Football: Gavier Fernandez racks up 4 TDs in Amherst’s 31-12 win over Putnam

Staff Report

Published: 09-15-2024 1:03 PM

Gavier Fernandez racked up four touchdowns, and the Amherst football team got their 2024 season off on the right foot thanks to a 31-12 victory over Putnam on Saturday at Ted Plumb Field in Springfield.

The game was played with no spectators after Friday’s original game was postponed a day due to a social media threat.

Fernandez, Amherst’s second-year starting quarterback, also completed 9-of-10 passes and eclipsed the 200-yard mark through the air.

Fernandez started the action with a 16-yard TD run to help the 'Canes take a 6-0 lead after one quarter. He cashed in on two more rushing touchdowns in the second quarter as Amherst led 18-0 at intermission.

Putnam chipped away in the third quarter, scoring a pair of touchdowns to pull within 18-12, but Fernandez connected with Tre Bowman on a 60-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to make it 25-12.

Bowman put things away for good in the fourth quarter, intercepting a Putnam pass and returning it 95 yards for a touchdown to put a bow on a 31-12 victory.

Brady Klaes added 11 carries for 60 yards in the win for Amherst, which moved to 1-0 on the season ahead of this week’s massive game against powerhouse Westfield.

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