Turkey Bowl 2012

RIVALRIES THROUGH THE YEARS

TURKEY BOWL 2012 WARWICK BEACON & CRANSTON HERALD

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TURKEY BOWL

WE RE GOING OLD SCHOOL It’s a special time for Thanksgiving football in these parts.

Pilgrim and Warwick Vets will play for the 50th time this year, while Cranston East and Cranston West are meeting for the 40th time. Hendricken and Toll Gate reached their 40th anniversary last year and will start a new decade this season.

To commemorate the occasion, we’re looking back.

Our “How it Began” series highlights the first game in each of our Thanksgiving rivalries, with plenty of memories from the people who lived it. We’re also going “Through the Years,” with timelines spotlighting some of the most memorable games in series history.

To tie it all in with the present, we’re focusing on a current player who embodies the old-school qualities that make football special, from workhorse running backs to seniors who didn’t pack it in when times got tough, from hard-nosed defenders to players who can do it all. And as always, we’re previewing the current games, which will provide another chapter in these storied rivalries.

So Happy Aniversary, Warwick and Cranston. You’ve given us some great football.

Here’s to another special year.

- William Geoghegan and Kevin Pomeroy

CONTENTS

4. HOW IT BEGAN: PILGRIM VS. VETS 5. THROUGH THE YEARS: PILGRIM VS. VETS 6. VETS TEAM PAGE 7. PILGRIM TEAM PAGE 8. CRANSTON EAST TEAM PAGE 9. CRANSTON WEST TEAM PAGE 10. GAME PREVIEWS 11. GAME PREVIEWS 12. TOLL GATE TEAM PAGE 13. HENDRICKEN TEAM PAGE 14. HOW IT BEGAN: EAST VS. WEST 15. THROUGH THE YEARS: EAST VS. WEST 16. HOW IT BEGAN: TOLL GATE VS. HENDRICKEN 17. THROUGH THE YEARS: TOLL GATE VS. HENDRICKEN 18. THANKSGIVING SCENES 19. SERIES HISTORY

TURKEY BOWL

WE’RE TALKIN’ TURKEY (AND FOOTBALL) Tune in to the Football Focus Podcast Brought to you by Tommy’s Pizza Too warwickonline.com cranstononline.com Thanksgiving edition online Tuesday, Nov. 20

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TURKEY BOWL HOW IT BEGAN Warwick Vets 33, Pilgrim 6 - November 28, 1963

The way Bob Padula remembers, Pilgrim started it.

Some of the Patriots spray-painted trash talk on tackling sleds and other equipment at Vets the week before Thanksgiving. The next day, Vets players retaliated by smashing pumpkins on Pilgrim's equipment.

"The feelings were running high," Padula said.

It was no surprise. The Thanksgiving Day football game in 1963 may have been the first meeting between Warwick Vets and Pilgrim - but the rivalry certainly didn't need training wheels.

In 1962, every high school student in Warwick attended Vets. The school day was split into double sessions to accommodate the nearly 5,000 students.

Pilgrim opened in 1963, and the student population was cut in half.

So was the football team.

On Thanksgiving, the two halves met. Like brothers with a competitive streak, the teams didn't have soft spots for each other. It was as natural a rivalry as anyone could hope to create.

"It was a very unique thing," said Padula, a Vets captain. "It was quite a rivalry, not because we had played each other but because we all knew each other. I think that's what really started the initial rivalry. We were all so close."

While the players don't know each other quite so well now, the rivalry has endured for 50 years, and it remains one of the fiercest and most competitive in the state. It's the fourth-oldest Thanksgiving rivalry in Rhode Island.

The first game provided the roots. Vets won 33-6 in front of a crowd that packed the bleachers and ringed the field. All-State running back Bill Bjerke scored four touchdowns.

Bjerke still lives in Warwick and has vivid memories of his big game. He was chasing the state scoring title and was neck-and-neck with Rufus Brackley of

East Greenwich. Brackley also scored four touchdowns on Thanksgiving, but Bjerke kicked extra points, which put him over the top.

"He thought he had it wrapped up, but I was fortunate to have a great game," Bjerke said. "It was a lot of fun."

Bjerke and the Hurricanes ran over a Pilgrim team that was starting young players at some key positions. They led 13-0 at halftime and added three scores after the break. Ray Haerry had the other Vets touchdown. Wayne Wildes had Pilgrim's only score.

"We had a very good running game," Bjerke said.

"We had a great offensive line, so we were able to run up the middle, and we also ran a lot of end-arounds."

And on Thanksgiving, with the budding rivalry providing some extra juice, it worked.

"It was tough to line up against a friend and want to tear his head off," Padula said. "But once you get out there, it's a game. The butterflies are out and you're there to win."

Both Padula and Bjerke still keep in touch with many of their former teammates - and some of the teammates who ended up at Pilgrim. When they get together, talk always turns to football.

"We drop right back to 1963," Bjerke said.

Sometimes, they talk about what might have been.

If the schools had been split a year later, the 1963 Vets team might have been the best in the state.

"I think we would have been state champs," Padula said.

Instead, they ushered in the birth of a tremendous rivalry - not a bad consolation prize.

"You're living in the moment and you're not thinking about the future," Padula said. "But to see it go on for 50 years is pretty special."

And those roots still run deep.

"Let's hope it's another good year for Warwick," Bjerke said. - William Geoghegan

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TURKEY BOWL

THROUGH THE YEARS: PILGRIM VS. VETS

2010

Winless Pilgrim pulls off the biggest upset in series history, shocking a firstplace Vets team with a 7-6 victory.

One of the most competitive stretches in series history features five straight games decided by six points or less.

2007

After two straight victories, Vets makes it three in style with a 36-0 romp, which still stands as its largest margin of victory in the series.

1990

1987 The only tie in series history is a defensive battle, as the Pats and 'Canes play to a 0-0 draw.

Vets star quarterback Bob Bentsen throws six touchdown passes as the 'Canes roll past Pilgrim 42-13.

1982-86 Pilgrim makes a goal-line stand to end the game and clinch a 20-13 victory, its second in a row.

1980 1968

1963

2008

After getting shut-out in four consecutive meetings, Vets edges Pilgrim 21-20 for its second win in the series.

Pilgrim sets a record for most points scored and its largest margin of victory in the series with a 41-6 win.

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ROSTER Thomas Galligan Anthony Lonczak Andrew Sjodahl Mickenzey Pacheco Timothy Hogan Jessie Sedoma Andrew Simons Jared Pelliccio TJ Boyajian Sean Suzedelis Collin Holton Carter Thomas Jacob Pelletier Dennis Scalzo Jamie Buteau Dante Crosby David MacDonald Bruno Parente Casey Beauregard Max Andrade John McNally Connor Thompson Brendan Daniels Nathan Brotman Aaron Gordon George Schmeider Ricky Antonio Khiet Pham Oliver Sylvestre Kyle Morrissette Jeremy Morrissette Chris Ferland Luke Cardillo Alexander Andrade Michael Angell Nicholas Beaufort Matthew Boulet Tyler Buchanan John Carroll Chris Conley Edward Fera Jason Garganese Joshua Ginaitt Thomas Gonsalves Tristan Heng Jarrod Houle Tyler Housman Eric Howell Jacob Isaac Saif Izhar Jonathan Masse Ryan Nehiley Cory Orourke Christopher Reid Denius Simpson

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MacDonald’s intensity powers Vets defense If they didn't know already, the players and coaches on the Warwick Vets football team found out exactly what junior linebacker David MacDonald meant to the team in a pair of September games.

Both MacDonald and fellow linebacker Dennis Scalzo missed the Woonsocket and Coventry games with injury, and the 'Canes lost those two games by a combined score of 75-14. It was no coincidence - the 'Canes missed their talent, but they also missed MacDonald's intensity. He paced the sidelines in the Woonsocket game, trying to fire his team up. But it wasn't the same.

"You could see it," said coach Bryan Nappa.

"It was evident. We had a couple of young guys getting their first opportunity to play, and the team was really missing David's energy out there."

Thankfully for the 'Canes, they didn't have to miss it for much longer. MacDonald returned to the lineup for the Chariho game and helped lead the 'Canes to a 22-13 victory, the beginning of a surge that kept Vets in the playoff picture until the final week of the season. The run included an upset win over Westerly, one that was sparked by a tremendous defensive effort.

MacDonald was in the middle of it, just as he was all year.

"What he brought to the table this year changed the tone of our defense, to more of a hard-nosed group," Nappa said. "He brought toughness that we've kind of been lacking the last couple of years."

MacDonald grew up in Cranston and started playing football with CLCF when he was just 6 years old. He moved to Warwick his freshman year and quickly found a home on the football field.

The intensity was there from the beginning.

"I don't know where it comes from, but I just love the game," MacDonald said. "I've been

DAVID MacDONALD playing since I was young and I feel like I've got to lead the team."

MacDonald earned a starting job as a sophomore, playing next to standout linebacker Nick Salois. With Salois lost to graduation, MacDonald took center stage this year and helped the Vets defense forge a new identity.

"Nick Salois was kind of the anchor of our defense last year and David had a good year as a sophomore, learning next to him," Nappa said. "He fed off that and he learned a lot from what Nick brought to the table. They have different styles. Nick uses his knowledge of the game, plays off his intuition. David is pure drive."

At 5-foot-7, 196 pounds, MacDonald fit perfectly into an inside linebacker spot. He also saw a lot of time at fullback and helped open holes for star running back T.J. Boyajian.

Wherever MacDonald was, his drive shined through, mirroring the efforts of his team. The

'Canes finished 3-4 in league play this year, more league wins than they had in the previous three years combined.

"It's been a big change this year," MacDonald said. "Everybody wants it, everybody's so hungry for it this year. We gave it our all, and it's been a great season."

The 'Canes will try to continue it on Thanksgiving. Last year, they sprung an upset of Pilgrim. This year, they'll be a favorite, but they know the Pats will be coming hard.

Vets has a formula for success, honed in the big wins over Chariho and Westerly. It's just about executing it.

Having MacDonald healthy and ready to go in the middle won't hurt either.

"We've just got to do our job, don't make any dumb mistakes," MacDonald said. "We need to play the game the way we've been playing it all year. If we do that, we'll win."

- W.G.

Head Coach: Bryan Nappa, Mike Nappa Assistants: Kevin Silva, Terry Siravo

RESULTS

PLAYER TO WATCH Tony Lonczak Senior TE/LB “He's done a lot for us both defensively and offensively. I know he's excited to end his career on a high note.”

- Bryan Nappa

League Record: 3-4 Overall Record: 4-6 Vets 38, PCD/Wheeler/JS 8 (Non-League) Vets 26, Toll Gate 6 Woonsocket 35, Vets 6 Coventry 40, Vets 8 Vets 22, Chariho 13 West Warwick 37, Vets 6 (Non-League) Vets 35, Westerly 20 Johnston 46, Vets 6 Mt. Hope 39, Vets 14 Rogers 45, Vets 12

TURKEY BOWL

OLD SCHOOL

ROSTER

Kelly making the most of big opportunity Mike Kelly was a solid contributor for the Pilgrim freshman team four years ago, but as a sophomore and junior, he hardly stepped onto the field for the varsity squad.

These days, players don't always come out the other side of situations like that. By their senior years, they're done with football.

But when summer practice started this year, Kelly was there. And when Pilgrim needed a running back to step up later in the season, Kelly was there again, asking what he had to do to get the chance.

"He's the kind of player who doesn't exist anymore," O'Connor said. "His freshman year, he played a lot on offense and defense.

His sophomore and junior year, he didn't see the field. Normally, kids quit and hang up their cleats at that point. He came to me halfway through his senior year and said, 'What do I need to do to get better?' There wasn't any blame, there wasn't any pointing any fingers. He just took it upon himself. I said, 'Once you learn the plays, you'll get some time. You get time, you prove it and you'll stay on the field.'"

And Kelly has certainly done that.

The senior running back started getting more and more carries as the year went on, and he emerged in Pilgrim's last few games as the team's top offensive option. The lateseason surge has been a welcome reward for Kelly's hard work.

"This year, I told myself it was going to be the biggest season since it's my senior year and everything," Kelly said. "All summer, I worked out and I made sure I was in shape."

Kelly didn't get an opportunity right off

the bat, but when he did, he ran with it.

"I talked to my coach and asked him to give me a chance," Kelly said. "He gave me a chance in practice and I ran good. The next day, I came to practice and they said, 'You're starting.'"

Kelly has been an important addition to the Pilgrim attack, which needed some playmakers. He's a straight-ahead runner, and if there's a hole, he can do some damage.

Kelly doesn't fit the mold of past Pilgrim running backs. In each of the previous two years, the Pats moved a lineman to running back and ran with a bruising style. Kelly isn't a big back but he has the mindset to fit right in.

"When I'm running, I just think it's me and the other person," Kelly said. "I don't think, 'I'm going to get stopped' or 'Oh, he's really big.' I just think I'm going to run through them hard no matter what."

It's working. Against Rogers, Kelly rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown. He led all rushers in the regular-season finale against Toll Gate, rushing for 89 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

"The more looks he gets, the better he gets," O'Connor said.

Kelly will try to keep the improvement going on Thanksgiving.

Whatever happens, he's just happy to have the chance.

"Nowadays, you see a lot of kids quit," O'Connor said. "They don't realize you have to earn your time on the field. He earned his time."

- W.G.

RESULTS League Record: 0-7 Overall Record: 0-10 Smithfield 33, Pilgrim 12 (Non-League) Shea 35, Pilgrim 0 North Kingstown 49, Pilgrim 14 Cetnral 47, Pilgrim 6 West Warwick 41, Pilgrim 6 Coventry 41, Pilgrim 14 (Non-League) Cumberland 43, Pilgrim 0 Rogers 40, Pilgrim 13 St. Raphael 34, Pilgrim 6 Toll Gate 28, Pilgrim 20 (Non-League()

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Robert Quaine Taylor Stringfellow Chris Fitta Robert Ciaramello Nick Burns Zachary Ponte Mike Turchetta Michael Kelly Davien Brown Jett Rison Jaden Dominski Craig Bacon Nathan Brice Michael Pereira Henry Cascella Oluwasean Akinnostu Gregory Birmingham Austin Lemire Daniel Johnston Robert Allen John Hudson Evan Broccoli Gage Potter Zachary Miller Griffin Potter Jacob McMullen Joe Borges Nadir Qudir Kevin Blanchette Steven Medeiros Derek Hernandez

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Head Coach: Tom O’Connor Assistants: James Stringfellow, Alex Torres, Bill King, Dan Ford, Jim Hovey

MIKE KELLY

PLAYER TO WATCH Gage Potter Senior TE “If he can block well and get a seam, a little hole for Mike Kelly, we'll be in good shape.”

- Tom O’Connor

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OLD SCHOOL

ROSTER Marven Beauvais Nicholas Ferry E. J. Isom Matthew Rodriguez Terry Thompson Kelvin Duran Darwin Portes Melvin Paniagua Matt Marshall Adrian Collum Tyler Sullo Alex Corvese Osa Suos Darrio Carter Jimmy Saab Logan Mcconaghy Cedric Kyei Daniel Cornelio Anayimi (Isi) Ayeni Marquem Monroe Brayan Diaz Jessy Taveras Armand Lucchetti Mario Negron Christopher Correia Brian Venditelli Matthew Huy Michael Castillo Johny Phonephanh Luis Lopez Joseph Coste Mike Wheelock Michael Baptista Danewrys Tejeda Jonathan Lopez Nicholas Ngourn Arian Bodden Edward McKeon Hansel Ventura Tyler Bast Leudis Delacruz Justin Scheer Tuti Wehjla Richie Vargas Bruce Soscia Onassis Martinez Carl Nordstrom Eric Gomes Eric Almonte Blake Doyon Matthew Corey Derek Mott Nick Sawaia Austin Stadelbauer Wandy Jimenez Kenny Irizarry David McCormick Jeremy Muinde-Pires Juan Sandoval Andrew Paquin Marc Kosinski Adam Habershaw Josh Santos Dale Rodriguez Greg Scott Michael Raspberry Dashesky Pena Taylor Provost Max Bloom Tyler Edwards Amir Pettiway Haval Sindi Hanfernee Fiallo Dillon Foss Santiago Nino

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Head Coach: Tom Centore Assistants: Michael Giblin, Isaiah McDaniel, Ken Simone, Jason Ward, Jeff Durand, Joe Madonna, Rafael Medina, Dan Perry

TURKEY BOWL

Ferry willing to do it all for Cranston East Wide receivers typically can't play through hand injuries, for obvious reasons.

If the injury is one that requires a soft cast for protection, forget it. Most receivers wouldn't even bother suiting up.

Nick Ferry isn't most receivers. The Cranston East senior hurt his hand in a lateseason game against La Salle. It wasn't broken but there was some nerve damage that would take a little time to heal. The next week, though, Ferry was in uniform against South Kingstown. His hand was in a cast but he was perfectly willing to perform one of his other many duties - he punted four times against the Rebels, which helped East win 23-17 in a game where field position was key.

"He's such a valuable weapon to us," said East head coach Tom Centore. "He's a great receiver, but that night, if he could just punt, that's what we needed. It was hard to catch the ball but he did it and he made some great punts for us."

It was all in a day's work for Ferry, who's became a jack of all trades in his time with the 'Bolts. He was a quarterback on his freshman team and a wide receiver the next year. He's played some running back and he's now one of the team's back-up quarterbacks. Last year, he started punting and he took on the job full-time this season. He could kick extra points if need be, and he returns punts and kicks, too.

"He's the old-fashioned, just do whatever you need kind of player," Centore said. "He can do everything."

When he was the freshman quarterback, it wasn't so much his arm that stood out, but his legs. He was one of the fastest players on the team, and that earned him a varsity shot the next year. In the seasons since, he's contributed wherever needed.

"I started out as a quarterback as a freshman," Ferry said. "As I moved up, I started going slot receiver, wide receiver, even running back a little bit."

This year, East has a host of talented wide receivers and quarterback Alex Corvese has spread the ball around. Ferry has made the most of his chances, with three of his five catches going for touchdowns. He's totaled 122 yards receiving.

Punting has become a big part of his game, as well.

"His improvement as a punter has been outstanding," Centore said. "He's been as good as anyone we've had here. It's been a big plus for us."

Ferry wasn't sure how he'd do as a punter when he started working on it last year, but he's been pleasantly surprised. In the South Kingstown game, his final punt pinned the Rebels inside their own 20 when they were down by just one score.

"We needed a back-up punter last year so I had to step up," Ferry said. "I'm doing better than I thought I would do."

And he jumped at the chance to keep punting, even with the injured hand.

"It was Senior Night, I was happy that I was still going to get an opportunity to be on the field," Ferry said. "The doctors said I should take it easy and take a couple of weeks off. I kind of wanted to play and when coach asked me about it, I was ready."

Ferry should be fully healthy for Thanksgiving and beyond. The 'Bolts have clinched a playoff berth and will be making their first Division I playoff appearance in 25 years after the holiday game against West.

"It's been fun, being part of a good team that plays together," Ferry said. "That's the big thing, really coming together as a team."

PLAYER TO WATCH

NICK FERRY And Ferry will keep doing whatever he can to help the cause.

"He's an old-type, just a hard-nosed player," Centore said. "And he's been a good leader for us this year. I'm very impressed with what he's been able to do."

- W.G.

RESULTS Marquem Monroe Sophomore RB/DB “He's as good as anybody, and this could be a breakout game. When he gets going, I wouldn't want to play against him.�

- Tom Centore

League Record: 5-2 Overall Record: 7-2 East 41, Toll Gate 12 (Non-League) East 21, Tolman 13 East 41, Barrington 18 East 40, Central Falls 0 (Non-League) East 42, East Providence 20 Hendricken 21, East 14 East 51, Portsmouth 47 La Salle 41, East 13 East 23, South Kingstown 17

TURKEY BOWL

OLD SCHOOL

ROSTER

Ceraldi emerges as workhorse for Falcons The Cranston West running game has had three components for as long as Steve Stoehr has been the head coach. Usually, between the fullback and the two wing backs, carries are split pretty evenly.

This season, with only one member of last year's backfield returning, and with a host of other players not quite ready to take over a feature back role, the Falcons amended the situation.

They still run the Wing-T, and there are still three backs, but more often than not the ball is going to one runner - Joe Ceraldi.

Ceraldi, a senior, is the one returner to West's backfield. He started at wing back during the tail end of his sophomore season and his entire junior season. And more than any running back West has had in recent years, he shoulders the load.

"I think he likes it," Stoehr said. "I think he's done a very solid job. In the beginning of the year I don't think I ran him enough. I really started running him after we started losing a few games."

Ceraldi's increased workload has coincided with West's rise in the Division I standings. The Falcons started out 0-4 and have now won three in row - plus a non-league victory over Dennis-Yarmouth, Mass. - to turn their season around.

Now at 3-4, West can win on Thanksgiving to reach .500. Though they'll be missing out on postseason play no matter what, getting back to 4-4 would still be an impressive feat.

"The beginning of the year was a little bit shaky," Ceraldi said. "The offense started to click in the middle of the year, and it got a little better."

One reason for the turnaround and increased workload was Stoehr's decision to move Ceraldi from wing back to fullback.

It seems like an odd position choice for a

player of Ceraldi's size, as he's not physically imposing, but it's worked. Ceraldi's speed has been a useful tool coming out of the backfield, and it's given West a jumpstart.

"People say he's real little," Stoehr said.

"Well he carries the ball 20, 22 times a game.

He's tough."

Ceraldi's value to the team's success was never more evident than in West's September 28 game with undefeated La Salle.

He ran for 128 yards on 22 carries, including a touchdown, against one of the best defenses in the state. The Rams, who are the No. 1 ranked team in Rhode Island, had to use a furious fourth-quarter rally to escape with a 28-17 victory.

No team has come closer than 17 points against La Salle this year besides the Falcons.

RESULTS League Record: 3-4 Overall Record: 5-4 West 12, Cumberland 6 (Non-League) Barrington 14, West 0 Portsmouth 33, West 7 La Salle 28, West 17 Hendricken 36, West 0 West 7, South Kingstown 0 West 16, Dennis-Yarmouth 6 (Non-League) West 10, Tolman 7 West 19, East Providence 13

"Unfortunately for us, he's a senior," Stoehr said. "But he's pretty solid. In the La Salle game he was unbelievable."

There are some other players in West's backfield that will likely get some touches on Thanksgiving, including Anthony Meola, Isaiah Alvarez and Rackwon Kisilywicz.

But in the Falcons' final game of the season, they will be relying on their feature back to handle the bulk of the work and to produce - just like they have for the majority of his senior season.

"I like it better," Ceraldi said. "I like having the ball in my hands a lot. It's because coach moved me from wing back to fullback. I like having control of the game."

- Kevin Pomeroy

JOE CERALDI

PLAYER TO WATCH Matt Downing Senior DE "We put him back at defensive end, he's been pretty good. [Anthony St. Laurent's] been great, but he's had a few sacks himself.

- Steve Stoehr

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Jeremy King Michael Foley Damien Andrus Joseph Ceraldi Rafael Gardiner Domenic Antonelli Matthew Downing Steven Furtado Jeff Grover Brendon Iannelli Juan Ramirez Ted Diehl Anthony Meola Alex Cortellessa Stefano Marziale Gersham Rainone Brandon McDonnell James Diehl Jared Santoro Rackwon Kisilywicz Jake Moretti Jonathan Hernandez Brandon Colon Christopher Santilli Devin R. LaPlume Jared Tirocchi Mazen Taman John Petrocelli Dylan Reinsant Alexael Martinez Isaiah Alvarez Alec Totten Brandon Langley James Hammond Anthony St. Laurent Nicholas James Dantes Carrasca Joseph Pelosi Paul Biello Richard D'Amico Michael Lonardo Mohammad Y. Kattan Arys Tavarez Lawrence X. Cusack Nicholas Russo Zachary Lussier Sean Perrino Elvis Sena Tim Thomas Dylan Oulette Michael Igoe Stephen Ohsberg Nicholas Porreca Guiseppe Creta Domenic DiSandro Anfernee Thompson Jeremy Wilner Anthony Caetano Olusayo Banjo David Anthony Michael Q. Pierce Tevin Goins Marwan Taman Matthew DeBalsi Giavani Valente

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Head Coach: Steve Stoehr Assistants: Corey Capirchio, Rob Malo, Thomas Milewski, Richard Aitchison, Erik Baccari, Justin Erickson, Mike Fitzgerald, Bob Izzi

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TURKEY BOWL

EAST VS. WEST, THURSDAY, 10 A.M. CRANSTON STADIUM

Falcons, ﾂ達olts ready to put it all on the line The Cranston West football team wishes the scenario were a little bit different, but that isn't likely to affect the Falcons on Thanksgiving morning.

While East will head to the playoffs, win or lose on Thursday, West will miss the postseason - win or lose.

The teams are separated by two games in the standings, and if West had won one more game or East had lost one more, the Thanksgiving game would have turned into a play-in game for Division I's final playoff spot. East is 5-2, while West is 3-4.

As it is though, the teams will have to play mostly for pride more than anything else. Luckily, those are really the only stakes these two teams need when they take the field against each other. Throw in the fact that it's the 40th Thanksgiving match-up between them, and there's still plenty of luster on the rivalry.

"It's our Super Bowl, which means that our kids are going to put it all on the line," West head coach Steve Stoehr said.

"And I'm sure his kids will put it on the line too."

There is some playoff seeding in play for the 'Bolts, who can sweeten their postseason outlook a little bit with a win. If they do pull out a victory, they'll be the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and they'll travel to No. 2 Bishop Hendricken for a D-I semifinal game on Tuesday.

If they lose, however, they'll fall to the No. 4 spot, and have to travel to play unbeaten, top-ranked La Salle in the semi-

finals.

"We want to win on Thanksgiving that's the first thing," East head coach Tom Centore said. "What comes with it is a No. 3 seed. We certainly want to be the highest seed possible, and we want to be playing our best. You don't want to go into a playoff game with a loss."

While the records would indicate that East should be the favorite, West has certainly narrowed the gap between the two teams in recent weeks.

The Falcons had a brutal early season schedule, and started out 0-4 in D-I play while nearly upsetting La Salle in the process. Since then, they've won three in a row and are playing their best football of the season. Most recently, they beat East Providence 19-13.

Led by defensive end Anthony St.

Laurent - who has emerged as one of the best defensive players in the state - their defense has allowed the third-fewest points in the division, and the steady running of Joe Ceraldi has helped the offense control the clock. Points haven't come in bunches, but that unit has done enough to get the job done.

It's been a recipe for success lately.

"No. 1, I think you have to stop the kid Ceraldi," Centore said. "He's a very, very good back. Defensively, they've been outstanding. They've been as good as anybody. They don't give up a lot of points."

On the other side, East had a schedule that was almost the polar opposite of the Falcons. The 'Bolts played some of the lower teams in D-I early on, began 4-0 and have since lost to Hendricken and La Salle.

But, even with a couple of losses, East

is still very much a Super Bowl contender.

It boasts the third-highest scoring offense in the division, and it's proved itself in a variety of ways.

Against Tolman early in the season, the 'Bolts used a strong defensive effort to outlast the Tigers 21-13. Later in the year, they rallied from a 25-point deficit and outgunned playoff-bound Portsmouth 51-47. In their most recent game, they overcame a less-than-perfect performance to beat South Kingstown 23-17 and clinch a playoff spot.

When things have clicked for East at certain points this season, they've looked as good as anyone in the state. Between quarterback Alex Corvese, receivers Marven Beauvais and Nick Ferry and running backs E.J. Isom and Marquem Monroe, there are weapons all over the field.

"I think East in space is pretty good," Stoehr said. "They've got good running backs, good receivers. Their quarterback is really, really good."

It all adds up to a game that both teams desperately would like to win, whether it's for bragging rights, playoff positioning or both.

"The rivalry is still there," Stoehr said.

"Me and Tommy both work at a camp in the summer. We coach the same kids. It's a good rivalry. We tell our kids to go out and play hard, and that's all you can ask."

- K.P. Prediction: East 24, West 14

TURKEY BOWL

11

PILGRIM AT WARWICK VETS, THURSDAY, 10 A.M.

One year later, roles reversed for Pats and Â’Canes Last year, the Pilgrim football team missed out on the playoffs when it lost to Mt. Hope in its finale. This year, the Warwick Vets football team was in the same situation, falling to the Huskies with a playoff spot on the line.

Will the similarities extend into Thanksgiving? That Pilgrim team lost to an upset-minded Vets squad last year. This Vets team will be trying to avoid an upset, while Pilgrim will be trying to spring one.

"It's the same situation, even down to losing to Mt. Hope to miss out on the playoffs, so the similarities are pretty eerie," said Vets coach Bryan Nappa.

This year's match-up will be the 50th Thanksgiving meeting between the schools.

They've been closer in the standings in past meetings - Vets sits at 4-6, while Pilgrim is 0-10 - but when the Pats and 'Canes meet, records tend to go out the window.

"I've been saying it for years now Turkey Bowl is different," said Pilgrim

coach Tom O'Connor.

The 'Canes will be trying to recapture the form that helped them stay in the playoff mix for the first time since 2008. While they've lost three straight, their big wins over Chariho and Westerly stand out as the blueprint.

"Those two games, we played perfect

football and it showed," Nappa said.

The 'Canes figure to rely heavily on senior running back T.J. Boyajian, who has rushed for 1,190 yards and eight touchdowns.

"This is his last game as a senior and he's really looking to shine," Nappa said.

On the other side, a young Pilgrim

team hasn't yet seen its improvement show up on the scoreboard. Thanksgiving would be a good time for it.

"If you're going to pick one to win, this is the one," O'Connor said.

O'Connor will be looking for improvement from his defense on third and fourth downs. The offense will need a big day from Mike Kelly and some quick decisions in the pocket from sophomore quarterback Rob Quaine.

"Offensively, we have to start out like we finished against Toll Gate," O'Connor said.

But Vets will be looking for its own strong finish.

"You always want to end on a high note, and this year is the 50th anniversary game, so that's another thing at play," Nappa said. "It would be great for these kids to end on a high note because they worked hard this year." - W.G. Prediction: Vets 34, 20

TOLL GATE AT HENDRICKEN, WEDNESDAY, 7 P.M.

Hawks, titans set to renew rivalry for 41st time The Bishop Hendricken football team has won 20 consecutive Thanksgiving games over Toll Gate, and the Hawks will be favored to keep that streak going when the two teams meet again this year.

But with Hendricken making the playoffs each of the last four years, the game has taken on a very different look.

For the Titans, it's the final game of their season, and they'll hold nothing back. Yet, for the Hawks, it's a game that they always want to win, but also manage well enough so that they're healthy and ready to go for a Division I semifinal game that will be played the following Tuesday.

It's a balancing act for Hendricken, and the game is itself is a mixing of two teams in very different situations.

"Our big thing is to have fun," Toll Gate head coach Matt Mancuso said. "I know they're getting ready for a playoff game. The tougher a game we make it on them early, the quicker those guys will be out."

The Titans went 0-7 this year in Division II-B, but did pick up a nonleague victory on Nov. 10 against Pilgrim for their first win of the season.

Hendricken went 6-2 in Division I and is coming off a loss to La Salle in its most recent game.

The Hawks allowed the fewest points in all of D-I, and they'll look to keep that trend up against a Toll Gate team that put up the fewest points in D-

II-A. It seems like a little bit of a mismatch on paper, but there's still urgency on the Hawks' side. Nobody wants to be the team that ends the long winning streak.

"It's especially big for the seniors," Hendricken head coach Keith Croft said.

"I think they want to keep the streak going against Toll Gate. We'd like to try to get all the seniors to start, or at least

play significantly from the beginning of the game."

The game will be played on Wednesday night this year, at Hendricken at 7 p.m.

The Titans will be taking another shot at snapping the streak and finishing the season strong.

"We've got to play physical," Mancuso. "If we go down there and let them know that they can just run all over us, it's going to be as ugly as can be."

The Hawks, meanwhile, will be trying to beat Toll Gate and then turn their focus to a playoff game just six days later.

"You worry about Toll Gate a little more as the week winds down, get healthy a little bit," Croft said. "We give a little extra attention to some of the younger guys who haven't played that much on the varsity team. Hopefully we can get them out there for a little while on Thanksgiving and then get ready for Tuesday." - K.P. Prediction: Hendricken 35, Toll Gate 6

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ROSTER Joseph Brosnahan Zachary D. Mitchell Malique D. Woods David J. Babcock Aaron Travers Bruce Soscia Daniel Smith Nicholas Lemioe Sean Vann Christopher Durand Joshua A. Thibeault Jacob Moran Jake T. Stachurski Jose E. Javier Matthew Cullen Nicholas Brown Colby K. Connell Joseph T. Mercurio Jackson Burgos Caleb Gouge Cameron Vickers Jake Lima James L. Marsella Dimitri C. Mylers Duane E. Bodkin Zachary DelDeo Brian M. Guertin Andrew R. Hunt Ryan F. Jennings Patrick R. Leech William Martorelli Patrick J. McMahon Joshua R. Mouritsen Tuan C. Pham Jason Silva

OLD SCHOOL JR SR SR SR JR JR SO SO SO JR JR SO FR SR JR JR SR JR JR JR SO SO SO SR FR FR SR FR FR FR JR FR FR SO FR

Head Coach: Matt Mancuso Assistants: Joe Ucci, Mike Soto, Alex Mendes, Pat McAteer, Zach Furtado, Steve Haley, Norm Houle

TURKEY BOWL

Javier stays the course in tough TG season in the outcome, rushing for 71 yards and a touchdown while excelling on defense.

"Just disregard what everyone else says, what's going on around you," Javier said. "I'm just playing football and working hard and running the best that I can."

Earlier in the season, while Toll Gate's struggles were at their height, Javier's uncle passed away and he went down to Florida.

Missing that week's game against Mt. Hope would have certainly been understandable, but Javier did all he could to get home in time for the game.

"He was not at practice all week," Mancuso said. "He tried to get back and come right to the game. He was texting me all week to see how the team was doing.”

His flight home was delayed and he didn't make the game, but the sentiment was there.

Javier has consistently tried to do whatever he can to help the team, every step of the way.

"It's been very tough," Javier said. "I think it brings the team closer together.”

The Titans didn't qualify for the playoffs, meaning their season will come to an end on

Not many things have gone right so far this season for the Toll Gate football team. And as the season wore on and the losses piled up, Toll Gate's roster began to shrink. Players quit, others stopped showing up. On an already small team, that didn't help matters going forward. Luckily, the team also had players like Jose Javier.

Javier, a senior running back and defensive end, didn't step away from the team when it become apparent that wins weren't going to be easy to come by. Instead, his role increased.

He plays every play on both sides of the ball, and also returns kicks. He almost never leaves the field, and that's the way he likes it.

"When you're a back and you're down 38-0 and you're getting killed all game long, and you're still working as hard as you did in the first quarter, it's a tribute to how great a competitor and an athlete he is," said coach Matt Mancuso.

As the season wore on, Toll Gate started to play a little bit better. On Nov. 10, Toll Gate picked up its only win of the year with a 2820 victory over Pilgrim. Javier was a big factor

PLAYER TO WATCH

JOSE JAVIER Thanksgiving when they take on Hendricken.

Though it'll be a tough task to keep up with the Division I-playoff bound Hawks, that's not really what Javier and his teammates are thinking about.

They'll just keep working hard, grinding out practices and hoping that it pays off in one way or another on the field.

"We want to prove something to them,” Javier said. “We're not just there so they can kick us around. We're a team." - K.P.

RESULTS Jackson Burgos Junior OL/DL “He didn't really know what a football was last year, and he's come out and worked hard. He's a big kid and a good athlete."

- Matt Mancuso

League Record: 0-7 Overall Record: 1-9 Cranston East 41, Toll Gate 12 (Non-League) Vets 26, Toll Gate 6 Coventry 37, Toll Gate 12 Johnston 40, Toll Gate 0 Westerly 34, Toll Gate 6 Ponaganset 34, Toll Gate 12 (Non-League) Woonsocket 34, Toll Gate 0 Mt. Hope 35, Toll Gate 6 Chariho 40, Toll Gate 20 Toll Gate 28, Pilgrim 20 (Non-League)

Happy Holidays from J & S AUTO REPAIR

51 KENT AVENUE, WARWICK

(In the Apponaug section)

401-732-6070

TURKEY BOWL

OLD SCHOOL

ROSTER

DelVecchio leads Hawks’ hard-nosed defense Two separate moments during Marco DelVecchio's career at Bishop Hendricken helped elevate him to one of the top defensive players in the state.

They both came last season, during his junior year. The first was a decision - made mutually by DelVecchio and the coaching staff - to switch from the quarterback position to other spots on the field.

DelVecchio had played quarterback on the freshman team and also for the junior varsity team, but with a slew of talented players already in line for the quarterback job going forward, DelVecchio was going to have to get on the field another way.

"He came in and he had every goal of being the quarterback at Bishop Hendricken," Croft said. "We saw him throw and we said, 'This might not work.' To his credit, he just worked so hard to be a linebacker and a safety and a tight end. He's done everything for us."

He put on weight, worked on his speed and focused on embracing his new role.

Then the second moment happened. With Hendricken's defense having a few problems as last season wore on, Croft decided to give DelVecchio his first start in a rain-soaked game against Portsmouth with playoff ramifications.

Needless to say, it paid off.

"He had a great game against Portsmouth in a monsoon," Croft said. "And the rest is history."

DelVecchio remembers it too. Most of it anyway.

"I was just going off," DelVecchio said. "I believe I had five sacks, probably 20 tackles. I blacked out halfway through the game and I was just tackling people left and right. It was a close game, it was in the mud - terrible weather. I was only a junior, so I had to step it up that game, and I did."

Since that point, DelVecchio, now a senior, has emerged as the leader of one of the best defenses in the state. Hendricken allowed only 107 points this season in league games, tops in Division I. DelVecchio wasn't necessarily a natural star from day one, but hard work more than anything else has helped DelVecchio grow into his role for the Hawks. He currently leads the team with 72 solo tackles and 112 total. The next closest tackler is defensive tackle Mario McClain with 40 solo and 59 total.

"There's a difference between talent and skill," DelVecchio said. "Talent, you're born with it. Skill is just hours and hours of working on your craft. I believe that hard work beats that talent when that talent isn't working hard."

DelVecchio has also helped out the offense from the fullback and tight end spots, and he's had two receiving touchdowns so far this season.

Now, as his high school career is winding down, DelVecchio is focused on going out in style. He wants to lead Hendricken to its third consecutive Super Bowl championship.

"He has a lot of pride wearing these gold helmets," Croft said. "Hendricken football means a lot to him. He's just been a great leader."

After that, there's more football on tap. He's been named to the USA under-19 International Bowl team, and will play that game early next year.

Then it's college, as DelVecchio has gone from mid-season stop-gap at linebacker to coveted college recruit for a variety of programs at different levels.

He projects as a safety, and has drawn interest from schools such as Holy Cross, Brown, Penn State, Elon University, the University of San Diego and Illinois, among others.

RESULTS League Record: 6-2 Overall Record: 7-2 Hendricken 36, St. Ray’s 8 (Non-League) Hendricken 24, South Kingstown 0 Hendricken 42, East Providence 13 Hendricken 28, Tolman 7 Hendricken 36, Cranston West 0 Hendricken 21, Cranston East 14 Portsmouth 39, Hendricken 13 Hendricken 18, Barrington 6 La Salle 28, Hendricken 7

MARCO DELVECCHIO It makes sense, given how he has capitalized on his chances, and how much time, effort, position-changing, and hard work has gone in to making him one of Rhode Island's premier defensive players.

"He's worked so hard," Croft said. "He's worked so hard since his freshman year. He's the type of kid that you hope these younger guys emulate." - K.P.

PLAYER TO WATCH Nick DeCiantis Senior OT "He's a co-captain, and he’s been our best lineman. We'll see how he does against the Toll Gate front."

- Keith Croft

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Marco V. DelVecchio Terrence Gibbs Jehvine P. Quaweay Romario R. Rousseau Mitchell S. Lucci Patrick B. Gill John F. Toppa Anthony M. Markey Jarrid R. Witherspoon Patrick T. McDonald Anthony J. DiMauro John J. Arruda Brandon J. Kenyon Joseph L. Proulx Power Kanga Nathan Gyampo Caleb A. Burdick Bryce M. Famiano Michael G. Scarcella Matthew C. Duffie John F. Larkin Remington B. Blue Lee Moses Jonathan A. Petteruti Dylan E. Filipe Gary G. Gibbs Daniel J. Burke Aris Angel Cuello Thomas J. StPierre Robert A. Beer Robert Lineberger Robert C. Campbell Joseph J. DeGiulio Kelsey R. Woodbine Erik D. Olson Connor M. Hurst Michael A. Cedrone Javier A. Avila Michael E. Crisione Cory D. Sloan Jake Z. Batista Griffin C. Porter Joseph C. Vincent Christopher J. Celona Joseph G. Christianson Patrick D. Thacker Nicholas J. Mariano Tyler A. Joseph Dallas J. Sauer Evan F. Nelson Edward J. Gemma Adam J. Crabtree Sean M. Kelly Michael J. Murray Nicholas J. DeCiantis Mario R. McClain Ryan I. Caldwell Samuel A. Acevedo Christian J. Wesolowski Brysen T. Monahan Timothy A. Wright James E. Bowen Donte R. Bell Robert F. Bernard Edward Barber Derek W. Wilson Bret M. Buehrer Ryan J. Torrealday Adam A. Lavallee Kazre L. Cummings Rhys J. Humphrey Zachary N. Radja

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Head Coach: Keith Croft Assistants: Joseph Bucci, Mike Green, David Haddeland, Jay Hogan, John Moran,David Paganetti, Frank Pantaleo,Michael Sackett, Thomas Underwood, Achille Yangambi

14

TURKEY BOWL HOW IT BEGAN Cranston West 12, Cranston East 3 - November 22, 1973

Different parts of the game stand out for different people. For Nick Capezza, it was the feeling he sat with after the final whistle, knowing that he had just played his last football game.

For Peter Cardi, the memories are a little sweeter, especially the one about that one play that just kept working, over and over.

But everybody shares one common memory - it was a hell of a football game.

The first Thanksgiving Day game between Cranston East and Cranston West was everything that a game between two high schools that share a city should be. Thirty-nine years ago, in November of 1973, West - coached by the late Hank Orabone - beat East 12-3.

The teams were nearly identical in total yardage, and the game wasn't decided until a late interception returned for a touchdown by Falcons' standout Lee Higgins.

And that game, which replaced the old East-Mt. Pleasant and West-North Providence Thanksgiving games, produced a rivalry that has grown into one of the fiercest and most exciting in the state. With the 40th showdown between the two teams scheduled for Thursday, the total count is West 20, East 19.

Overall - just like the first game - West is winning. But it's about as close as that game

at Cranston Stadium was nearly four decades back.

"It was the highlight of the year," said Cardi, an offensive lineman for West that year.

"That particular game, that was the game that really stuck in our heads. We all still talk about it to this day."

It's easy to see why. East took a 3-0 lead into half thanks to a 17-yard field goal by Joe DiBattista.

In the second half, Higgins took over. He connected on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Pete Spinelli, and then picked off East quarterback Guy Maiorano in the fourth quarter and returned it 38 yards for a score to put the game on ice.

"He was a fair thrower, but he was a good running quarterback," said Jimmy Lynch, a West assistant on that team, of Higgins. "He could throw a good pass from a Wing-T. On the run he could throw the ball."

West controlled the clock during the second half largely due to one play. The 'Bolts couldn't stop it.

"Lee was the QB, he would hand it off to Bob Morvillo," Cardi said. "Bob would run through the hole between me and Tony Castelli."

East actually outgained West 109 to 107, but it couldn't find the end zone all game. For a 'Bolts team that won the Super Bowl in 1972 and was 6-1-1 that year, that was uncharacteristic.

Capezza, a senior captain playing offensive tackle and defensive end for East, remembers just what that felt like.

"That's my recollection of the game," Capezza said. "I was a little depressed after the game. My final game in high school. I sat in the locker room and didn't want to put the pads away for the last time."

Capezza's co-captain, Allan Chiulli, didn't want to put the pads away either. He had broken his leg in the second game of the season, and was not cleared to play on Thanksgiving.

But Chiulli wasn't missing a game like this.

"A couple of nights before the West game, Allan put his foot in the tub and took his cast off," Capezza said. "He took his cast off and he actually snuck in the game for a couple of plays without the coaches noticing. [East head coach Mike Traficante] said, 'How the hell did 61 get in there? Get him out of there, he can't play!'"

The opening paragraph in the Cranston Herald's preview of that first game read like this: "Thanksgiving Day, 1973, will bring together our two high school football teams in the first Thanksgiving Day meeting in what we hope will be the beginning of an annual classic."

Forty games later, it is. - K.P.

15

TURKEY BOWL

THROUGH THE YEARS: EAST VS. WEST 2010

East snaps a 7-game West winning streak with a 14-3 win over the Falcons. It's the 'Bolts' first win on Thanksgiving since 1998.

2006

West has its longest run of dominance in the series, claiming seven straight victories. The Falcons also win the Division I Super Bowl in 2004.

1999-05 1998

West comes through with a hard-fought 8-7 win over East in one of the lowest scoring games of the series.

1982 1974-1980

1973

2008

East uses some late-game heroics to escape with a close 20-17 victory. The win marks East's only victory from 1994-2005.

East goes on its best stretch ever, winning seven straight games. During the stretch, the 'Bolts also shut out West three consecutive times - from 197779.

After losing the last two years, West breaks out in a big way. The Falcons score the most points they ever have in the series, and coast to an easy 41-7 win.

East quarterback Rob Reardon runs for a 26yard touchdown with time winding down, as the 'Bolts rally late for a 14-13 victory. The win is East's second straight in the series.

16

TURKEY BOWL HOW IT BEGAN Toll Gate 14, Hendricken 6 - November 23, 1972

In 1972, Warwick's Thanksgiving Day football table got a little more crowded. Pilgrim and Warwick Vets had been playing for nine years in a rivalry that was fierce from the beginning. Toll Gate and Bishop Hendricken were new rivals, but when they squeezed into a seat at the table, they made themselves right at home.

With a huge crowd turning out despite freezing conditions, the Titans knocked off Hendricken 14-6 in the first Thanksgiving meeting between the teams.

Emo DiNitto coached Toll Gate and still remembers how happy his players were.

"The kids were ecstatic," DiNitto said. "It was always a big thing for Toll Gate to play Hendricken."

That's been a defining undercurrent throughout the history of the Toll Gate-Hendricken rivalry. Even in 1972, when Hendricken wasn't yet the athletic power that it is today, the Toll Gate kids always had a chip on their shoulder and always wanted to knock off the Hawks.

The rivalry has been lopsided for the last two decades, but that first year, the Titans got the win they were pushing for.

"It was a big thing for the school," DiNitto said.

"We were very happy about it."

Toll Gate opened in 1972, and the football team blended players from Pilgrim and Warwick Vets. In its season preview, the Warwick Beacon asked "Can they mold into a team fast enough?"

The Titans had an answer.

"You had a new coach and new kids getting used to a new system," DiNitto said. "It makes it a little more complicated, but the kids adapted very well.

They molded beautifully and they developed a real pride for the new school."

And on Thanksgiving, the program picked up its

first signature win.

Toll Gate didn't yet have a field so the game was played at Pilgrim. Record cold temperatures froze the field - "It was hard as a rock," DiNitto remembers - but it didn't keep the crowd away. More than 2,000 fans bundled up and braved the cold.

Hendricken took a 6-0 lead when quarterback Greg Collins scored on a 1-yard run moments after a fumbled punt by Toll Gate.

But the Titans answered quickly on a 44yard touchdown pass from Bill Brzozowski to Dave Carlson.

The ensuing point after was the game's most memorable play. Don Shortman was set to kick the extra point but a high snap ended up going right to him. He ran to his left and then threw a lateral back to his holder, Chuck Lamendola, who fired a pass to the end zone that Frank Vescera caught for a two-point conversion.

"We couldn't make that play work again if we practiced it all season long," DiNitto said in a post-game interview.

The Titans stayed in front the rest of the way and added to their lead. Don Scialla returned a punt 48 yards to the Hendricken 6-yard line. Fullback Paul Appolonia scored from there, and the Titans were on their way.

After the win in 1972, Toll Gate dropped the next five games before winning in 1978. Hendricken won seven more in a row until Toll Gate put together its best stretch in the series with six straight wins from 1986 to 1991.

"We had a run," said DiNitto, who coached until 1993 and later became Athletic Director for Warwick

Public Schools.

That was the end of the run. Hendricken has won 20 straight Thanksgiving meetings, but even as the gap has widened in recent years, Toll Gate has gotten close twice in the last seven seasons, most recently in 2008.

There's still the dream of an upset, the same one that carried the Titans 41 years ago.

"Any time we beat them," DiNitto said. "It was special."

- W.G.

17

TURKEY BOWL

THROUGH THE YEARS: TOLL GATE VS. HENDRICKEN Doug Johnson rushes for 227 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown run that features a hurdle of two defenders, but Toll Gate still can't spring the upset and the Hawks prevail 21-18.

2005

With a lineup that features future NFL player Will Blackmon, the Hawks roll to four consecutive shutouts.

1997-2000 One of the best stretches for the Toll Gate program in its history coincides with six straight wins on Thanksgiving, including a 28-0 triumph in 1987.

1991 1986-91

1973-77

1972

After a loss in the series opener, Hendricken wins five straight games.

Toll Gate outlasts Hendricken for a 17-12 victory, which still stands as its last win in the series.

2008 With snow delaying the game until Friday, Toll Gate recovers two early onside kicks and races out to an 18-0 lead, but Hendricken fights all the way back to pull out the 33-25 victory.

18

TURKEY BOWL

19

TURKEY BOWL

THANKSGIVING SERIES HISTORY

WARWICK VETS VS. PILGRIM 2011 - Vets 21, Pilgrim 14 2010 - Pilgrim 20, Vets 13 2009 - Pilgrim 22, Vets 0 2008 - Vets 42, Pilgrim 13 2007 - Pilgrim 7, Vets 6 2006 - Vets 20, Pilgrim 14 2005 - Vets 20, Pilgrim 6 2004 - Pilgrim 35, Vets 13 2003 - Pilgrim 24, Vets 0 2002 - Vets 22, Pilgrim 0 2001 - Vets 21, Pilgrim 7 2000 - Vets 19, Pilgrim 7 1999 - Vets 39, Pilgrim 22 1998 - Vets 14, Pilgrim 0 1997 - Vets 21, Pilgrim 6 1996 - Pilgrim 39, Vets 7 1995 - Vets 21, Pilgrim 7 1994 - Pilgrim 12, Vets 9 1993 - Vets 28, Pilgrim 0 1992 - Vets 14, Pilgrim 6 1991 - Pilgrim 12, Vets 6 1990 - Vets 36, Pilgrim 0 1989 - Vets 12, Pilgrim 2 1988 - Vets 20, Pilgrim 0 1987 - Pilgrim 41, Vets 6 1986 - Vets 14, Pilgrim 12

1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963

-

Vets 20, Pilgrim 18 Pilgrim 12, Vets 6 Vets 20, Pilgrim 18 Vets 7, Pilgrim 0 Pilgrim 14, Vets 6 Pilgrim 0, Vets 0 Pilgrim 34, Vets 8 Pilgrim 16, Vets 6 Pilgrim 17, Vets 14 Vets 23, Pilgrim 6 Pilgrim 20, Vets 0 Vets 21, Pilgrim 14 Vets 14, Pilgrim 6 Vets 26, Pilgrim 8 Vets 16, Pilgrim 6 Pilgrim 16, Vets 8 Pilgrim 19, Vets 6 Vets 21, Pilgrim 20 Pilgrim 12, Vets 0 Pilgrim 27, Vets 0 Pilgrim 31, Vets 0 Pilgrim 12, Vets 0 Vets 33, Pilgrim 6

HURRICANES LEAD SERIES 27-21-1 SHUTOUTS BY VETS: 7 SHUTOUTS BY PILGRIM: 8 LARGEST VETS WINNING MARGIN: 36 points (36-0 in 1990) LARGEST PILGRIM WINNING MARGIN: 35 points (41-6 in 1987) SMALLEST VETS WINNING MARGIN: One point (21-20 in 1968) SMALLEST PILGRIM WINNING MARGIN: One point (7-6 in 2007)

BY DECADES 1960's - Pilgrim 5, Vets 2 1970's - Pilgrim 5, Vets 5 1980's - Vets 6, Pilgrim 3, 1 tie 1990's - Vets 7, Pilgrim 3 2000's - Vets 6, Pilgrim 4 2010’s - Pilgrim 1, Vets 1 LONGEST VETS WINNING STREAK: 6 games (1997-2002) LONGEST PILGRIM WINNING STREAK: 5 games (1977-81)

TOLL GATE VS. HENDRICKEN

2011 - Hendricken 31, Toll Gate 0 2010 - Hendricken 19, Toll Gate 0 2009 - Hendricken 26, Toll Gate 6 2008 - Hendricken 21, Toll Gate 18 2007 - Hendricken 35, Toll Gate 8 2006 - Hendricken 42, Toll Gate 6 2005 - Hendricken 33, Toll Gate 25 2004 - Hendricken 35, Toll Gate 2 2003 - Hendricken 9, Toll Gate 6 2002 - Hendricken 22, Toll Gate 6 2001 - Hendricken 27, Toll Gate 6 2000 - Hendricken 27, Toll Gate 0 1999 - Hendricken 35, Toll Gate 0 1998 - Hendricken 29, Toll Gate 0 1997 - Hendricken 31, Toll Gate 0 1996 - Hendricken 26, Toll Gate 12 1995 - Hendricken 48, Toll Gate 8 1994 - Hendricken 33, Toll Gate 13 1993 - Hendricken 31, Toll Gate 0 1992 - Hendricken 7, Toll Gate 6 1991 - Toll Gate 17, Hendricken 12 1990 - Toll Gate 7, Hendricken 6

1989 - Toll Gate 16, Hendricken 8 1988 - Toll Gate 21, Hendricken 20 1987 - Toll Gate 28, Hendricken 0 1986 - Toll Gate 25, Hendricken 13 1985 - Hendricken 21, Toll Gate 20 1984 - Hendricken 31, Toll Gate 14 1983 - Hendricken 25, Toll Gate 6 1982 - Hendricken 7, Toll Gate 0 1981 - Hendricken 13, Toll Gate 6 1980 - Hendricken 7, Toll Gate 6 1979 - Hendricken 7, Toll Gate 0 1978 - Toll Gate 25, Hendricken 0 1977 - Hendricken 22, Toll Gate 0 1976 - Hendricken 20, Toll Gate 15 1975 - Hendricken 27, Toll Gate 0 1974 - Hendricken 26, Toll Gate 13 1973 - Hendricken 21, Toll Gate 0 1972 - Toll Gate 14, Hendricken 6

HAWKS LEAD SERIES 32-8 SHUTOUTS BY TOLL GATE: 2 SHUTOUTS BY HENDRICKEN: 12 LARGEST TOLL GATE WINNING MARGIN: 28 points (28-0 in 1987) LARGEST HENDRICKEN WINNING MARGIN: 40 points (48-8 in 1995) SMALLEST TOLL GATE WINNING MARGIN: One point (Twice; 1990 and 1988) SMALLEST HENDRICKEN WINNING MARGIN: One point (Three times; 1992, 1985, and 1980)

BY DECADES 1970's - Hendricken 6, Toll Gate 2 1980's - Hendricken 6, Toll Gate 4 1990's - Hendricken 8, Toll Gate 2 2000's - Hendricken 10, Toll Gate 0 2010’s - Hendricken 2, Toll Gate 0 LONGEST TOLL GATE WINNING STREAK: 6 games (1986-91) LONGEST HENDRICKEN WINNING STREAK: 20 games (1992-2011)

EAST VS. WEST

2011 - West 27, East 14 2010 - East 14, West 13 2009 - East 30, West 19 2008 - West 41, East 7 2007 - East 21, West 14 2006 - East 14, West 3 2005 - West 20, East 0 2004 - West 19, East 0 2003 - West 41, East 0 2002 - West 33, East 14 2001 - West 14, East 12 2000 - West 39, East 7 1999 - West 28, East 8 1998 - East 20, West 17 1997 - West 23, East 9 1996 - West 27, East 0 1995 - West 29, East 13 1994 - West 33, East 6 1993 - East 24, West 0 1992 - West 6, East 0 1991 - West 18, East 6 1990 - East 7, West 0

1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973

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East 26, West 7 West 14, East 13 East 37, West 20 East 14, West 6 West 14, East 13 East 12, West 0 East 20, West 6 West 7, East 6 West 20, East 12 East 21, West 6 East 14, West 0 East 22, West 0 East 27, West 12 East 31, West 8 East 27, West 0 East 10, West 7 West 12, East 3

FALCONS LEAD 20-19 SHUTOUTS BY EAST: 6 SHUOUTS BY WEST: 5 LARGEST EAST WINNING MARGIN: 27 points (27-0 in 1975) LARGEST WEST WINNING MARGIN: 41 points (41-0 in 2003) SMALLEST EAST WINNING MARGIN: One point (2010) SMALLEST WEST WINNING MARGIN: One point (Three times; 1988, 1985 and 1982)

BY DECADES 1970's - East 6, West 1 1980's - East 6, West 4 1990's - West 7, East 3 2000's - West 7, East 3 2010’s - East 1, West 1 LONGEST EAST WINNING STREAK: 7 games (1974-80) LONGEST WEST WINNING STREAK: 7 games (1999-2005)