WEST SPRINGFIELD – With the help of a turnover-hungry defense and a scheme change that led to explosive offensive plays, the No. 4 Northampton football team defeated No. 9 West Springfield, 33-12, at Clark Field Friday night.
Northampton’s Trey Rios had four interceptions, including three in the third quarter alone. The first two interceptions led almost directly to long scoring plays, enabling the Blue Devils (3-1) to pull away in the second half.
“That’s huge,” Rios said. “Whenever you get a turnover, the momentum shifts.”
After the interceptions, the Blue Devils switched to a full-house offense after running spread all season. The switch in scheme led to two long touchdowns from running back Mykal Norris.
“Their linebackers really packed the line with eight in the box,” Rios said. “We went to the full house and Myky (Norris) got two big touchdowns.”
The first touchdown was 82-yards where Norris got the sideline and turned into an absolute blur past the West Springfield defense. The second touchdown was another burner for 72-yards.
“Every time I got the ball, I just bounced it outside,” Norris said. “I knew it was going to be open. Trey (Rios) gave me so many chances to score. I am proud of him.”
Norris finished with eight carries for 162 yards and three touchdowns. In addition to his defensive duties, Rios caught five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.
“That was a nice change up,” Northampton coach Joe Kocot said of the switch to full house. “Now you get that on film. We were awful in the first half. We were lucky to be up 13-6. But it was a road test, and the guys passed.”
West Springfield (1-3) simply could not overcome the five second half turnovers to stay in the game. The Terriers held a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
Donald Kuloba had 10 carries for 52 yards for the Terriers. Rodney Virella made some plays down the field for West Side, finishing with four catches for 80 yards.
Evan Villalongo carried seven times for 29 yards including a nine-yard touchdown.
The Blue Devils began with a turnover on downs on their first possession. Fearing a blocked punt, Norris tucked the ball and took off only to be tackled short of the first down.
The Terriers took over at Northampton’s 34-yard line. Kuloba finished the short drive with a 22-yard rushing touchdown.
Later in the quarter, a nice punt return by Norris set up the Blue Devils in the red zone. Quarterback Ben Sledzieski found Rios for a one-yard touchdown to give Northampton a 7-6 lead after Marty Maslowski’s extra point.
Ryan Crowther, Wes Parent and Caleb Steiniger had second quarter sacks for Northampton. On a fourth down and long play, Norris knocked away a potential West Springfield touchdown to keep Northampton in the lead.
Late in the second quarter the Blue Devils forced a fumble to give them a chance to take the lead before the intermission. Steiniger notched the strip sack of Nathan Stone, his second sack of the quarter. Sledzieski later found Parent for a 25-yard touchdown to send Northampton into halftime with a 13-6 lead.
Kuloba had a sack for the Terriers in the second quarter.
After Rios’ second interception, Norris went 82-yard down the sideline to give Northampton a 21-6 lead late in the third quarter. Later in the quarter, the sequence repeated itself. After a Rios interception, Norris went 72-yards for a touchdown to give Northampton a 27-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Villalongo scored on a nine-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for West Springfield. A Jonny Gingeruha to Virella 54-yard completion set up the touchdown.
Norris scored again for Northampton in the fourth quarter from three yards out to close the scoring.
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