RallyNorth.net

Sat, Sep 03, 2016 01:00 PM @ Hollis-Brookline

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Windham	14	7	6	13	40
Hollis-Brookline	0	8	0	6	14

Windham, Hollis-Brookline

OLLIS — Windham football is well aware that the target is on its collective back is larger than it has ever been in the short history of the school.

And the Jaguars are just fine with that.

“Personally, I love it,” said senior Parker Belsky. “It brings out the best in everyone. Everyone gets better, even the opponents. We get everyone's best shot, and it makes for some amazing games.”

For the better part of three quarters, Division 2 favorite Windham received every bit of Hollis-Brookline's best, as dynamic Cavaliers QB Joey Delaney kept his squad within striking distance.

But with returning Eagle-Tribune All-Star Victor Pizzotti leading Windham's smothering ground game and an opportunistic defense that did just enough when it mattered, the Jaguars pulled away for a season-opening 40-14 victory.

“We needed to make a few adjustments at halftime,” said Pizzotti. “Of course it's going to be hard to be the favorite because everyone wants to get you. But the coaches have prepared us and we always know what to do. We are going to bring it every game.”

Led by Pizzotti's 202 yards on just 17 carries (11.9 yards per rush) the Jags pounded out a whopping 483 yards on 52 carries.

“Vic is a tank,” said offensive lineman Mike Furey. “He's a monster. But all our backs did a great job. They ran tough and we did our best to open holes for them.”

Dominating the ball with that methodical double-wing attack was perfect against a Hollis-Brookline passing game that gave the Jaguars fits.

Hollis-Brookline's Delaney finished the day with 435 passing yards, 232 of those in the first half that ended 21-8. And it could have been a lot worse.

After taking the opening kickoff, Delaney led the Cavaliers down to the Windham 5-yard line before Jaguars defensive back Tim Anderson caused and recovered a fumble to end the drive.

Then, just before halftime, Hollis advanced all the way to the Windham 1-yard line before a pack of Jaguars tacklers stopped receiver Matt Simco (13 catches, 191 yards) just inches from the goal line as time expired.

“Simco really came out to play,” said Belsky. “They have a really tough spread offense. We didn't expect that. But we had to focus on stopping the deep passes. We stopped the run, we just had to slow down a few key receivers.”

While the Cavs missed opportunity, the Jags took advantage.

On their first possession, Pizzotti scored from 5 yards out. Next it was Belsky (8 carries, 74 yards) that dove in from 7 yards out one possession later. Pizzotti made it two scores with a 10-yard burst late in the half.

“Furey was blocking great and the rest of the guys followed his lead,” said Pizzotti. “Then guys like Belsky really came up huge.”

Windham took control in the second half, as Tommy Emrick, Brian Murdza and Anderson all notched rushing touchdowns, and new QB Cody Potter finished 4 of 5 passing for 92 yards.

The Jags did stifle Cavs running back Jack Byrne (10 carries, 33 yards) — who happens to have the exact same name as Windham defensive coordinator Jack Byrne.

“It wasn't perfect, but it was a good victory,” said Furey. “We are a second-half team, we just need more fire in the first half. We knew we have a target on our back. We just need to come out and play every minute of the game.”

Windham 40, Hollis-Brookline 14

Windham (1-0): 14 7 6 13 — 40

Hollis-Brookline (0-1): 0 8 0 6 — 14

First Quarter

W — Victor Pizzotti 5 run (Chris Burke), 5:25

W — Parker Belsky 7 run (Burke kick), 1:34

Second Quarter

HB — Brian Delaney 2 pass from Joey Delaney (Jack Byrne rush), 11:26

W — Pizzotti 10 run (Burke kick), 3:24

Third Quarter

W — Tommy Emrick 5 run (Kick failed) 2:30

Fourth Quarter

W — Brian Murdza 32 run (pass failed), 11:32

HB — Matt Simco 8 pass from J. Delaney (pass failed), 3:16

W — Tim Anderson 43 run (Burke kick), 1:20 

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Windham (52-483) — Victor Pizzotti 17-202, Parker Belsky 8-74, Jay Giles 3-15, Tim Anderson 1-43, Bryan Murdza 1-32, Jake Aleksa 8-34, Cody Potter 3-15, Tommy Emrick 4-36, Micah Sundman 4-14, Eric Konstandin 1-9, Anthony Maguire 1-5, Bobby DiCicco 1-4; Hollis-Brookline (25-95) — Joey Delaney 8-29, Jack Byrne 10-33, Brian Delaney 2-27, Derek Davidson 3-3, Ryan Clarke 2-3

PASSING: Windham — Potter 4-5-0, 92, Sundman 1-1-0, 5; Hollis-Brookline — J. Delaney 24-37-0, 345

RECEIVING: Windham — Sundman 2-66, Marc Bedient 1-8, Marshall Pesaturo 1-18, Aleksa 1-5; Hollis-Brookline — Matt Simco 13-191, Davidson 4-87, J.T. Arnold 2-36, Delaney 2-15, Byrne 3-16

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