CHESHIRE, Mass — The Hoosac Valley football team completed an undefeated regular season with a win over Lee, 32-6, Saturday afternoon.
It seems like any time these two teams square off we are in for a treat and on Halloween weekend that is exactly what we got in the first half.
The Hoosac Valley football (8-0) team came in,to this game with a perfect season on the line against an old rival in the Wildcats (3-5). It was a back and forth game in the first half with both teams feeling each other out on the offensive end.
After a few defensive stops on both sides the game opened up when Lee took a punt return into good field position setting up the first score of the game eight plays later with a nice run from Tyler Bartini from 7 yards out to take a 6-0 lead.
It looked as though Lee would build off of this momentum getting an interception on the ensuing drive. Lee was unable to capitalize on the offensive end, but the defense stayed strong throughout the half keeping Hoosac Valley at bay. With just less than two minutes left to play in the half Lee looked to add to their lead, but was forced into a fumble, giving Hoosac valley the ball with a few more chances to get on the board.
Kamarion Kastner connected on two passes for 29 yards including a nice throw across the middle to Ben Payton for the 18-yard score. They went into the break with an 8-6 lead hoping this would kick start the offense in the second half.
“We were going back and forth on if we should call a timeout, but we wanted to let the clock go and regroup in the second half unless we were able to get a play and that’s what we got,” Hoosac Valley coach Mike Bostwick said. “We dialed up a few decent calls and then Ben Payton bailed us out on a nice throw from Kamarion and the rest was history.”
After the break, Hoosac never looked back, continuing where they left off in the first half with an impressive six-play drive that led to a Griffin Mucci touchdown run giving the Hurricanes a 16-6 lead. The Hurricanes were finally able to get things going on the ground in the second half and it really made the difference in the game.
“Getting our running backs going was huge, it’s odd going a whole half not playing great and then boom things get going,” Bostwick said. “I talked with our coaches at the end of half and they agreed with a few changes and from that point on we knew the game plan for the second half and they boys executed.”
The Hoosac Valley defense was stellar all game long and after the first score of the second half they came up with a big 4th and 1 stop to give the offense the ball right back. Kadan Tatro then broke off a 33-yard touchdown run up the sideline to make it 24-6 giving him 146 rushing yards on the day. Hoosac continued their second half dominance the rest of the way recovering a couple more fumbles and then Griffin Mucci would close the door on Lee with his second score of the game giving Hoosac a 32-6 lead.
Hoosac Valley cleared one hurdle by going 8-0. But Bostwick said the Hurricanes are not done.
“We’re hungry and not satisfied,” he said. “We have a lot of guys on this team that buy into the team first attitude which is exactly what we need to win in the playoffs.”
Photos from this game here.
