained just 40 yards of offense in the half, turning the ball over via a fumble at the Greenfield 7 (recovered by Politis) and punting on its first two drives.
Greenfield still led 6-0 late in the third quarter before the Pacers finally broke through. After a good punt return set the visitors up at the Greenfield 31, Chicopee needed just five plays to find paydirt as quarterback Joshua Cintron capped the spree with a 7-yard touchdown scamper. Cintron added the extra point, which gave the Pacers a 7-6 advantage with just 16.7 seconds left in the third.
Chicopee forced a fumble on the next Greenfield drive, and put the game out of reach with a score on its ensuing possession. Starting with the ball at the Wave 34, Chicopee cashed in on a six-play drive that saw Cintron call his own number for a 2-yard QB sneak touchdown. The Pacers decided to go for two, and Cintron hit Tariq Marsh for the conversion that made it a two possession game and all but sealed the deal with 6:25 remaining in the fourth.
“We got tired,” Kuchieski said. “Everybody’s playing both ways for us. We’re going to need some players in practice to step up and give people some breaks. We’ll get there, it’s growing pains and the first game of the season.”
Arsenault ran for 57 yards on 10 carries, and completed both of his passes for 56 yards and the score through the air. Burke had two receptions for 56 yards to aid the Green Wave cause.
Cintron finished with 75 yards rushing on 13 carries and the two touchdowns.
It was the second year in a row the Pacers beat Greenfield, as they held serve at Szot Park in Chicopee last year via a 30-6 win. Greenfield won the 2023 meeting at Vets Field, 18-15.
Greenfield’s independent slate doesn’t get any easier, as Amherst comes to Vets Field next week for a 7 p.m. contest.
“We’ve certainly got some things to work on between now and then,” said Kuchieski.