Turkey Bowl 2023

y B e k o r w u l T 2023

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TURKEY BOWL 2023 • 2

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By ALEX SPONSELLER The Pilgrim football team will enter the 2023 Beacon Bowl with the trophy on its sideline, and has no intention of handing it over to rival Toll Gate, who it beat 32-14 in last year’s game.

“It’s very exciting. We always look forward to this. We wanted to make the playoffs but unfortunately that didn’t happen. As a senior, to have our final game be the Beacon Bowl, we want to go out with a bang, we want to take it home,” said senior Dylan Roberts.

Pilgrim finished the regular season with a 3-4 league record and had a chance to qualify for the Division III postseason with a season finale win over Moses Brown. Despite taking an early 12-0 lead over the Quakers, the Pats lost steam down the stretch to see its season come to an end.

Senior John Kelly is excited to get one more chance to take home a big win, especially as a senior who will be suiting up for his final game on Thanksgiving.

“It hurts not being able to accomplish what we wanted which was to make playoffs, so we’re looking forward to getting one more game. It’s the last game ever for some of us, so I’m just trying to enjoy it and not take anything for granted,” said Kelly.

Last season the Pats were coming off a Beacon Bowl loss when last-minute replacement Johnston pulled off the upset. Although things are different this season, the Pats are plenty motivated to get the job done.

“It’s different because we don’t have that chip on our shoulder, but we still want to go out there and get the win, especially against our rival. I really just want to embrace the moment.

I’ve been playing football for 15 years so I’m just going to really try to have fun,” said Roberts.

Kelly also feels that it is up to the seniors to help set the tone for next year’s group.

“We are just trying to come out and play Pilgrim’s game, do what we do best. We’re not going to change our play style. We’re looking to make a statement, especially for the guys coming back next year. We want to show them that you should never give up and always give 110 BRING IT HOME: Pilgrim quarterback Chace Roberts. (Photo by Mike Zawistoski) percent effort,” said Kelly.

3 • TURKEY BOWL 2023

Pats looking to keep Beacon Bowl trophy

TURKEY BOWL 2023 • 4

Dylan Roberts Favorite dish: Turkey and stuffing

John Kelly Favorite dish: Stuffing

Pilgrim Patriots Carter Clifton Jack Coffey Jacob Soulliere Justyn Murphy Cole Bigelli Andrew Vicino John Kelly Colin Burke Hunter Schobel Joshua Mihalos Chace Roberts Luka Ruscio Evan Nolan Josh Escamilla Kary Baptiste Chris Maniatakos Yaby Diop Noah Smiley Dylan Rodrigues

Dominick Stgermain Tristan Miller Oscar Perez-Deleon Louis Gauthier Liam Dillon Dylan Roberts Tyrell Brousseau James Smith Christian Brown Brett Taylor Tausaquonowan Johnson Donovan Watts Joseph Tejada Jacob DeGrasse Alexander Schreffler Logan Andrade Andreas Filippou Isaac Iannone Liam McDonnell

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By ALEX SPONSELLER The Toll Gate football team underwent another rebuilding season this past fall but made some significant strides in its quest to get back in title contention, including getting its first league win in two years.

Toll Gate has dropped the past two meetings against rival Pilgrim in the annual Beacon Bowl clash, but it is confident that it has what t takes to put an end to that streak, despite being the underdog once again.

“It’s very meaningful. We know a lot of those guys, they’re our rival, it’s a lot of our last games, so this is a very important game for us,” said senior Ryan Fracassa. “It was really important to get that win. This was a rebuilding year, but we never gave up and that win was great for us to get. We want it to be our city and we want to be the better team at the end. We want to show that we can hang with them.”

Fellow senior Devin Manzo added: “We played them last year then this year in the injury fund. It didn’t go our way, so we really want to go out there and show them that we’re no joke.”

The Titans trailed by just one score heading into the fourth quarter last year before the Pats exploded and ran away with the win. Fracassa believes the line play will be crucial in getting the win.

“We could have had them last year, we kept it close until the final quarter but then we lost in the trenches. The game is going to be won in the trenches, we need to jam them up,” said Fracassa.

Kason Wirtz believes that shutting down the high-flying Pilgrim passing attack will also be key.

“Pilgrim makes a lot of big plays. They like to throw the ball deep, a lot of the drives that they score on are pretty short. We need to watch out over the top. They have some big receivers and a quarterback that likes to throw it,” said Wirtz.

Manzo is expecting another tight battle that could be decided in the final quarter.

“Chace Roberts is a good quarterback and they throw the ball well. We’ll be alright defensively, it’ll be a close, low-scoring game,” Manzo said.

“It’s the last game of the season, it’s a holiday, it’s completely different.”

HAND OFF: Toll Gate’s Jack Colvin hands the ball to Mason Tanner. (Photo by Mike Zawistoski)

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5 • TURKEY BOWL 2023

Titans hungry to pull off Thanksgiving upset

TURKEY BOWL 2023 • 6

Toll Gate Titans Stephen Amargo Sean Anderson Jayden Arnold Andrew Bergeron Anthony Bonang Jaden Brevner Nicholas Bruner Jozia Charles Rocco Coccio Jack Colvin Jackson Dewar Noah Durand Ryan Fracassa Dante Frechette Tyler Frigon Nathan Gamba-Masse Matthew Harrold Kumail Javed Jackson Kavanagh Jonah LaFauci

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Kason Wirtz Favorite dish: Stuffing and gravy

Devin Manzo Favorite dish: Stuffing

Ryan Fracassa Favorite dish: Sweet potatoes

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By ALEX SPONSELLER Cranston West is coming off a Thanksgiving win over rival East when it grabbed the 35-26 win while also taking the series lead in last year’s event.

“It’s definitely my favorite game of the year, there’s so much history behind it. With so many people that have played in it, the alumni come out, it brings the community together. I look forward to it every year, it’s awesome,” said captain Kelan Cornell.

In what has become the city’s biggest sporting event on the calendar, the Falcons are excited to put on another show for the community.

“It’s a lot of fun. It’s like our Super Bowl, whether we make the playoffs or not. The whole city is there, it doesn’t matter what the records are. It’s a great game to be a part of, it brings everyone together and it’s always a hardfought game,” said fellow captain Jared Parent.

Adrian Samayoa added: “It’s a big game for our community, the city. Everyone knows about the rivalry and everyone cares about it. The city rallies behind it.”

The Falcons finished the regular season with a 2-4 record while the Bolts picked up one win on its schedule. West will enter the contest as the favorite, but Parent believes that the city is in for another close matchup, as the Thanksgiving game always brings the unexpected.

“It’s a hard matchup, it doesn’t matter what either team has done, it’s a weird environment. It’s one game where you can watch film, but no one knows and everyone comes and fights hard,” said Parent.

Although the game is an exhibition on paper, Cornell believes that the contest is a must-win for the Falcon program.

“They’ve got some studs over there. Guys like DionAndre (Brown), Armand Northup. They have a lot of good players that we’ll need to stop. They’re going to give us a run for our money.

This, in a lot of ways, is the most important game of the year,” said Cornell. “You want to get that win, you want to be able to take that with you into the offseason.

It’s also for pride and bragging rights.”

COMMUNITY TRADITION: West quarterback Kelan Cornell celebrates with teammates this season. (Photo by Alex Sponseller)

7 • TURKEY BOWL 2023

Falcons playing for ‘pride, bragging rights’

TURKEY BOWL 2023 • 8

Cranston West Falcons Caiden McBride-Champlin Ant Salas Gabe Saballa Kelan Cornell Antonio sanchez Charlie Cornell Samuel Picillo Ray Mahoney Jack Majcher Dylen Gorman Adam Stoloff Brady D’Attilio Lorenzo Giaccarini Evan Caruso John Quattrocchi Zachary Jean-Philippe Alius Cotto-Santiago Javien Urena Ethan Parent Zachary Berardis Adrian Samayoa Mark Iorfida Jr Adalino Aceto-Kun Jakari Taylor Austyn Miller Ryan Furtado David Boscia Ian McGovern

Aivan Galang Gene Goncalves Anthony Cambio Thomas Fountaine Zachary Miga-Orcutt Richard Thomas Tierney Miguel Delarosa Elijah Adolphe Dylan Cicchitelli Jesse Mantia-Hall Zachary Petrella Roman Duarte Andrew Gardiner Justin Cabrera Dean Gaulin Wasim Tanbakji Ayden Theroux Nathan Reynolds Jared Parent Cameron DiCenzo Adam Jennings Kaiden Vega Shawn Kemble Michael Manzanillo Mohamad Albukai Maddox Harpool Lorenzo Aceto

Adrian Samayoa Favorite dish: Mashed potatoes

Jared Parent Favorite dish: Turkey

Kelan Cornell Favorite dish: Mashed potatoes

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By ALEX SPONSELLER Cranston East fell to rival West last Thanksgiving to also fall behind in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Thunderbolts have been playing their best football lately and are looking to get back on top to even the score.

East’s fortunes took a turn for the better this fall as it got its first league win since 2018 while playing some of the top teams in Division II tough. The players have attributed the recent success to chemistry and playing for one another.

“The confidence is definitely there, we’re playing more like a team this year, this year we can feel the brotherhood and that is what helped propel us to our first win. We need play together as a team and pick each other up,” said Michael Terry.

The Bolts will enter the game as a slight underdog, but they are looking forward to getting one last chance to hit the gridiron this fall, especially the seniors on the roster.

“It’s more of a bond, we’ve been spending more time together and it’s been more of a bond.

We’ve been picking each other up when we’re down. We’re more bonded and united than we’ve been in previous years.

It’s exciting to get to play West one last time,” said senior Jensy Rodriguez.

The annual Cranston Thanksgiving game attracts perhaps the city’s biggest crowd of the season, which has energized the players at East. As much as they are looking to come out hot against the rival Falcons, they also recognize that they’ll need to stay locked in on the big stage.

“It’s very important and it’s fun also. It’s important to the community. We just need to stay focused,” said Saqari Monroe. “(It’s going to be about) playing together as a team, keeping it to ourselves and not talk trash.

Togetherness,” added Terry.

Having one more chance to also steal a win against the Falcons will once again excite the Bolts as well.

“We have a chip on our shoulder, especially after the last few years,” said A’Driahn Foreman.

“It just motivates us to play harder.”

BROTHERHOOD: East’s Saqari Monroe and DionAndre Brown embrace in a game this season. (Photo by Alex Sponseller)

9 • TURKEY BOWL 2023

‘Bonded’ Bolts look to get back into win column

TURKEY BOWL 2023 • 10

Cranston East Thunderbolts Michael Terry Jayden Chagnon Xavier Grundy James Low A’Driahn Foreman Darian Marines Abraham Ashton Allison Cameron Major Larry Yin Jovany G. Gonzalez Jordan Knowles Angel Figueroa Aiden Vor Ethan LaCour Jaden Young Armand Northup-Reed Logan Enos Joshua Olaoye Juan Carrion Tim Calixto Anthony Hernandez Mason Raposa Kayvion Perreault Saqari Monroe Adrian Tim Cameron Manley Aram Jordan Sean Mendonca James Conway Stephan Bloodworth Matthew Quinlan Ethan Medeiros Jamani Taveras Jules-Eric Lamothe Christian Heanue Jensy Rodriguez DionAndre Brown Justin Amaral Lincoln Aldrich Valentino Gonzalez lsreal Opadiran AleSandro Duffy-Matos

A’Driahn Foreman Favorite dish: Collards, Mac and Cheese

Saqari Monroe Favorite dish: Blueberry pie

Michael Terry Favorite dish: Pumpkin pie

Jensy Rodriguez Favorite dish: Pernil

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Blake Simpson Pilgrim Head Coach

Jim Miceli Toll Gate Head Coach

“I’m thankful to be able to give the kids and athletes at Pilgrim opportunities that I never had as a player. To share my knowledge of the game with them so hopefully they can take it with them, in any way in life, and be great men.”

“I just love working with the kids. I’m a teacher of football. I enjoy it because I get to work with kids and help them with a lot more than just football. Helping with things that will be important for the rest of their lives. I’m also thankful to have a true rival to play on Thanksgiving. We have a full-fledged rival and that’s great for the kids, great for the city.”

Tom Milewski West Head Coach

Isaiah McDaniel East Head Coach

“I’m thankful to be a coach because football is a passion of mine and I enjoy helping the kids.

Football teaches a lot of life lessons and to see the kids go from freshmen to seniors, seeing the growth they have every year and becoming young men, that’s what it’s all about. It’s about the lessons we teach rather than the wins and losses.”

“I’m thankful to coach because of messages that I get from kids like (former East QB) Da’Qwon Foster, who was the GNAC Player of the Week, scoring the game-winning touchdown. Him texting me and wanting me to know that I was one of the reasons he made it to that point, helping kids live their dreams is why I coach.”

11 • TURKEY BOWL 2023

Thankful to be a coach

TURKEY BOWL 2023 • 12

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