Ware trims sloppy Pioneer

BY CRAIG RILEY
For the Recorder

Sunday, October 02, 2016

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NORTHFIELD — Ware High School used rugged defense, a bruising running attack and timely passing to hand Pioneer Valley Regional School its first defeat of the year, 14-0, in a Tri-County League football contest Saturday afternoon.
On what was a cold, wet and blustery day, mistakes on offense — including four turnovers and the inability to finish drives — doomed the host Panthers.
“Turnovers were a factor, and not finishing drives were a factor,” said Pioneer coach Paul Worth. “I think the biggest difference was that we are young and inexperienced and they are older and more experienced. When they needed to make a play, they did. When we needed to make a play, we struggled.”
Things started off on a positive note for Pioneer (2-1, 0-1 TCL), which kicked off to the Indians to begin the game. The Panther defense dropped running back Hunter Millier for a 5-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage and then successfully defended two pass attempts, forcing a quick three-and-out.
Pioneer’s Alex Tyson then returned the Indians’ punt 24 yards to Ware’s 38 yard-line, setting Pioneer up with a short field. The Ware defense responded by stopping the Panthers for 1-yard losses on their first two carries, bringing up a third and 12 from the Ware 40.

Tyson, who is also the Panthers’ quarterback, dropped back to pass and was picked off by Ware’s Jeff Desjardins, who returned the ball to the Pioneer 33. That was the first of three Tyson picks.
The visiting Indians capitalized quickly on he mistake, as Millier got his legs going, and had back-to-back 9-yard runs to get the drive going. On a third and 11 from the 26, the Indians struck paydirt when junior signal-caller Ryan Johnson found tight end Jayson Jamilowski streaking down the right sideline for the touchdown with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point was good, and the lead was 7-0.

Trouble found the Panthers again on their next possession. After four straight runs gained Pioneer 28 yards and put it back in Ware territory at the 47, Tyson was again picked off, throwing down the middle of the field with Ware coming down with the ball at the 5, where the Indians offense took over.
Any hopes the Panthers had of getting the ball back quickly with good field position were immediately dashed when the elusive Millier took the ball on a sweep to the left and rambled 70 yards down the left side. Six plays later, just under a minute into the second quarter, Johnson found a receiver in the end zone again, hitting Jake Crevier in the right corner with an 8-yard strike. The extra point was again good, and Ware (2-1, 1-0 TCL) was up 14-0.
The Panthers appeared to have something going on the ensuing drive, which featured 10 plays and saw Pioneer get to the Ware 25 with a first and 10, knocking on the door. An incomplete pass and losses of 5 and 10 yards on second and third down made it fourth and 25 in a hurry, however, and the Panthers were forced to punt. A solid defensive stand got the ball back for the Panthers, but their woes continued after a fake punt on fourth and five set up a first down near midfield with just over a minute to play in the half. From there, the Panthers fumbled the ball away on the next play, giving the Indians possession and keeping the score at 14-0 at the break.
Pioneer got the ball to begin the third quarter, starting at its own 47 after another nice Tyson return. The Panthers proceeded to move the ball seemingly at will, and after nine plays, eight of them runs along with a 19-yard Tyson completion to wideout Jake Wallace, they were looking at a third and goal at the 2. Mistakes again proved costly, as a 5-yard false-start penalty backed the Panthers up to the 7. Two straight runs were then stuffed, and again Pioneer came up empty.
The Panthers possessed the ball just one more time and again had success moving the ball downfield, going 46 yards on 12 plays to the Indians’ 34 before Ware’s third interception of the day sealed the victory for the visitors.
Still, Pioneer’s first-year Coach Worth was happy with his team’s effort, saying, “There was no quit out there. I’m proud of the way we played today against a very good team.”
Pioneer next faces another tough league foe when it travels to Palmer Friday night at 7 for a Panthers vs. Panthers showdown.