Pinkney sets records as Putnam wins Super Bowl over Commerce

WESTFIELD — Melquan Pinkney set Western Massachusetts records for most rushing yards and most touchdowns in a season as Putnam defeated cross-town rival Commerce 48-6 in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Super Bowl at Westfield State University (WSU) on Dec. 3.

Pinkney finished the game with 341 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the game, the third consecutive game he rushed for over 200 yards. His 2,899 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns on the year surpassed the previous marks set by former Holyoke star Cedric Washington and boosted him over 4,000 yards for his career.

Commerce took an early lead on a 74-yard pass from Dayvon Williams to Tevin Jones, but it was all Putnam after that.

Pinkney set the touchdown record on a 30-yard run, then Rishawn Harris scored on a 31-yard pass from Elizer Vazquez to give the Beavers a lead it would never relinquish.

Vazquez was efficient in the game, completing eight of his 10 pass attempts for 140 yards and four touchdowns. Harris caught two of Vazquez’s touchdown passes and hauled in another from Jordan Almore. Travis Frazer and Alex Perez also scored for Putnam.

The Beavers’ defense was stifling, holding Commerce to negative-34 yards on the ground.

Williams was 10-for-15 passing for 193 yards and a touchdown for Commerce, but he also threw two interceptions. Jones caught three passes for 83 yards and a score.

Central falls to Longmeadow

FOXBORO — Longmeadow quarterback Frankie Elder exploded for 212 total yards — 123 rushing, 89 passing — and three touchdowns to lead the Lancers to a 35-7 rout of Central in the first Western Massachusetts Division 1 Super Bowl ever to be played at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 3.

Elder hit T.J. Norris with a 14-yard pass to open the scoring in the first quarter, then added an 11-yard run to pay dirt in the second before Central’s Sacoy Malone scored on a 29-yard pass from Cody Williams to keep the game close at halftime.

But Elder and the Lancers were too much for the Eagles. Elder’s 40-yard pass to Dylan Kelleher pushed the Longmeadow lead back to two scores in the third quarter and Norris and Elder put the game away with fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns.

Elder did not misfire on a single pass, completing all five of his attempts, and averaged an impressive 7.7 yards per carry.

Williams led the Eagles with 103 passing yards and a touchdown, while Malone finished with 74 all-purpose yards.

Elms athletes collect for the needy

CHICOPEE — The Elms College community and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee donated over 700 pounds of food to local food pantries with approximately 500 pounds going to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in Chicopee, and 200 pounds to Gray House in Springfield during its eighth annual fall food drive feeding upwards of 300 people during the months of October and November. Nevertheless, the need for our continued support still exists and together we can help make a difference to those less fortunate. The Elms encourages everyone to consider donating canned goods to these local food pantries during the upcoming holiday season.

D’Amours leads Keene in loss

SPRINGFIELD — Derek D’Amours of Agawam led the Keene State men’s basketball team with 15 points, but the Owls fell to Springfield College 85-79 on Nov. 29.

Cox victorious in WSU win

WESTFIELD — Junior Katie Cox of South Hadley won the 1000-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly as the WSU women’s swimming and diving team beat Western New England 138-115 in its home opener on Nov. 30.

Sicard helps spark Golden Bears

SPRINGFIELD — Sophomore guard Shaylyn Sicard of Westfield had her best outing of the season with a game-high 10 rebounds along with seven points, six assists, and four steals as the Western New England women’s basketball team earned 63-52 victory over Gordon in the Commonwealth Coast Conference opener for both teams on Nov. 30.

Lafond helps from beyond the arc

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Senior guard Michelle Lafond of Holyoke scored nine points — all on three pointers — as the American International College women’s basketball team recorded a 55-45 Northeast-10 victory at Le Moyne College on Nov. 30.

Santiago’s helpers lead Elms

CHICOPEE — Sophomore guard Marisabel Santiago of Springfield dished out a game-high six assists as the Elms College women’s basketball team cruised past Bard College 71-31 on Dec. 3.

Gehring competes at GNAC invitational

Junior Mark Gehring of West Springfield registered a fourth-best time of 11:06.16 in the 1000-yard freestyle as the Elms College men’s swimming and diving team finished third at the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship/Invitational hosted by Simmons College.

Comments From Our Readers: