Warwick trio get ready for R.I. football all-star game

Matt Metcalf and Jacob Marrocco
Posted 6/18/15

Most high school football players around the state hung up their cleats following the fall season.

For seniors, they may have hung them up for the last time, while underclassmen may not break …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Warwick trio get ready for R.I. football all-star game

Posted

Most high school football players around the state hung up their cleats following the fall season.

For seniors, they may have hung them up for the last time, while underclassmen may not break them out until summer sessions start up again.

But on June 27 at 4 p.m. at Johnston High School, some of Rhode Island’s most talented players will lace them up in the Rhode Island High School All-Star Game.

The players will split up into two teams – East and West – and will play one regulation game for bragging rights.

Players were invited to a combine a few months back and then a draft was held to select the respective teams.

If a coach of one of the teams had players at the combine, those players would go to that coach’s team. Otherwise, all of the players were hand selected in the draft.

“It’s a great opportunity for the kids,” East head coach Jim Stringfellow said. “They get to play with kids from D-I through D-IV schools. A lot of these kids played against each other in Pop Warner and it’ll be the last time that some of these guys play football.”

Stringfellow, who also is the head coach at Toll Gate during the fall season, will have the opportunity to coach two of his seniors – Jacob Moran and Nick Lemoie – one last time.

It will be extra special because neither of the two players will be continuing their playing careers, so this will be the final time that the pair will throw on their pads.

“It means a lot,” Stringfellow said of the opportunity to coach Moran and Lemoie one more time. “They’re two great athletes and were great playing for me last year. Those two stuck it out for all four years at Toll Gate, so it’s an honor for them.”

The Titans play at the D-III level, so playing against some elevated competition next Saturday will be a welcomed challenge.

“It’ll be great to play with high-level competition,” Moran said. “Toll Gate’s a D-III school, so playing with all of these kids is a huge step up.”

Because this is many of the players’ final game, they’re determined to go out on top.

“I’m just going to leave it all on the field because this is the last time I’m going to play,” Moran said. “It’s good to get another chance to go back out there and play football.”

Lemoie is excited as well to get back out on the field, where he hasn’t played in pads since the season ended.

He said it was a fun experience to go through the combine required to play in the game, which had an NFL-style feel to it.

“It was pretty cool,” Lemoie said. “It was like different stations, they grouped us up by position, and we did bench press, and then we did some of the pro-agility stuff and the 40[-yard dash] time. It was pretty cool to do something official like that.”

Lemoie said there might be a little rust, but he is ready to suit up for the Titans one last time.

“It’s nice to be able to get one last chance to show what we can do,” Lemoie said. “I’m hoping I can get another touchdown in the books before we’re all done.”

Moran and Lemoie aren’t the only Warwick guys going to Johnston for the All-Star Game. Pilgrim quarterback Robert Quaine will also make the trek, the lone Patriot selected for the competition.

Although, Quaine will have to make some adjustments when he steps out on the field as he won’t be under center. He said the coaches have told him he will play wide receiver, a position he’s never played before.

“I know I have pretty good hands and I can jump pretty high,” Quaine said. “So I’ll be able to go get them.”

Quaine also said he is happy to represent the Patriots and put on the pads for them one last time.

“I’m just going to go out, give 100 percent, 100 miles an hour on every play, not think about it and have fun,” Quaine said.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here