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The team did great! The Easthampton squad ended their first season of competition ever with a 2-3-1 record. Everyone is very proud of this fine accomplishment of a fledgling team. We look forward to many more eventful seasons. Game 1, was a win over Williston, 12 - 0 as Dan Labonte connected with Randy Page for 40 yard touchdown pass, and Dave Hauver's interception of Williston's pass run back for 35 yard touchdown. Game 2, at Powerhouse Cathedral was 20-6 loss, but game close until the end. Tied 6-6 at the half, Easthampton missed chance to go ahead when pitchout went wide and Cathedral recovered the fumble. Game 3, at AA power Westfield, Easthampton held an 8-6 lead into the final moments of the game on the strength of Veng Siv running and an agressive defense led by Mike Lucia, Cory Jasienowski, and Wayne Demers. Falling behind 6-0 at the half, Easthampton marched down the field on their first series of the second half, with strong runs by Siv, Dave Hauver, and short passes from Dan LaBonte to Randy Page. The tying touchdown was made on a swing pass from Dan LaBonte to Randy Page, who behind the blocking of Mike Gordon and Seth Taylor waltzed into the endzone untouched. The two point conversion was successful, with a power dive by Siv over the right side. Westfield was able to come back with a drive of their own, capped by a long hail Mary pass in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter that fell into the hands of a Westfield player on the ground, a few yards from the goal line. Westfield capped the drive on their own power dive, but a failed after touchdown two point attempt left them with a 12-8 lead. Easthampton was not able to move the ball back to the endzone, as their last drive was stimied by strong Westfield defensive stand. The final score, Westfield 12, Easthampton 8, sets up the exciting rematch between these two teams on November 9, 1998. Game 4, home at the Williston field against Cathedral. In the home rematch against AA power Cathedral High School, Easthampton's first year football team served notice that they plan to be a force to reckon with in the future. Ultimately ending in a 22-22 tie in a game called for darkness, the Eagles jumped out to an 8-0 lead on their first possession. Capping a ten play drive, halfback Cham Tan ran 22 yards for the touchdown. Wingback Dave Hauver powering over the line for the two point conversion. Easthampton's defense then took over, and on Cathedral's second play from scrimmage, Veng Siv stepped in front of a Cathedral pass over the middle and ran the interception back 27 yards to the Cathedral 24 yard line. On fourth down, quarterback Dan LaBonte connects with Wide Receiver Randy Page in the corner of the endzone for an 18 yard scoring strike. A diving run to the endzone by Cham Tan puts 2 more on the scoreboard, and Easthampton leads 16-0 at the end of the first quarter. Stopping the next Cathedral drive on downs, Easthampton rolls 48 yards in five plays, with Dave Hauver sprinting 30 yards around the right end for a touchdown. The extra point fails, and Easthampton leads 22-0. The Easthampton defense once again does their job, with Cory Jasienowski recovering a Cathedral fumble to end the first half. The second half begins with Cathedral's opening drive stopped as Eric Stratton stuffs the Cathedral running back for no gain on fourth down at the Easthampton 18. Unable to move the ball for the first time of the evening, Easthampton misplays their first punt of the night and Cathedral takes over at the EHS 4 yard line. The defense stiffens, stopping Cathedral four times at the goal line, only to be called for offsides. On the fifth attempt, a Cathedral quarterback sneak gets them on the scoreboard for six points. Once again Eric Stratton steps up and tackles the Cathedral runner for no gain in the extra point attempt and it remains 22-6. Cathedral's defense begins to flex it muscle and stops Easthamptons next drive in their own territory. A quick opener on the next series paves the way for Cathedral to sprint 35 yards for their second touchdown, and a successful two point conversion puts them back into the game, now trailing only 22-14. Now early in the fourth quarter, the Cathedral defense once again stops the power running game of EHS, and on their third play, Cathdral sweeps left for 55 yards and six points. The two point conversion is good, and Cathedral has tied the game 22-22. Fighting the dark, Easthampton pulls one last trick from its game bag and sends Randy Page over the right side for a quick opener. Cutting left, Page outruns the Cathedral safety for an apparent 65 yard touchdown run, only to see it called back to the Cathedral 35 yard line on a clipping penalty. One play later the game is called for darkness and our game ends in a 22-22 tie. Game 5, away at Westfield High School (old field). Victory at Westfield! Defense and special teams ruled the day as Easthampton football Eagles rolled to a 18-13 victory at Westfield High School. The Westfield Bombers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, only to see the Eagles roar back with two second quarter touchdowns of their own. Easthampton's first score was set up by the strong defensive play of Mike Lucia, Jay Bacis, and Matt Joanides, as the defense stopped WHS deep in their own territory. A 15 yard TD pass from Dan Labonte to Eric Stratton got the Eagles on the board. Follwing a sack of Bomber QB by Mike Gordon, the Eagles went ahead for good on a 53 yard punt return for touchdown by Veng Siv. The EHS defense continued to dominate the second half. Following a WHS fumble recovery by Han Pok, the Eagles Ven Siv struck again with a 5 yard TD run, giving Easthampton an 18-7 lead. A late score by the Bombers on a broken play punt return provided their final points of the game. Coach Joe Kocot commented to reporters following the game, "I have nothing but praise for the way our boys took charge on the field today, especially the defense led by Lucia, Bacis, Joanides, Demers and Stratton, and the punting of Eric Sealander." Game 6, away against Commerce High School. A touchdown run of 12 yards, a kickoff return of 74 yards for a TD, and an interception return for TD of 65 yards by Senior Randy Page weren't enough to overcome a powerful Commerce running game as Easthampton Eagles fell to Commerce 28-20 in their season finale Monday night. A strong running game, led by Veng Siv, and a tough defense that forced four Commerce turnovers, led by Mike Lucia, Seth Taylor, and Jay Bacis kept the Eagles close. After Page's third TD of the night tied the game 20 - 20 early in the fourth quarter, Commerce mounted a final drive to go ahead with less than two minutes remaining in the game. The Eagles then turned to their passing game, led by Freshman QB Rick Camilleri, but time ran out, and the Easthampton squad ended their first season of competition ever with a 2-3-1 record. Return to top
July 28, 1998 • Dear Easthampton Friends of Football: It is a pleasure to share with you our ideas and progress in the development of a high school level football team. We hope this will interest you in assisting us in this tremendous effort! As Easthampton Friends of Football Association (EFFA) is being created to solicit and manage donations that will be fully applied toward the purchase of equipment supplies, operational needs (transportation, referees, coaching staff, etc.) and other related expenses in the establishment of the football team. The officers of EFFA are all volunteers, and our objective is to create and extend this exciting opportunity to our youth and community this fall! The impact on the school, its students, and the community could be enormous. We have already had a large number of students indicate an interest in playing, yet we haven't even announced the team's creation officially! A high school team would offer a new sport for 30-40 young persons to participate in, one that we feel will not violate the traditions established in the other sports programs. In fact, a football team will have a very positive effect on several other school programs, such as the band having a team to arch for, a new team for the cheerleaders to perform for, and the immeasurable positive impact on the student population and faculty alike of having a football team to be proud of. If the numerous phone calls, questions and expressions of support that I've received from local businesses and the community are any indication, a football team at the high school is going to be very successful and contribute to Easthampton's efforts to rebuild. The EFFA's first objective is to gain the endorsement of the High School Committee, allowing us to bring a sanctioned team on line. We would play a schedule of Pioneer Valley games this fall as an independent (Junior Varsity level first one or two years), with a varsity team competing for the title a year thereafter! If we have the success that we think is going to occur, our hopes are to then develop a youth program for our 4th-8th grade students. To gain the Committee's endorsement, the EFFA will make a presentation at the Committee meeting on the 11th of August, describing our budgetary needs, resource plans, etc. To be successful we hope to have secured, either in actual receipts or in letters pledging support, sufficient endorsements to convince the Committee of the community's interest and to assure them that the football venture will not become a financial burden to an already stressed school budget. This is where the potential for your organization to assist us past this critical funding issue becomes so important. Our budget just to get the youngsters playing is in excess of $12,000 with total first year costs expected to be around $18,000. We are hopeful that you can support us with a donation, be it financial or services in kind. Checks can be made payable to EFFA and mailed to the address below. As you can see, our window of opportunity is very brief, and the EFFA is working very hard to be ready. I standby by ready to provide you with any other information you may require. Here's hoping to hear from you very soon. Thank you for your support in this community effort! Sincerely, Bruce A. Gordon, President Robert Graham, Sr., Vice President Return to top
August 11, 1998 • What are We Trying to Accomplish? High school football, school sanctioned, playing at the sub-varsity level for first two years, with Varsity team in third year competing for title! City recreation level teams for 4-5-6 grade and 7-8 grade developed to start in 1999. Option 1: First two years play full Independent schedule of 10 - 11 games, Pioneer Valley Conference, using open slots from two schools without j.v. team. Varsity team year three.
Option 2: First year a combination of development time and half schedule. Still maintain school sanction and games are registered as independent schedule. Play at “extramural” level against small school subvarsity such as Williston, Deerfield Academy, etc.
Option 3: Use the year entirely for organizing, making sure all of the details are presented and covered. Do not play any games at all, even “club” level. “Club” level not practical as no others available for scheduling.
What Will it do for Our School?
How Will it Help Our Community?
What is the Time Frame?
How Will it be Paid for?
Who are the Supporters?
How do We Plan to Get the Word Out?
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August 12, 1998 • Dear Friends,
What Will it do for Our School?
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