WARE — An empty offensive performance from the Greenfield football team led to a 30-0 loss to Ware in an Intercounty North matchup at chilly Veterans’ Field on Friday night.
The young Green Wave team did not have starting quarterback Gavin Arsenault. This left freshman Casey Burke in the crosshairs of a motivated Ware team on its Senior Night. Even in a lopsided game, the Green Wave’s younger players can bottle up the negative energy for another time on the field.
The Greenfield football team huddles before its game against Ware, Friday in Ware. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Kymel Ramsey of Greenfield looks for space against Ware, Friday in Ware. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Owen Pfisterer-Hill of Greenfield looks for space against Ware, Friday in Ware. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
“It’s great learning for the younger kids,” Greenfield coach Jeff Bengtson said. “Most programs, freshmen wouldn’t be playing at all at the varsity level. They learn to keep their heads up through a game…they can only get better from there. The more experience you get on the field, the better you are.”
Greenfield (2-5, 1-2 Intercounty North) got some production from running back Owen Pfisterer-Hill with 14 carries for 78 yards. Most of the longer offensive gains for Greenfield came with a running clock in the second half. A bright spot for the defense was safety Bryce Zraunig, who had two interceptions. The freshman made both plays in his own end zone.
“I just put my team first,” Zraunig said. “When I see the ball, I just go for it. My size, I am usually the smallest kid out there, so I just go for the ball and try to catch it. We are a young team but we should have the mentality to just get the next win. Just try harder.”
Zraunig returned the first interception 23 yards out of the end zone. Smartly, he went down in the back of the end zone on the second interception. Greenfield had four turnovers in the game.
Greenfield’s best drive in the first half came in the second quarter. Burke connected with Kymel Ramsey on an 18-yard reception before a 19-yard rush by Brayden Slauenwhite. Disaster struck at the 19-yard line when an errant snap eluded Burke and the Indians recovered.
Greenfield’s longest play was a 29-yard rush by Pfisterer-Hill in the fourth quarter. Greenfield had the ball at Ware’s 10-yard line in the fourth quarter, but a run by Elliot Holcomb came up short on fourth down. Greenfield has a showdown with Athol next week back in Greenfield. The team expects to have Arsenault back under center in the contest.
“He’s been having some back issues all year,” Bengtson said. “He should be back next week hopefully for senior week. Last game he got hit and buckled over backwards. He’s working with our trainers about getting back.”
The Indians drove 66 yards on six plays for the game’s first touchdown. Using misdirection, quarterback Troy Jurczyk scampered 32 yards for the rushing touchdown. After recovering a Burke fumble, Ware scored again on a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Dalton Marquis. Ware’s second scoring drive went 57 yards on three plays.
Marquis scored again on a 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The rushing touchdown gave Ware a 22-0 lead with 6:18 left in the second quarter. Ware closed the scoring with a touchdown with 47 seconds left in the half. Jurczyk found Ian Hogan for a 5-yard touchdown to make the score 30-0.
Greenfield elected to have a running clock in the third and fourth quarters.
Field Hockey
Mohawk 2, Turners Falls 0 — Hailey Martin and Naomi DenOuden had goals for the Warriors in the win over the Thunder in Buckland. Jayda Waters added an assist in the victory. Connor Glennon made 24 saves for the Thunder.
Smith Academy 9, Mahar 0 — The Falcons dominated the Senators in a win at the Woodward Complex. Bella Burnett made 39 saves for Mahar. Sophia Jagodzinski led Smith Academy’s offense with four goals. Ashlyn Moynihan added a hat trick for the Falcons.
