H.S. Roundup: Mahar football dispatches Martha’s Vineyard (VIDEO)

ORANGE — A strong running game and a playmaking defense powered the Mahar Regional football team in a 40-7 win over Martha’s Vineyard Regional on Saturday afternoon at the Woodward Complex.

The Vineyarders (1-4) entered the game ranked 30th in the latest MIAA Division 5 power rankings. Martha’s Vineyard had a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, taking advantage of three Mahar fumbles on offense. But once the Senators began to execute, the running back tandem of Carter Hardy and Lee Cruz found their stride and delivered big plays for the Senators.

“We started to not make the same mistakes that we did in the first quarter and all season,” Mahar coach Kyle Newton said. “Every game, we shoot ourselves in the foot. In the second half, we put things together and we got some bounces going our way. That was nice.”

Carter Hardy finished with 12 carries for 117 yards for the Senators. His day included an 8-yard rushing touchdown and 25-yard scamper for a score. The Senators did well putting the first quarter in the past.

“When we mess up something our team tends to get down,” Hardy said. “I just try my best to talk to them and to have that goldfish mindset. Just play the next play.”

Mahar (3-4, 2-2 Intercounty North) enters its biggest game of the season against Franklin Tech in Turners Falls on Friday night. A win with multiple players contributing big plays supplied the team with much-needed confidence going into the game against the powerful Eagles squad.

“We needed it,” Newton said. “I think we’ve been on the edge all year. We finally went over the hump and now we have the biggest game of the year.”

The defense got two touchdown on returns late in the fourth quarter. Aryan Kheti picked off Martha’s Vineyard quarterback Aadam Parchment and used the wheels to score on a 32-yard return. Just a few plays later, Brody Odenbaugh scooped up a fumble and outran the Vineyarders for a 78-yard touchdown return.

A sluggish first half saw the Senators take a 14-7 lead into the intermission. In the second half, the defense stepped up with game breaking plays. Freshman Harry Doody had two interceptions for the defense.

“Putting in the effort really just helped us,” Doody said. “From day one we’ve always put in the best effort. I think it’s ideal, our team needed this after a big loss last week. This win will really help us have a good mindset in practice and have good mindset to win this next game hopefully.”

Parchment scored on a 9-yard keeper in the first quarter for Martha’s Vineyard. Mahar tied the game with a seven-play, 52-yard drive. Freeland Ringer finished the drive with a 2-yard keeper for a touchdown. Cruz had a 30-yard run on the drive to get Mahar into the red zone.

Cruz scored in the second quarter, breaking free of the Martha’s Vineyard defense on a 61-yard touchdown run. A downright sinister downfield block by Ringer eliminated the last defender on Cruz’s path to the end zone.

Hardy scored his 8-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, giving Mahar a 20-7 lead. Hardy scored again early in the fourth quarter to extend Mahar’s lead.

Cruz finished with four carries for 95 yards. Doody had five carries for 18 yards. Hunter Brooks had two sacks for the Mahar defense.

Field hockey

Dennis-Yarmouth 2, Frontier 0 — The Redhawks (15-1-1) suffered their first loss of the season against the Dolphins in a rematch of the Division 4 state championship game from last season.

The game occurred in South Yarmouth (10-3-2), giving Frontier a chance to travel and play against elite competition prior to the playoffs. Leah Woodward and Samantha Precourt scored in the second quarter for the Dolphins.

Brooke Charest made five saves for Frontier.

Late Friday results

Field hockey

Greenfield 1, Southwick 1 — Hayden Sadler scored the first goal of her varsity career in the Green Wave’s draw with the Rams at Woodcock Field.