Tom Dodge
FRANKLIN – The Blue Jays scored in every quarter as St. Edmund grabbed a 35-6 season-opening win over Hanson Memorial Saturday in Franklin.
After forcing a punt on the game’s opening series, the Blue Jays moved from its own 18 to the Tiger 19 before a fourth-down fumble ended the drive.
St. Edmund stopped Hanson on fourth down near midfield and the Blue Jays then went 50 yards in six plays, aided by three runs by Luke Doucet and capped by a 24-yard touchdown run from Brad Miller.
Peyton Marcantel’s PAT gave the Jays a 7-0 lead with 1:21 left in the first quarter.
St. Edmund stopped the Tigers but a fumbled punt gave Hanson the ball back at the Blue 28 and it took just one play for Mason Mendoza to connect with Jake Singley for a touchdown strike.
The kick snap was bobbled and Mendoza was tackled short of the goal line as the Jays held a 7-6 advantage with 10:44 left in the half.
After three punts as the defenses took over in the second period, St. Ed’s Marcantel recovered a forced fumble and raced 31 yards to the end zone. The PAT failed, but the Jays led 13-6 with 48 seconds left before intermission.
St. Edmund recovered the onside kick at Hanson’s 45 and a quick 26-yard catch by Jack Miller and a pass interference call moved the ball to the Tiger 9.
Three plays later, Luke Doucet scored from three yards out with three seconds left. The PAT failed, but the Jays took a 19-9 lead into the break.
Both teams recovered fumbles early in the third quarter, then Marcantel’s punt forced the Tigers back to the Hanson 11.
Two plays later, Austin Miller tackled Hanson quarterback Mendoza in the end zone for a safety to push the Jays ahead, 21-6 with 6:03 left in the quarter.
Hanson recovered a Blue Jay fumble on the next possession, but Jack Miller responded with an interception to give the ball back to St. Edmund.
A holding call erased a Blue Jay touchdown and two plays later another fumble stopped the scoring threat at the Tiger 5.
Murphey Richard quickly intercepted a pass to give the Jays the ball at the Hanson 2.
Brad Miller scored on a 2-yard run and Marcantel hit the PAT to push St. Edmund up 28-6 with 10:54 left in the fourth quarter.
After a Hanson punt, the Jays sealed the win with a five-play, 87-yard drive aided by run from Brad Miller and Doucet.
Doucet capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run and Marcantel’s kick gave the Jays a 35-8 margin with 5:32 left in the game.
St. Ed’s outgained Hanson 398 to 135 total yards including 372 yards on the ground.
Doucet finished with 148 yards on 18 carries, while Brad Miller added 135 yards on 18 carries.