CHESHIRE -- Travis Manning cradled what he estimated as a 20-pound trophy and grunted as he shifted it from one hand to the other.
Austin Alibozek had Manning's helmet in his left hand, his own in the right.
"Here, you carry this," Manning said to the running back, who he shared the Mike Rysz Award trophy with on Saturday afternoon. "It's heavy."
During a 47-12 win over Drury, every one of the Hurricanes shared the heavy lifting.
It seemed only fitting that one of the most prestigious awards that the Hoosac football team hands out each year went to multiple players.
Hoosac could have picked from an array of players without raising much of an argument.
"You have to tip your hats to them," Drury coach Bill Bryce said. "Their offensive line, their running backs, their defense, their coaching staff. They're a fine-tuned machine."
The Hurricanes romped in their rivalry game, beating Drury in a regular-season game for the first time in six years. They ended the Blue Devils' season, handing their North County compatriot its third consecutive loss and handing Lee High School the third and final county playoff spot. And Hoosac finished its first unbeaten regular-season since 1992, showcasing just about every weapon in its arsenal.
Nick Bourdon, who didn't need to throw for much of the year, appeared sharp. Jeff Popielarczyk looked dangerous on kick returns, and Corey Meczywor blocked a
And of course, there were the Hoosac trademarks.
The tough defense, led by middle linebacker Manning, forced two turnovers and the rugged running game, keyed by the offensive line and the inside running of Alibozek, rushed 45 times for 312 yards. Their individual efforts earned them the bulky trophy, which goes to the senior MVP from Hoosac.
Both players agreed that the first county championship game that they'll play at home was the season's biggest reward, bigger even than their hefty baggage.
"Being unbeaten in the county, for sure," Alibozek said. "But we can't get cocky. We need to stay focused on our next game -- which is the county championship."
Manning carried six times for 66 yards and caught two passes for 33 yards, scoring twice. Alibozek rushed 18 times for 99 yards, nearly always up the middle, softening the edges for the rest of the Hurricanes, who had nine different players carry the ball and six score touchdowns. Alibozek scored a touchdown and added a two-point conversion.
Hoosac has outscored its opponents this season 308-32.
"Absolutely," Drury quarterback Mike Tatro said when asked if Hoosac was as good as advertised. "Even better. They click on all cylinders."
After consecutive three-and-outs to open the game, Hoosac took control on its second drive, marching 95 yards on nine plays and picking up five first downs. Travis Manning's 42-yard run was the big play of the drive and Manning finished things off by running it in from the 4.
On Hoosac's next possession, the Hurricanes appeared to have been stopped, but a roughing the kicker penalty extended the drive and Hoosac took the ball 50 yards in five plays, with Justin Pelczynski running the ball in from the 20.
From there, the rout was on.
Hoosac led 20-0 at the half and then forced turnovers on Drury's first two possesions in the second half, taking advantage with four second-half rushing touchdowns.
To an outsider, Hoosac's afternoon seemed just about perfect, all the way down to the unseasonably warm temperatures that made thing even more enjoyable for the fans overflowing the bleachers on Hoosac's side of the field.
The Hurricanes, though, with two weeks until they'll host the Berkshire County championship, focused on finding enough wrong to work on until their finale.
"The 12 points we can work on," Manning said.
Drury's dozen did mark the most the Hoosac defense had surrendered this season.
Drury broke two big plays for touchdowns, a 58-yard run from quarterback Mike Tatro and an 80-yard burst from Mike Cantoni -- who earned Drury's Fran Millard Award, its version of the Rysz.
The Blue Devils, though, collected just 50 yards outside those two runs and by the time the Hurricanes allowed any points the score was 40-0, and the final result had long been determined.
The Hurricanes had already worn the Blue Devils down and knocked them out. Shortly after his touchdown run Cantoni lowered himself to one knee, too exhausted to even approach the Drury team huddle that was held 10 yards away.
For Hoosac coach John Duval, it marks the high point in his three years as coach, which he's spent working to rebuild the ‘Canes into a traditional powerhouse.
"For three years this is what our coaches have been working for," said Duval, an assistant with the 1992 team that was the most recent to go unbeaten. "It's been too long."
To reach Chris Carlson: ccarlson@berkshireeagle.com, (413) 496-6251.
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