Titans with tons to play for; Pats prepare for EG

By Jacob Marrocco
Posted 9/22/16

The Toll Gate football team will have some extra motivation to defeat Scituate this week. Titans Principal Stephen Chrabaszcz unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday night, and numerous players and …

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Titans with tons to play for; Pats prepare for EG

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The Toll Gate football team will have some extra motivation to defeat Scituate this week. Titans Principal Stephen Chrabaszcz unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday night, and numerous players and coaches took notice. Head coach Jim Stringfellow said it was “devastating,” and he reached out to Scituate for a moment of silence on Friday. Captain Nick Kazandjian announced on Twitter Wednesday that the team will dedicate the rest of its season to Chrabaszcz. Toll Gate is coming off a 28-15 loss to North Providence as well, scoring all of those points in the second half. The Titans will figure to have sophomore running back/linebacker Michael Negri for the whole game after he was held out of the first half last week. Quarterback Anthony Vann had some strong throws against the Cougars, and the defense forced three fumbles to help fuel the offense. Points-off-turnovers will be the key against the Spartans. The Titans have to strike early and often after giving too many chances to North Providence. Toll Gate will have too much to play for Friday night. It is tough to see it losing this one.

Prediction: Toll Gate 27, Scituate 14

 

Pilgrim looked cool under pressure Friday night during its foray back into Division II. James McKay hit Steven Rosa with a touchdown pass under the one-minute mark to propel the Pats to a 2-0 record. This week, Pilgrim will look to continue its strong start against an old friend. East Greenwich, another Division III import, comes to Warwick for a matchup with the Pats. Pilgrim could have an axe to grind this time around. The Pats had won five games in a row last year and scored at least 30 points in each of them before a crushing, 47-0 loss to the eventual state champion Avengers to close the regular season. Now, both sides have ascended to the D-II ranks, and Pilgrim could have the edge. East Greenwich lost several notable players on offense during the offseason, including quarterback and Gatorade Player of the Year Nick Andreozzi. The Avengers have yet to win in the regular season this year, dropping a non-league game to Division-III Burrillville and its D-II opener to North Kingstown. The Pats look better than the Avengers, and it could be time to avenge last season’s forgettable defeat.

Prediction: Pilgrim 30, East Greenwich 20

 

Bishop Hendricken dispatched East Providence 28-7 last week, but it continues a slate of tough tests to begin the year. After downing Notre Dame, one of Connecticut’s best high school teams, and the Townies, the Hawks turn their attention to South Kingstown. The Rebels wouldn’t mind a victory over Hendricken after they were knocked out of the postseason by the Hawks a year ago. Hawks coach Keith Croft said that senior running back Anthony Shepard was the point of emphasis, though senior quarterback Brendan Blessing can cause problems as well. South Kingstown has already won on the road this year as well after cruising past Woonsocket, 35-6, in the league opener. However, this will be just another case of Hendricken overpowering its opponent. Going from the Villa Novans, a new addition to D-I, to one of its finest mainstays will be a shock to the Rebels. Not much has changed about the Hendricken front seven that dominated South Kingstown last year, and not much will change about the result.

Prediction: Bishop Hendricken 35, South Kingstown 14

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