High School Football: Amherst wallops Northampton 55-8

Northampton’s Jasus Flores, center carries the football against Amherst Regional’s Matt DaSilva, left, and Brady Klaes, right, during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024. 

Northampton’s Jasus Flores, center carries the football against Amherst Regional’s Matt DaSilva, left, and Brady Klaes, right, during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024.  PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS

Amherst Regional’s Tre Bowman, center, carries the football past Northampton’s Oliver Koller, left, and Cam Richardson on a punt return during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Amherst Regional’s Tre Bowman, center, carries the football past Northampton’s Oliver Koller, left, and Cam Richardson on a punt return during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS

Amherst Regional’s Nene Fernadez, left, passes the football against Northampton during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Amherst Regional’s Nene Fernadez, left, passes the football against Northampton during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS

Amherst Regional’s Tre Bowman, left, attempts to catch the football over Northampton’s Jasus Flores during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Amherst Regional’s Tre Bowman, left, attempts to catch the football over Northampton’s Jasus Flores during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS

Amherst Regional’s Ty-Ty Beckett carries the football past Northampton’s Quintel Williams during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Amherst Regional’s Ty-Ty Beckett carries the football past Northampton’s Quintel Williams during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS

Amherst Regional’s Taylor Alfaro Leiva, right, is congratulated by teammate Tre Bowman after Alfaro Leiva scored against Northampton during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Amherst Regional’s Taylor Alfaro Leiva, right, is congratulated by teammate Tre Bowman after Alfaro Leiva scored against Northampton during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS

Amherst Regional’ Raymond Daniel Colon and Ty-Ty Beckett celebrate after scoring against Northampton during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Amherst Regional’ Raymond Daniel Colon and Ty-Ty Beckett celebrate after scoring against Northampton during the first quarter in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS

Amherst Regional’s Tre Bowman celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Northampton during the first half in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Amherst Regional’s Tre Bowman celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Northampton during the first half in Amherst on Friday, October 11, 2024. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER EVANS

By GARRETT COTE

Staff Writer

Published: 10-11-2024 11:22 PM

AMHERST — The 2024 edition of the annual “Battle of the Bridge” between the Amherst and Northampton football teams was anything but a battle.

The Hurricanes scored on all six of their first half possessions, and added in a 75-yard punt return touchdown from Tre Bowman, to jump out to a commanding 48-0 halftime lead. ‘Canes quarterback NeNe Fernandez threw for 187 yards and four touchdowns in the opening two quarters alone and a balanced offensive attack proved to be too much for the Blue Devils.

Amherst claimed the rivalry bout for the second straight year, this year walloping Northampton 55-8 on Friday night to improve to 2-0 in the Suburban South.

“Our guys were fired up,” Hurricanes head coach Vinnie Guiel said. “The game plan was good and we stuck to it the whole time. We thought that [Northampton] would struggle to cover us, we thought that they would maybe get lost in coverage a little bit. Hats off to Northampton, they played us as tough as they could.”

A five play, 70-yard drive started Amherst’s night. The possession was capped off by a 22-yard scoring strike from Fernandez to Taylor Alfaro-Leiva, and the flood gates were open.

Northampton fumbled on the ensuing drive, and Fernandez took advantage just one play later — again taking to the air to deliver another long touchdown toss. He dropped back and fired a ball down the left sideline to Ty-Ty Beckett, who caught it in stride for six. The ‘Canes took advantage of the good field position the Blue Devils’ fumble gave them, making it 14-0 not even midway through the first.

Bowman’s kick return and a Beckett 22-yard touchdown run on an end around capped off a 28-point first quarter for Amherst. The lead ballooned when Bowman snagged a 38-yard touchdown from Fernandez, and Alfaro-Leiva brought in his second score of the night from 17-yards out on the next possession. Junior Ramsey rumbled into the end zone from 31 yards out in the final minute of the first half to put Amherst way ahead, 48-0.

The onslaught is what Guiel expected from his team ahead of this year.

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“We knew coming into this year that our quarterback and receivers would be our strength in terms of the number of them that we have,” Guiel said. “Week in and week out, they shock me. They go out there and practice hard. They played well. Hats off to them tonight.”

A year ago, the ‘Canes offense looked drastically different. With one of the best running backs in the state in Jameson Dion on the roster, Amherst typically ran its offense out of the wing-T formation and leaned heavily on the ground game.

Now without him, and with Fernandez in year two at quarterback, the playbook has opened up a bit more. Downfield shots and a heavy dose of dropbacks are more common with Amherst running its offense out of the shotgun in 2024.

“Last year, the offense was worked around Jameson, and we figured that NeNe could make plays when he had to,” Guiel said. “Obviously, with Jameson gone this year, he’s had to step up and take a bigger role. And he’s done it, man, and I love that kid to death. He works hard, he’s a great leader, he makes the right decisions on and off the field. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a dog.”

Out of Fernandez’s four touchdown throws, half of them were very well defended by Northampton’s defensive backs. The Blue Devils had players blanketed on receivers a few different times throughout the night, but the ‘Canes playmakers still found a way to come down with the ball.

Northampton head coach Joe Kocot credited that to a combination of Amherst’s athletes on the outside and the Blue Devils’ youth in the secondary.

“We were very honest with them at halftime, and we’re gonna be honest with them in practice next week,” Kocot said. “We can’t compete with [Amherst’s] athleticism. When you have a team like them, they can just pick their spots. And they did that tonight.”

Amherst freshman Brady Klaes found pay dirt from 33 yards away to make it 55-0, but Northampton responded with its only touchdown drive of the night.

The Blue Devils marched 75 yards in eight plays, and Jacoby Allard cruised in for a 27-yard score. He then added a 2-point conversion, bringing the game to its final score, 55-8. Although it was a rough night for Northampton, the late points gave Kocot something to be optimistic about.

“At least me, I’m not gonna be too critical of the kids,” Kocot said. “You gotta try to be positive and point out some of the good stuff that we did.”

Northampton (3-2) returns to action next Thursday, Oct. 17 when it hosts Agawam at 7 p.m.

Amherst (3-2) chose to play a difficult independent schedule to open the season, traveling to Westfield (a team that competed in the Division 3 state semifinals last fall) and welcoming Barnstable (a Division 2 team that’s currently 6-0). Those tests have prepared the ‘Canes for league play, which they are now a comfortable 2-0 after a pair of decisive victories.

“It’s hard when you go two weeks in a row and you’re playing dominant teams, but it prepares you well for league play,” Guiel said. “It also makes your playoff strength of schedule better, and unfortunately in the climate of the MIAA, you’ve gotta play those games if you want a shot at the playoffs out west.”

The Hurricanes host East Longmeadow next Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.