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Following a fairly quiet first half from the Blue Devils, they exploded for 35 points in the second half to take down Groton, 43-6, for their first win of the season. 

It was an eventful night for Moravia head coach Fred Ott. Not only was it a home opener on a new field, but his team responded overwhelmingly to adversity.

"Hats off to Groton, I thought they had a good game plan," he told мÓƶà¶à¿ª½±¼Ç¼ after the game.

"They played us really well, we just shot ourselves in the foot quite a bit there in that first half. We were a different team that second half, played a lot better. Hats off to the defense. They really played well. We held them really well all night, which is great to see. We got Friday night lights going on, opening up the turf and getting a win against Groton is really big."

Defense dominated the first quarter of the matchup as both teams struggled to gain any momentum on the ground. The Blue Devils found some success through the air, but were unable to come away with any points to show for it. 

However, Hunter Boynton would hit pay dirt for Moravia for the first time ever on its new field with a 2-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Blue Devils an 8-0 lead after they scored on a 2-point conversion to Joe Baylor.

Given the chippiness that can come with a rivalry like Moravia's against Groton, and having played with some of his opponents in youth football, Boynton was proud of what he and his team showed.

"It felt great to score the first ever touchdown on the new field," he told мÓƶà¶à¿ª½±¼Ç¼. "They were talking so much crap to us the whole week, and it just feels great to come out and beat them."

After forcing a turnover on downs to open up the second half, the Blue Devils' offense built their lead to 14 with a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Riley Jones. Groton eventually found the end zone toward the close of the third quarter, but it was unable to trim its deficit to 6 after a failed 2-point attempt. 

Boynton responded on the ground for Moravia at the beginning of the fourth quarter with his second rushing touchdown of the game. The Blue Devils took a 15-point lead following an extra point from Baylor, but they weren't done yet.

With his one catch on the day, Boynton took it 52 yards to the house to erupt the Blue Devils' bleachers and give his team a 21-point advantage.

"(Boynton's) kind of a small guy, but he plays with one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen," Ott said. "Plays really tough, one of the toughest kids I have on the team. He's a firecracker, he's a captain, he gets the team going, he'll give us everything he's got every play and I think that's what he brings every game."

Moravia then slammed the door shut on the now 3-1 Red Hawks with a pair of touchdowns in the final five minutes of the matchup.

The Blue Devils' defense held Groton to just 79 yards of offense, while their own offense earned 289. Noah Corbett and Ethan DeHart led Moravia with 10 tackles apiece.

Offensively, Boynton rushed five times for 69 yards and two touchdowns, while Dillion Palmer rushed once for 27 yards and a score. Baylor and Jones combined for seven catches and 123 yards. Playing under center, Thomas Palmer threw for 123 yards and one touchdown.

Coming off of the Blue Devils' first Section IV title and state championship appearance ever last season, Ott was happy to see that support pour over to a new season — and a new field. 

"I don't know how many people were here, but it looked like a lot," Ott said. "I just think everyone likes Friday night lights, that's what high school football's about. I'm thankful for everyone in the community that made this happen, and it's so great to play under the lights on Friday."