Cranston East is leading the way before the season starts. Don't count out Bishop Hendricken, La Salle Academy, Portsmouth and Johnston.
Marquem Monroe is back as Cranston East looks to stay the best team in Rhode Island.
File photo by Mike Braca
Head coach: Thomas Centore
2012 finish: 9-2
Team previewCranston East has the good fortune of having dynamic skill position players returning, particularly
Marven Beauvais,
who caught 35 passes, including 10 touchdowns. He's one of two
returning all-state players on the team, including defensive back
Marquem Monroe, who added 14 touchdowns on offense as a sophomore in 2012.
"Cranston
East is the team to beat," said Keith Croft, the rival head coach of
Bishop Hendricken. "They have all the pieces in place."
See the Top 15 Rhode Island football dynasties2. Bishop Hendricken (Warwick)Head coach: Keith Croft
2012 finish: 9-2
Team previewDespite being hit hard in the trenches, the Hawks have key players coming back, including running back
Remy Blue
who was second-team all-state after finishing with 1,227 yards rushing
and 10 touchdowns. Hendricken coach Keith Croft is optimistic about his
team that will have core players
Matt Duffie,
Thomas St. Pierre and
Patrick Gill back in the mix.
"Obviously
we have high aspirations this year," said Croft while sizing up the
competition. "We're returning 11 starters between the offense and
defense."
See last season's Rhode Island all-conference players3. La Salle Academy (Providence)
Head coach: Geoff Marcone
2012 finish: 10-1
Team preview
La
Salle Academy will have to do without all-state quarterback and
Gatorade State Player of the Year Anthony Lanier, who will suit up for
Marist this fall, as well as the team's top running back Josh Morris.
But head coach Geoff Marcone expects a new crop of skill position
players to fill in nicely while the entire offensive line remains
intact.
Keon Wilson, a split end last season that caught 28 passes and nine touchdowns, has the most experience. And sophomore quarterback
Jace Pena,
brought up last season from the junior varsity, is the frontrunner to
take the reins. That's a lot of turnover for the talented program.
"The only bright spot for us is our freshman class was very talented," Marcone said.
See last season's Rhode Island playoff brackets4. Portsmouth
Head coach: Ryan Moniz
2012 finish: 10-2
Team previewTalented
quarterback Bobby Chavous and linebacker Matt Greenman, departed last
year, leave giant holes for the Portsmouth Patriots to fill. But with 15
seniors returning, including second team all-state receiver
Matthew Sewall and honorable mention
Luke Medeiros, the Patriots are widely expected to be competitive this season.
See last season's Rhode Island Fab 5
5. JohnstonHead coach: Joe Acciardo
2012 finish: 9-0
Team previewThe Panthers have a number of key players returning from last season's 9-0 team, including backs
Mark L. Breton and
Mike Caparco,
who played in a stacked backfield last season. And even coming from
the Division II-A landscape, the Panthers still get respect from their
peers.
"Johnston may have been one of the best teams in the state," Bishop Hendricken coach Keith Croft said. "But they lost a lot."
