Turkey Bowl 2022

Pats look to regain Beacon Bowl title

By ALEX SPONSELLER

Last Thanksgiving was a bit different for Beacon Bowl participants, as the Johnston football team traveled to Warwick to play for Toll Gate, who pulled out days before the contest.

The Panthers would pull off the upset, taking the 2021 event and bringing the inaugural Beacon Bowl trophy back home to Johnston.

Toll Gate has made its return to the big game this fall, and the Pats are looking forward to extending their win streak over their crosstown rival on Turkey Day. The series is tied 2-2, with the Pats winning the previous two matchups.

“I am super excited about it and feel that it is going to be a good game. We weren’t able to play each other last year, so I think that it is going to be a physical game. They’re going to be looking for a win since we’ve won the past couple of years,” said Pilgrim captain Luke Corcoran.

“I’m just happy to be back against Toll Gate. We’re supposed to play Toll Gate, it’s a tradition,” added fellow senior captain Matt Santos.

Although the Pats got some revenge when they beat the Panthers this regular season, and will be playing the Titans, head coach Blake Simpson is fired up to get back out there and send this year’s club off on a better note.

“It leaves a bad taste in your mouth the way the senior class went out. They were such a great group of kids, such a great core with those leaders. It hurt to see them have their last game be a loss, so we’re looking forward to hosting Toll Gate and hopefully getting a W,” said Simpson.

Corcoran is also hoping to finish his high school career strong.

“It’s definitely bittersweet. I didn’t play any football before high school, but I love the team and am sad to see the end of it,” said Corcoran.

Pilgrim’s Carter Clifton hands off to Matt Santos. (Photo by Mike Zawistoski)

Titans happy to be back in Beacon Bowl

By ALEX SPONSELLER

After missing out on the chance to play Thanksgiving last year, the Toll Gate football team is back in 2022 and looking to pull off an upset against the rival Patriots.

Toll Gate was winless in a rebuilding season this fall but likes its chances against Pilgrim despite its record.

“I’m super excited for the rivalry. I think we can definitely pull something out and achieve what we want to do. Neither of us the standout season we expected. It affects me more because it’s my senior year, it gives me one more chance to go up again my rival

school and ball out,” said Toll Gate senior Zach DeCorpo.

“I’m extremely excited. It’s doable this year, we can actually win because last year in the playoffs it didn’t go as planned. This year we have a real shot at upsetting them,” added Toll Gate quarterback Jacob Vann. DeCorpo, who plays in all three phases for the Titans, believes that playing dynamic offense and tough defense will be key in getting the Turkey Day win.

“Our offense needs to be more potent and stand out more while our defense needs more grit,” said DeCorpo.

Vann is looking forward to experiencing Thanksgiving football after missing out the past two years.

“It’s amazing. Not every school gets to play on thanksgiving and I really want to be a part of it. I haven’t been able to the past two years,” said Vann. The signal caller is also excited to get one last chance to beat the Pats and take the Beacon Bowl lead, as the record sits at 2-2.

“Off the field, there is going to be that rivalry no matter what sport. On the field it’s a rivalry because we want to win, we have friends that play for the other team. You want to win,” said Vann.

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never failing, but in rising again after you fall.”

~Vince Lombardi

all our High School

Falcons ready to extend Turkey Day win streak

By ALEX SPONSELLER

The Cranston West football team is coming off a playoff run and is carrying much momentum into this year’s Thanksgiving matchup against the rival Thunderbolts of Cranston East.

After a few years of the Bolts being on top, the balance of power has shifted back in West’s favor, with the Falcons riding a multigame win streak into Turkey Day. The current series is tied 24-24, so this year’s event is more important than ever.

The West seniors have one goal in mind: Win, and have fun doing it.

“We’re looking to come out and get another win this year. This game means a lot to the city of Cranston, so it means a lot to us to come out, play hard and finish our high school career,” said captain Marcus Chung.

“Hopefully we can come out here and take the series lead,” added senior captain Dimitri LeBlanc.

Domenic Schiavulli is also looking forward to playing in front of a packed house and to celebrate the holiday with the community.

“Hopefully we come out here, play for the fans, play for us, and put on a show,” said Schiavulli. “There are so many people there, the energy is different, it’s not like any other game. The energy is high, everybody is excited and you get to spend time with your family after. Nothing better than that.”

Bolts hope to get back into win column

By ALEX SPONSELLER

The Cranston East football team is looking to get back on top this Thanksgiving, as the rival Falcons have pieced together a win streak and tied the overall series record. East had a chance to win last year, but the Falcons would piece together a late comeback victory.

The Bolts had a down fall season and are looking to make a statement by seasons end.

“We’re hungrier than ever letting up a loss like (last year). We have something to prove this year and even

not having a good year this season, we have a chip on our shoulders,” said East captain Tommy Roche.

Stopping the West rushing attack, particularly standout Marcus Chung, will be key on the field, according to East’s Brady Kitterick.

“They’ve got Marcus Chung, he’s quick. We’ve got to run to the ball, get hats on the ball, tackling, that’s what we’ve got to do,” said Kitterick.

Although winning is a goal of the Bolts, so is having fun and enjoying the holiday atmosphere.

“You aren’t going to get a crowd like that anywhere

else. It’s a historic rivalry. The whole city comes together and whatever happens on the field, happens on the field. Then everyone comes together to celebrate,” said East’s Peyton Ginolfi.

Fellow senior Nachbi Chery is also looking forward to hitting the field one last time with this core.

“With everyone here, we’ve been here since freshman year, we’ve been here through Covid, we’ve been here through everything. This last game means a lot to us,” said Chery.

“I am thankful for the Pilgrim football program. I started out my freshman year in 2004 and to come around as an assistant and to now be the head coach, I am definitely thankful for that. I am thankful for the team, thankful for my family, my wife and my dog.”

“The biggest thing that I’m thankful for are the lessons that you learn. From being involved in the game, being part of a team, the friendships that you develop, all of those kind of things. It’s a very unique sport, it’s very difficult to play football. It requires a lot of commitment and you have to appreciate the guys that do.”

“For me, it’s about getting together with the kids, teaching them about community and camaraderie. Football is the best team sport. Eleven men working for one thing. I am thankful to be able to work with these guys, they’ve worked hard, and it’s good to see them and how they develop outside the X’s and O’s. I’m thankful to be out here with them.”

“I’m thankful for football for the relationships that it has garnered me throughout life. Some of my best friends are the ones that I grew up playing football with. Not only that, but to be able to coach young men and watch them develop into men, have families of their own, smile, come back around and talk about the good old times, that’s why I’m thankful for football.”

Blake Simpson Pilgrim Head Coach

Jim Miceli Toll Gate Head Coach

Tom Milewski West Head Coach

Isaiah McDaniel East Head Coach

(Photo courtesy of URI)

Ginolfi - East

Domenic Schiavulli - West

Nachbi Chery - East

Dimitri LeBlanc - West

Vann - Toll Gate

Toll Gate Titans Pilgrim Patriots

Jacob Soulliere

Jack Coffie

Justyn Murphy

Cole Bigelli

Andrew Vicino

John Kelly

Amari Matthews

Carter Clifton

Matthew Santos

Chace Roberts

Luka Ruscio

Colin Burke

Josh Escamilla

Kary Baptiste

Vitchai Kong

Christopher Cronin

Lawrence Robinson

Evan Nolan

Alexander I. Pinheiro

Rian Ogni

Giovanni De Melo

Hunter Schobel

Dylan Rodrigues

Ryan Motta

Tristan Miller

Austin Tate

Louis Gauthier

Noah Wyman

Ty Devine

Dylan Roberts

Jayden McGowan

Devin Peterson

Noah Smiley

Marcello Restituyo

Donovan Watts

Julius Castro

Jacob DeGrasse

Thomas McCaffrey

Aydan Amaral

Andreas Filippou

Isaac Iannone

Nicholas Pirraglia

Raymond Facente

Evan Kaya

Alex Earle

Alejandro Marino

Brandon Wolfenden

Luke Corcoran

Jeffrey Lyons

Kenneth Irizarry

Joseph Nardolillo

Chris Maniatakos

Isaac Delgado

Brady Highcove

Trevor Petrozzi

Joshua Mihalos

Zackary Tate

Lucas Johnson

Cole Menning

Marcos Ramirez

John Ricci

Nicholas Bruner

Andrew Bacon

Anthony Lee-smith

Kason Wirtz

Ryan Fracassa

Anthony Merola

Christian Boudreau

Jack Colvin

Matthew Zegarzewski

Jayden Pina

Jacob Vann

Jonathan Almeida

Brayden Healey

Jonah Mattiello

Evan Burnham

Roman Abatiello

Annrew Francis

Karl Volk

Shane Moro

Austin Wheeler

Sean Anderson

Jack Larrivee

Queliel Rivera

Glenn Marmol

Anthony Bonang

Devin Kelly

Conor Finegan

Joseph McCormick

Alberto Garcia

Stephen Amargo

Benjamin Berry

Jackson Kavanagh

Jonah Townsend

Rocco Coccio

Brady Leigh

Nathan Gamba

Thaddeus Kraus

Devyn Turner

Noah Durand

Jordan Wilding

Tyrisse Volmar

Kyle Jeranka

Jacob Arthurs

Devin Manzo

Ryan Reid

Logan Legault

Ryan Waleryszak

Zachary DeCorpo

Desmond Smith

Jorden Capuano

Dariel Guzman

Joseph Taber

Christian Mouritsen

Cranston West Falcons Cranston East Thunderbolts

Marcus Chung

Noah Ciceron

Kelan Cornell

Aidan Royal

Lorenzo Giaccarini

Domenic Schiavulli

Jack Majcher

Dylen Gorman

Matthew DeFusco

Hudson Carvalho

Samuel Picillo

Mikey Barlow

Aryan Tanwar

Dimitri LeBlanc

Braydan Stetson

Raymond Mahoney

Adrian Samayoa

Thomas Pilderian

Steven Girouard

Anthony Cambio

Brayden D’Attilio

Richard Thomas Tierney

Daniel Negalha

Evan Sao

Dylan Cicchitelli

Zachary Petrella

Andrew Alchihed

Aidan Merhi

Dean Gaulin

Derek Rocchio

Jared Parent

Cameron DiCenzo

Luis Torres

Angelo Capaldi

John Quattrocchi

Adam Stoloff

Justin Amaral

Jack Barboza

Edwin Batista

Emanuel Daluz

Nathan Daluz

Anthony Desjarlais

Jason DiGiovanni

Angel Figueroa

Angell Garcia

Gio Gonsalves

Valentino Gonzalez

Ivan Lama

Darian Marines

Sean Mendonca

Miguel Nunez

Ethan Peloquin

Jamil Rodriguez

Romeo Rodriguez

Carlos Salas Arriaza

Jamani Taveras

Naz Milien

Romeo Cordero

Nachbi Chery

Antonello Lucchetti

Jacob Lavalas

A’driahn Foreman

Da’Qwon Foster

Esaie Romain

Jayden Chagnon

Alexondrae Jones

Kale Benton

David White

Juan Carrion

James Low

Xavier Grundy

Michael Terry

Elijah Belmont

Nicholas Pappas

Anthony Hernandez

Enmanuel Morillo

Josiah Everette

Peyton Ginolfi

Adon Juarez

Donte Grossett

Hector Peguero

Stanton Moretti

Dekontee Boylowlu

Alexis Franco

Tim Calixto

Jordan Knowles

Blake Johnson

Thomas Henin

Jensy Rodriguez

DionAndre Brown

Isaiah Pina

Ethan Nhar

Davon Ross

Zachary Soucy

Thomas Roche

Brady Kitterick

AleSandro Duffy-Matos