ADAMS -- Entering Week 5 at 2-2, Hoosac Valley was desperate for a victory against Wahconah.
So the Hurricanes made some changes to the starting lineup.
Matt Braman moved from quarterback to tailback and Corey Puccio moved from tight end to quarterback. Ian Hill and Colby Gage both saw more carries, as well. All the changes worked for the Hurricanes as they knocked off the Warriors 21-8.
The Hurricanes new look offense took the ball to start the game and went on a 12-play, 60 yard drive that killed six minutes and 49 seconds of the first quarter and ended with Braman scoring from a yard out.
"It was great momentum carrier to come out and have a dominating drive on the first drive of the game," Braman said. "We wanted to come out and pound it right down their throat."
Hoosac certainly did pound the ball. The Hurricanes threw just one pass all game, keeping the ball on the ground and gaining 218 yards.
"That was a nice drive they set up and it was a classic Hoosac football drive," Wahconah head coach Gary Campbell said. "I don’t know if it really set the tone for them, but it helped for sure."
Braman ran the ball 13 times for 85 yards and Hill put up 67 yards and a touchdown, while Gage put up 59 on seven carries.
"It’s been about eight years since I’ve been back there [at tailback], but it felt good," Braman said. "Their ends were crashing hard and we were able to bounce
The Hurricanes were dominant in the first half, out gaining Wahconah 143-71 and controlling the ball for more than 14 minutes.
"I think they were all really excited that [the changes] were working," Hoosac coach Dayne Poirot said. "We had a couple of kids that really had to just embrace their spots and play. This was very much a team effort tonight."
Braman didn’t just make big plays on the offensive side of the ball, he also dazzled on defense.
The Hurricanes missed a field goal with nine minutes to play in the fourth quarter giving Wahconah the ball and time to make a comeback. Braman put an end to any thoughts of a comeback when he intercepted a pass from Lane Grogan and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.
"I really think that was the biggest point in the game," Hill said. "We were a little bit down after my missed field goal and thinking they might drive down and get in. But the pick-6 got another score up there. That was huge for us."
Braman also put an end to Wahconah’s opening driving of the second half when he scooped up a fumble at his own 11 and returned it to the Wahconah 30.
It was the third fumble the Hurricanes had taken away from the Warriors. In total, they forced four turnovers -- committing two fumbles of their own.
"We really just played one defense throughout the game, but everyone played just like they were supposed too," Hill said. "Everybody did their jobs, no one cheated, no one tried to be the big player, no one tried to make the big play. Everyone just did the right things. We all just did everything right."
In addition to the four turnovers, the Warriors also committed four penalties for 25 yards. Hoosac allowed Grogan -- the league’s leading passer -- to complete just four passes for 34 yards. Eli Pease did not record a carry in the game. Grogan was the leading rusher, getting 92 yards.
"We made some good adjustments and the kids just did what they were supposed to do," Poirot said. "We had a lot of kids doing their jobs. When we were watching film and going over the game plan we told them all they have to do is do what they are supposed to do. That’s what the did."
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