Waterford — Waterford coach Zeth Nolda challenged his football team during the week after a lopsided season-opening loss.

The Lancers responded.

Controlling the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II game from start to finish, they ran over Montville, 47-14, behind a potent running game and opportunistic defense that accounted for two touchdowns.

The victory came a week after losing to Notre Dame-Fairfield, 60-32.

“It was very important to have a bounce back game,” Nolda said.

The Lancers made no secret about their intentions.

They ran right. They ran left. And they ran right up the middle.

Quarterback Jax Higgins and running back Brady Sutman, two juniors, combined for almost 300 yards rushing.

“That was something we were trying to focus on this week,” Nolda said of the running game. “We executed well.”

Sutman scored a 45-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game and finished with 213 yards, and added a second touchdown run that went for 79 yards. Higgins rushed for 77 yards and also threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Noah Westcott.

“Brady is definitely a top running back in the ECC,” Higgins said. “I would watch out for him because he’s a stud. More to come from him.”

The defense also did its part.

Westkott and Devon Powers returned interceptions for touchdowns, covering 38 and 47 yards, respectively.

“It was very nice after last week,” Nolda said. “Our defense came back and responded.”

Waterford seized the momentum right from the start.

Less than three minutes into the game, the Lancers led 14-0.

Sutman broke free for a 45-yard scoring scamper on his team’s first series.

On Montville’s next play, Westcott alertly picked off Aidan Johnson and took the interception 38 yards for a touchdown.

And the Lancers were off and running, building a 27-7 lead by halftime.

Senior Quinn Speller capped a second-half opening drive with a four-yard TD run to extend the lead.

Waterford cruised home from there.

“Throughout practice this week the topic was, it’s personal,” Higgins said. “We just wanted to bounce back from last week and our guys pulled through. Especially the guys up front. … I didn’t have the best game. But the other guys did a phenomenal job. I’m just excited to see what we can do this year.”

Montville (1-1) showed some flashes of potential.

Johnson, a junior, accounted for two touchdowns — a 1-yard run and a 2-yard scoring strike to sophomore Izayah Yard.

It was another valuable learning experience for a young Montville team.

“Kids competed,” Wolves coach Tanner Grove said. “We’re a very young group right now. We’re finding our way. The thing about playing underclass kids and freshmen on Friday night is, they’re going to be great one week and they’re going to be really bad the next week.

“We’re trying to help them navigate that piece of just playing consistently.”

g.keefe@theday.com