The Eagles defense held the Vikings to three first downs.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

HUBBARD — Hubbard High’s first-year football coach Brian Hoffman was happy to see his Eagles bounce back.

But Hoffman was quick to remind his team Friday that they still have a long way to go this season.

The Eagles, coming off a loss against Howland, put together a good defensive effort and rolled past LaBrae, 30-7, in their Trumbull Athletic Conference opener.

Hubbard (2-2, 1-0 TAC) jumped out to a 17-0 lead on the Vikings (2-2, 0-1 TAC) and never looked back.

“It was a much better effort tonight,” Hoffman said. “We put together a very good defensive effort and we tackled much better, something we didn’t do very well a week ago.

“I think that our depth made a difference since we were able to keep fresh players in the game while LaBrae was pretty much forced to go both ways with most of their players,” Hoffman said. “They are a good football team and very well coached.”

Vikings a young team

LaBrae head coach Bill Bohren knows that his time is coming.

“This is a very young football team, we’ll have everybody back again next year and these kids are going to be very good,” Bohren said.

“I told them that all I expect from them is to go out each week and play as hard as they can and I’ll take whatever the results,” Bohren said.

Neither team was outstanding offensively, but the Eagles managed to come up with more big plays than the Vikings.

Hubbard’s best drive might have been its first one when the Eagles marched from their own 31 down to the Vikings 1-yard line, but when the drive stalled John Madeline came on to kick a 20-yard field goal.

The Eagles wasted little time on their second drive as senior quarterback Marc Kanetsky fired a perfect pass over the middle on the first play to Mike Carnahan, who never broke stride on a 62-yard scoring play.

First turnover

Hubbard’s Dom Dionisio recovered a LaBrae fumble late in the first quarter at the Vikings 48 yard line. Five plays later, Andre Taylor took the direct snap and raced 10 yards around end for the score.

LaBrae, which had managed just one first down in its first three possessions, finally got on the board thanks to the speed of junior tailback Cameron Truss.

Truss took a pitch, skirted his right end and broke down the sidelines on a 70-yard jaunt for the Vikings only touchdown of the contest.

The Eagles added another score just before intermission on the arm of Kanetsky.

The senior completed five passes in the 65-yard drive, the final one for 27-yards and the touchdown to senior Marcus Coonce.

The third quarter was all defense as neither team produced much offense and there was only one first down by either team in the quarter.

Gamble turns costly

LaBrae gambled on fourth down from its own 47 and punter Andrew Frederick tried to pass, but was intercepted by Carnahan.

Hubbard moved down to the Vikings 7-yard line, but a 23-yard field goal attempt was thwarted when the snap from center sailed over the head of holder Matt Shelton.

The Eagles put on one more drive to open the final quarter driving 59 yards again with Kanetsky connecting on four passes.

Taylor had a 25-yard touchdown run nullified by a penalty, but then following two Kanetsky passes, Robert Wigfall scampered seven yards, diving into the end zone for the touchdown.

Kanetsky finished 12-of-23 for 136 yards and a touchdown and was 8-of-11 for 95 yards in the first half.

LaBrae finished with 130 yards rushing, but 70 of them came on the one touchdown run by Truss.

The Vikings did not get a first down in the second half.

mollica@vindy.com