by Kevin McCaskill Jr.
11/6/22 * 6:45 PM
(AGAWAM) - Longmeadow HS was on the road Friday night in Agawam, to play Agawam HS. Both teams missed the playoffs this season. Each team came into the game with a record of 4-4.
Agawam got the ball first. They ran the ball nine consecutive plays. The drive ended with a 28 yard run TD by RB Max Holloway. Agawam tried a 2-point conversion but the attempt was unsuccessful. They had an early lead 6-0.
Longmeadow began their 1st offensive possession led by Senior QB Bryant Lopes. Lopes led the Lancers down the field methodically. The Lancers passed and ran the ball an equal amount on the first drive. WR Harrison Stratton scored a run TD to put Longmeadow on the board. They tried a 2-point conversion but the conversion was no good. The game was tied 6-6.
In the second quarter, the teams traded touchdowns.
The Lancers were just outside the redzone. Lopes hit Stratton with a 27 yard TD pass. Stratton got behind the defense and Lopes found him after rolling out to the right.
Agawam responded with a 12 yard run TD by Matt Cleavall. The TD was set up by a 36 yard run by RB Nick Ugolini.
(Matt Cleavall run TD)
Longmeadow had a possession before the half that started well but ended with no points because of multiple penalties.
(Lopes completes pass to Louis Montanari)
Agawam led at halftime 13-12.
In the 3rd quarter, Longmeadow took the lead. Lopes scored on a QB Sneak @ the goalline. The two point conversion was no good. The Lancers led 18-13.
The Lancers had the lead for the rest of the 3rd quarter and a majority of the 4th quarter. Agawam got the ball back with about 4 minutes left in the game. They were down 5 points and needed a TD to take the lead.
Agawam QB Niko Nuzzolilli led the offense on their last drive of the game. They got the ball to the Longmeadow 31-yard line. Longmeadow forced Agawam to a 4th & 5 with 3:17 left in the game. Nuzzolilli got the snap and ran left for 7 yards; he picked up the 1st down. Longmeadow forced another 4th down attempt for Agawam. Agawam was successful again with a Cleavall run for a first down.
The drive was capped off by Nuzzolilli. He scored on a QB Bootleg to the left side of the field and got into the endzone. Agawam went for 2 but the attempt was unsuccessful. Agawam led 19-18.
Longmeadow got the ball back but couldn’t score again. Agawam won the last game of the season 19-18.
(Lopes runs for a big gain)
Both teams have a couple weeks to prepare for their Thanksgiving Day games: Agawam will play West Springfield; Longmeadow takes on East Longmeadow.
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