September 13, 2012 pdf edition - Quaboag Current

PLAYOFF | FROM PAGE 12
ketball team will be staying in Division 2. Quaboag will
also be remaining in Division 3, while North Brookfield
is moving down to Division 4
Lou Conte, Tournament Director for Western
Mass., and Roger Bacon, Central Mass. Tournament
Director, gave their input, but they weren’t allowed to
vote on the proposal.
“We really relied heavily on all four of the Tournament
Directors,” Linkenhoker said. “Lou Conte and Roger
Bacon have been around the game of basketball for many
years and they know the tournament very well.”
Both of the Monson basketball teams will be moving
to Division 4.
“Monson High School is the poster child why there
was a need for a fourth division,” Linkenhoker said. “I
really don’t think we’ll be appealing our move down to
Division 4.”
The Ware and Pathfinder basketball teams will also
be moving down from Division 3 to Division 4.
Ludlow will be moving from Division 1 to Division
2. Palmer will be moving from Division 2 to Division 3.
All six of the District final games are usually played
at the Curry Hicks Cage, which is located on the
UMass Amherst Campus. The state finals are usually
held the following week at the DCU Center in
Worcester the following week. Because they’ll be
adding a new division, a couple of District and state
final games will most likely be held on Friday night.
Tim Peterson is a sports correspondent for Turley Publications. He can be
reached at dforbes@turley.com.
Current basketball alignments
WESTERN
DIVISION 1
Agawam, Amherst, Cathedral (boys only), Central,
Chicopee, Chicopee Comp, Commerce (boys only),
East Longmeadow, Holyoke, Longmeadow,
Minnechaug, Northampton, Pittsfield, Putnam, Sci-
Tech, West Springfield, Westfield
CENTRAL
DIVISION 1
Algonquin, Burncoat, Doherty, Holy Name,
Marlborough, Milford, North, North Middlesex,
Quabbin (girls only), St. John’s, St. Peter Marian,
Shepherd Hill, Shrewsbury, South, Tantasqua,
Wachusett, Westborough
WESTERN
DIVISION 2
Athol, Belchertown, Cathedral (girls only),
Commerce (girls only), Drury, Easthampton,
Greenfield, Hampshire, Hoosac, Mahar, Monument,
Palmer, Sabis, South Hadley, Southwick, Taconic,
Wahconah
CENTRAL
DIVISION 2
Auburn, Bartlett, Blackstone-Millville, Clinton,
David Prouty, Gardner, Grafton, Groton-Dunstable,
Hudson, Leicester, Lunenburg, Millbury,
Narragansett, Nipmuc, Northbridge, Oakmont,
Oxford, Quabbin (boys only), Tyngsborough,
Uxbridge, Worcester Tech
WESTERN
DIVISION 3
Dean Tech, Franklin Tech, Frontier, Gateway,
Granby, Hampden Charter of Science, Holyoke
Catholic, Hopkins, Lee, Lenox, McCann Tech, Mt.
Greylock, Monson, Mt. Everett, New Leadership,
Pathfinder, Pioneer, Pioneer Valley Christian,
Renaissance, St. Joseph’s, St. Mary’s, Smith Academy,
Smith Voke, Turners Falls, Ware, Westfield Voke
CENTRAL
DIVISION 3
Abby Kelley, Advanced Math & Science, Assabet,
Ayer, Bay Path, Bethany Christian, Blackstone Tech,
Claremont Academy, Douglas, Hopedale, Immaculate
Heart of Mary, Keefe Tech Leicester, Maynard, Monty
Tech, Murdock, Nashoba Tech, North Brookfield,
PROMISE | FROM PAGE 12
ning, the following week on a rainy Friday night at the
Reservation, the Warriors seemed to look past an
amped up Northbridge team.
The Rams took it personal and soared off to a 16-0
lead in the first 13:00 of the contest. Despite a leaping
interception by Spencer Duncan to try to rally the
Warriors, Tantasqua never recovered. The loss initiated
a six losses in seven games stretch and effectively
ended Tantasqua's playoff chances.
“There's a different feeling on this team this year,"
coach Aaron Powell said. “There's a renewed focus.”
Led by Harrington, who has been prescient in his
playcalling and accurate with his passes, the Warriors'
offense moved crisply against Southbridge.
The teams played a scoreless first quarter. But
Tantasqua then took over; the Warriors controlled the
A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, September 13, 2012 PAGE 13
– sports –
North Central Charter Essentials, Quaboag, Parker,
St. Mary’s, Southbridge, Sutton, Tahanto, University
Park, West Boylston
Proposed basketball alignments
WESTERN
DIVISION 1
Agawam, Amherst, Central, Chicopee, Chicopee
Comp, Commerce (boys only), Fitchburg, Holyoke,
Leominster, Minnechaug, Putnam, Sci-Tech,
Shepherd Hill (girls only), West Springfield,
Westfield
CENTRAL
DIVISION 1
Acton, Algonquin, Burncoat, Concord-Carlisle
(girls only) Doherty, Framingham, Franklin, Holy
Name, Lincoln-Sudbury, Milford, Natick, North, St.
John’s, St. Peter Marian (boys only), Shrewsbury,
South, Wachusett, Westford Academy
WESTERN
DIVISION 2
Belchertown, Cathedral, Commerce (girls only),
East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, North
Middlesex, Northampton, Pittsfield, Quabbin,
Shepherd Hill (boys only), South Hadley (boys
only), Taconic, Tantasqua
CENTRAL
DIVISION 2
Ashland (girls only), Auburn (girls only)
Concord-Carlisle (boys only), Groton-Dunstable,
Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough,
Medfield, Medway, Milford, Nashoba, Notre
Dame Academy (girls only), St. Bernard’s, St.
Peter Marian (girls only) Wayland, Westborough,
Whitinsville-Christian (boys only)
WESTERN
DIVISION 3
Athol, Drury, Easthampton, Frontier, Granby
(girls only), Greenfield, Hampshire, Hoosac, Lee
(girls only), Mahar, Mohawk (boys only),
Monument, Mt. Greylock, Narragansett, New
Leadership (boys only), Palmer, Pioneer, Quaboag,
Renaissance (boys only), Sabis, Southwick,
Wahconah
CENTRAL
DIVISION 3
Ashland (boys only), Auburn (boys only),
Bartlett, Bellingham, Blackstone-Millville,
Bromfield, Clinton, David Prouty, Dover-Sherborn,
Gardner, Grafton, Greater Lowell Tech (boys only),
Immaculate Heart of Mary (boys only), Leicester,
Littleton (girls only), Lunenburg, Millbury, Nipmuc,
Northbridge, Oakmont, Oxford, Southbridge,
Sutton, Tyngsborough, Uxbridge, Worcester Tech
WESTERN
DIVISION 4
Dean Tech, Franklin Tech, Gateway, Granby
(boys only), Hampden Charter of Science (boys
only), Holyoke Catholic, Hopkins, Lee (boys
only), Lenox, McCann Tech, Mohawk (girls only),
Monson, Monty Tech, Mt. Everett, Murdock,
New Leadership (girls only), North Brookfield,
North Central Charter Essentials, Pathfinder,
Pioneer Valley Christian, Pioneer (girls only), St.
Joseph’s, St. Mary’s, Smith Academy, Smith Voke,
Turners Falls, Ware, Westfield Voke
CENTRAL
DIVISION 4
Abby Kelley, Academy of Notre Dame (girls
only), Advanced Math & Science, Ayer, Bay Path,
Bethany Christian, Blackstone Tech, Claremont
Academy, Douglas, Greater Lowell (girls only),
Hopedale, Innovation Academy, Keefe Tech, Marian,
Maynard, Millis, Nashoba Tech, New Testament
(boys only), Norfolk, Parker, St. Mary’s, South
Lancaster, Tahano, Tri-County, Trivium (boys only),
University Park, West Boylston
line of scrimmage defensively and forced Pioneers'
quarterback Jason Peck into hurried throws. Utilizing
an offense which has favored the no-huddle under new
offensive coordinator Joe Beveredge, the Warriors
dominated.
Tantasqua took a 13-0 lead at halftime
In the second quarter, Harrington completed two
touchdown passes, the first to Duncan for 32 yards.
Harrington then found Jon Beaudry for the second
score of the game and a 13-0 lead.
“Randy has come back this season very determined
to play well and to lead us,” the coach said during the
preseason. “He proved a lot to us last season. It was
tough for him. (Last year's starter) Alex Lucas was a
great player for us so Randy didn't start. But it was
obvious he had the skill. Then he was injured, but
Randy was a terrific teammate. He has the players'
STRIKES | FROM PAGE 12
Pope, Pathfinder Athletics Director Don Irzyk, who’s
also a football coach, and Quaboag head coach Dave
Shepherd held several meeting with the referees during
the delay. The contest was almost postponed until
Saturday afternoon, but the storm clouds eventually
headed east.
“I wanted the game to start at a reasonable time
because I was afraid the players were going to tighten up
on a warm night,” Pope said. “It turned out to be a perfect
night to play.”
It turned out to be a far from perfect night for
Quaboag, who lost several key players to injuries during
the course of the game. One of the Cougars players, who
left the game, was senior quarterback Jimmy Zalatores.
He suffered an injury to his left leg following a long run
at the end of the first half. He walked off the field following
the game on crutches. He was replaced at quarterback
by senior Victor Santiago at the start of the second
half.
For the first time in three years, Greg Pobieglo wasn’t
calling the plays in the huddle for the Pioneers offense.
He watched the game along with several other former
Pathfinder football players.
Senior Matthew Stafford, who had been the Pioneers
junior varsity quarterback the past couple of years, was
given his first start in a varsity game.
“Stafford amazed me with his performance tonight,”
Pope said. “He’s a smart kid and he’s been to a couple of
summer football camps. He’s a very good quarterback.”
The Pioneers first touchdown drive was set-up following
an interception by senior Trystan Davis at the
Pioneers 31-yard line.
Pathfinder moved the ball down the field on a couple
of long runs by senior running back Cody Hess, who
rushed for a game-high 81 yards, and junior running
back Michael Krzynowek, who scored four touchdowns
on opening night.
Stafford also completed his first varsity pass to senior
tight-end Brad Lord during the drive.
Following a 14-yard run by Hess, which placed the
ball at the 5-yard line, senior running back Dakota
Nadle scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns
with 1:44 left in the opening quarter. Stafford would add
the first of his three extra point attempts.
The Pioneers scored three more touchdowns during
the second quarter.
With 7:26 left in the second quarter, Nadle made the
score 13-0 with a 1-yard TD run.
Pathfinder got the ball back about a minute later following
an interception by Krzynowek, who took over
the spotlight.
Krzynowek completed the six-play scoring drive,
which covered 60 yards, by catching a 46-yard TD pass
from Stafford.
“I was very excited when I threw my first touchdown
pass in a varsity game,” Stafford said. “I just threw a
good pass to Mike and he did the rest.”
A couple of minutes later, Krzynowek returned a
punt 40 yards for another touchdown, which gave the
home team a commanding 27-0 halftime lead.
“Mike Krzynowek is a very gifted athlete,” Pope said.
“Our special teams unit played very well tonight.”
The Pioneers offense also continued to play very well
at the start of the second half, as Krzynowek scored on a
9-yard run up the middle making the score 33-0.
Krzynowek returned another punt 54 yards for a
touchdown late in the third quarter, which increased the
lead to 40-0.
At that point, most of the Pioneers starters were
replaced by the members of the jayvee team.
Quaboag finally got on the scoreboard with 1:55 left
in the game when senior running back Jon Janosz, who
rushed for a team-high 49 yards, scored on a 21-yard
run. Sophomore running back Devonte Parker scored
on the two-point conversion play.
The Cougars will be looking for their first win of the
season when they face the Bartlett Indians at home on
Friday night.
On the same night, the Pioneers will be playing their
first league game of the season against McCann Tech at
St. Joe’s. McCann Tech, who was the league champions
last year, beat Ware, 18-6, in their season opener in the
rain, last Saturday afternoon.
respect as a leader."
Leading 13-0, the Warriors' defense then played
with abandon. Trevor Roberts and Nick Beaudry each
had two picks for the Warriors and Jon Beaudry had
another.
Roberts and Nick Beaudry's respective performances
were tops among all Central Mass defensive backfield
players, a promising start defensively.
Harrington was ranked 14th among passers.
It's a new year.
"We're working as a team, the players and the
coaches," said Powell. "You just want to get off to a
good start."