Twice in the same day, it’s Hawks-Rams

Matt Metcalf, Assistant Sports Editor
Posted 12/4/14

There are many rivalries in high school sports around the state.

Some of the best that come to mind are Cranston East-Cranston West, North Kingstown-South Kingstown and Pilgrim-Warwick Vets. …

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Twice in the same day, it’s Hawks-Rams

Posted

There are many rivalries in high school sports around the state.

Some of the best that come to mind are Cranston East-Cranston West, North Kingstown-South Kingstown and Pilgrim-Warwick Vets.

But to me, there is no greater rivalry in these parts than Hendricken and La Salle.

Playing in the rivalry for four years at Hendricken, I learned that the mystique around it is different than any other game during the season that a player suits up for. Not only do players and coaches increase their compete level for those games, but there is a buzz around the school, with students and faculty wanting to get a win over the opposing school.

No matter how much animosity comes between the two schools though, there is a mutual respect. The only reason that the two teams meet so frequently is because of the supreme student-athletes that each institution obtains.

If you’re like me and are a fan of the rivalry that these two schools have established, then you’ll be in for a treat this weekend.

The Hawks and Rams will meet for the second time this season in the Division I Super Bowl at 12 p.m. at Cranston Stadium on Saturday.

The Rams got the best of Hendricken in the first meeting, as a Kyron Lopes touchdown with less than a minute left gave La Salle a 15-9 win.

However, it was evident that the teams couldn’t have been closer in talent.

Hendricken will be looking for an unprecedented fifth straight title and its 11th in school history. Two teams, La Salle and Mount Pleasant way back in the day, strung together four titles in a row but never five. The Hawks’ 10 titles is tied for fourth all-time in D-I.

La Salle, on the other hand, hasn’t won a title since 2008, but is tied with East Providence with 15 D-I championships, which is good for the all-time mark. With a win on Saturday, the Rams would move into sole possession of first on the all-time D-I championships list.

If you were to ask me to pick a winner, I’d truly take whoever has the ball last.

It should be another great game and another great chapter in the storied rivalry.

Hendricken will face the tough task of stopping La Salle’s mix of physicality and elusiveness in its running game. Lopes and Don’Trae Odufunade are big backs that can take a toll on opposing defenses, while quarterback Jace Pena runs the ball quite a bit but is slick and can make people miss.

Odufunade set up the winning touchdown by Lopes in the regular season meeting with a long run down the left sideline.

But as we figured at the time, the game ultimately didn’t mean much, as Hendricken and La Salle, clearly the two best teams in the state would meet again in the Super Bowl and they will on Saturday.

The fans from both schools will be busy this weekend, as the Super Bowl isn’t the only clash between the two schools on Saturday.

Later that day, the two school’s hockey teams will square off. At Thayer Arena at 8 p.m., the Hawks and Rams will take to the ice in the Hawks’ second game of their regular season.

Of course the hockey game will be put on the back burner for the day, but there’s no question that the student sections will be filled for the hockey game as well.

Why? Because it’s Hendricken-La Salle.

It’s must-see action. Bragging rights are on the line in terms of which school is more superior than the other – not only athletically, but in the grand scheme of things.

Hendricken football will be looking to avenge its loss a few weeks ago with a Super Bowl victory, while the Rams’ hockey team will be looking to avenge its 5-2 loss to the Hawks in the Injury Fund this past Saturday night.

If you’re a high school sports fan, get out to Cranston Stadium and Thayer Arena on Saturday.

It’s the Hawks. It’s the Rams.

There’s nothing better.

Matt Metcalf is the assistant sports editor at the Warwick Beacon. He can be reached at 732-3100 and MattM@rhodybeat.com. Find him on Twitter @Matt_Metcalf.

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