NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton football team took a step toward regaining the Route 9 Rumble trophy Friday night, albeit a small one.

A year after getting shut out by rival Wahconah, Northampton managed to put the ball in the end zone three times in front of a hometown crowd in a 54-24 loss.

It was a night of defensive dominance and overwhelming offensive strength by the visiting Warriors, which held a Northampton without a first-half first down and led 54-0 after a kick return touchdown to start the second half.

Wahconah held the line of scrimmage after the Blue Devils elected to receive the opening kickoff. Two carries for no gain were followed by an incompletion as sophomore quarterback Gerald Lopez was under heavy pressure by defensive end Julius Kablan. 

The first of six punts followed for Northampton, and then it was the Blue Devils' turn to try and contain West Dews. Wahconah's senior speedster took two carries for 9 yards each, before breaking a 32-yard touchdown run down the left sideline. 

Dews ran 10 times for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns, as the Blue Devils didn't have an answer and were moved around by a stronger, elder Wahconah side.

Northampton was forced to punt repeatedly, and got in trouble when a fumbled long-snap led to a deep sack on fourth down. Wahconah took over on the Northampton 15-yard line. On the first play, quarterback Landon Corcoran scrambled through multiple defenders on his way to the end zone for a 28-0 lead, with still a minute left in an interminable first quarter.

Northampton moved the ball in short increments, with Ethan Rivera and Jasius Flores having some positive carries, but the aerial complement wasn't jiving. Lopez was held to 0-of-7 passing in the first half.

The Blue Devils made some headway in the second half, highlighted by a 60-yard breakaway run by senior Jacoby Allard. Allard got into the end zone twice, including a 30-yard touchdown run. Lopez scored on a 7-yard run late in the fourth quarter after connecting on a deep ball with Dion Cadez.

———

Wahconah 54, Northampton 24

Wahconah 28 20 6 0 — 54

Northampton 0 0 8 16 — 24

SCORING PLAYS

First Quarter

W — Dews 32-yard run (pass incomplete), 9:02.

W — Dews 45-yard run (pass incomplete), 4:52.

W — Taylor 42-yard pass from Corcoran (Lewis run), 3:10.

W — Corcoran 12-yard run (Talora run), 1:00.

Second Quarter

W — Dews 50-yard run (Dews run), 10:30.

W — Robb 6-yard pass from Corcoran (pass incomplete), 6:54.

W — Talora 13-yard run (pass incomplete), 5:15.

Third Quarter

W — Lewis 70-yard kick return (pass incomplete), 11:28.

N — Allard 1-yard run (run successful), 2:10.

Fourth Quarter

N — Allard 30-yard run (run successful), 7:55

N — Lopez 7-yard run (run successful), 1:28.