Pickard Throws for 4 TDs, Runs for One in Wahconah Win at Lee
LEE, Mass. -- On a night when Wahconah's offense threw for 191 yards and four touchdowns, the play that got it all going came on the ground.
Owen Salvatore's 65-yard run to the 3 late in the first quarter set up Wahconah's first TD in a 36-0 win over Lee on Friday night.
It also freed up Wahconah's passing attack.
"We were stalling at first and really had nothing going, and right when that play call happened, I knew he could break that off," quarterback Lucas Pickard said. "Owen's a really fast and athletic kid. He's got some moves.
"He's such a focal point of our offense and our defense. And he's such a great leader too. That play really got us going."
Going to the tune of scores on their next two possessions to close the first half with a 22-0 lead.
After Pickard ran in the first score of the night from the 1-yard line, he threw the next two to Jesse Chapman.
Wahconah coach Gary Campbell Jr. said that the big run by Salvatore went a long way toward opening up offensive opportunities.
"[Lee] really, really stacked the box," Campbell said. "They were coming with a lot of blitzing. We're very young up front, and that really confused us.
"So we had to create something. The reverse really helped, the misdirection because they were being ultra-aggressive and coming after us. ... And, let's face it, Owen is one of the best players in Western Mass. The kid can motor. So I put him in a position to make a big play, and the reverse really helped."
Wahconah's second score came at the end of a 63-yard drive early in the second quarter.
Pickard was 3-for-4 for 66 yards through the air on the drive -- the last 24 down the left side to Chapman in the end zone.
The next time Wahconah's offense took the field, it was at midfield thanks to a 25-yard punt return by Salvatore.
Payton Shippee had a big 15-yard run on a 48-yard drive that ended with Pickard high-pointing the ball to Chapman in the end zone from the 3. Ethan Orsini's second successful kick of the game made it 22-0.
"I hate to say it, but it's a simple game sometimes," Campbell said. "The kid's 6-4. He catches the ball at a high point. It makes a good offensive coordinator out of somebody: 'Throw it high in the air. Go get it.' Genius.
"Jesse's a very, very good player. Pick throws the ball awesome. He throws the ball with the best touch I've had in a long time."
A 4-yard TD pass to Jon Howard and a 47-yard completion to Salvatore in the third quarter rounded out the scoring.
Noah Poirier ran for 58 yards from scrimmage and ran in a two-point conversion.
William Thomson paced Lee's offense with 49 yards on the ground.
Lee (1-1) goes to Lowell Catholic next week.
Wahconah (2-0) plays its home opener against Taconic on Friday night.
Video: Wahconah quarterback Lucas Pickard talks about working with receiver Jesse Chapman. The two hooked up for a pair of TDs in Friday’s win at Lee.
Video: Wahconah’s Lucas Pickard finds Jesse Chapman for a short TD pass in Friday’s shutout win.
Video: Noah Poirier runs in a two-point conversion for Wahconah on Friday at Lee.