By Kevin McCaskill Jr.
10/31/21 * 4:00 PM
(AGAWAM) - On Friday, I was back in Agawam. The Blue Devils from Northampton travelled south to take on Agawam HS, on Senior Night.
Last week, Agawam spoiled East Longmeadow’s Senior Night getting a good road win @ EL.
This week, Northampton stepped into the “spoiler” role.
Agawam opened the game with a scoring drive. RB Jermaine Norfleet scored his first TD of the game.
Northampton got the ball and scored on their opening drive of the game. QB Ben Sledzieski hit Trey Rios for a pass TD. On the scoring play, Sledzieski got the snap, faked a handoff and rolled out to his right. He threw the ball to Rios, a few yards short of the goalline. Rios turned upfield, dodged a tackle and leaped into the end-zone. The Blue Devils went for 2 and converted. Northampton led 8-7.
On Agawam’s next possession, they drove down the field and scored again. Norfleet ran in his 2nd TD of the game. He has had a great season. Agawam went for two but didn’t convert. They went back up on the scoreboard 13-8.
In the second quarter, Northampton’s defensive line got pressure on Agawam Senior QB Griffen Levesque and sacked Levesque in the end-zone. That sack in the end-zone was scored a safety for Northampton. Agawam still led 13-10.
Agawam had to kick the ball back to Northampton after the safety. The Blue Devils engineered another scoring drive, capped off by a Sledzieski run TD. He ran out to the left side of the formation and got in the end-zone. They went for two and converted. The Blue Devils now led 18-13.
After giving up a safety and TD, Agawam needed to score before halftime. They got the play they needed from two of their star Senior players. Levesque rolled out to his right and threw a pass downfield. The ball went off the hands of an Agawam player and went up in the air. Senior DB/WR Vinny Wallace caught the tipped ball, dodge a tackle and scored. Agawam went for two but didn’t convert. Agawam led at halftime 19-18.
The last two quarters only had one scoring play. In the third, Sledzieski hit Rios again for another pass TD. They went for two again and converted. The Blue Devils led 26-19.
In the 4th quarter, Agawam had their opportunities to try and tie the game; they couldn’t capitalize.
Northampton had opportunities to put the game away. A Blue Devil RB fumbled in the red-zone with a clear path to the end-zone. That fumble was recovered by Agawam Senior Josiah Bass-Collins.
Agawam had one more shot to tie the game. Northampton’s defense forced Agawam to a 4th down play. Agawam couldn’t convert and turned the ball over on downs. Northampton ran out the clock and outlasted Agawam for a 26-19 victory.
Sledzieski had a great game. He controlled the offense. He ran effectively. He passed the ball well. He made limited mistakes. His leadership on offense got the Blue Devils an important win.
Scoring
Northampton:
Ben Sledzieski - 2 pass TDs, 1 run TD
Trey Rios - 2 rec TD
Agawam:
Jermaine Norfleet - 2 run TDs
Griffen Levesque - 1 pass TD
Vinny Wallace - 1 rec TD
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