Rhode Island: Big Second Half Lifts Scituate

By Russ Waterman

MaxPreps.com

Running back Matt Winfield and quarterback Dan Pugliese each scored a touchdown and combined for 216 yards on the ground to spark Scituate to its first win, 26-14, over host Providence Country Day/Wheeler in Division 4 action at PCD in East Providence.

Scituate needed just 82 seconds to go 55 yards and score on its first possession as Pugliese lofted a pass into the hands of wide receiver Jared Hanson for a 33-yard strike.

The host Knights punted after being held to seven yards in their first series, but quickly got the ball back when linebacker Justin Weiner intercepted a pass at the Scituate 30 yard line. In just six plays and with running back Andrew Mele (75 yards on 22 carries) leading the way, Ben Clancy scored on a 3-yard plunge.

PCD/Wheeler engineered a 14-play, 84-yard drive in the second quarter. Mele carried for 35 yards, hauled in a 31-yard pass and scored from the 1 to extend the Knights’ lead to 12-6. Quarterback Nick Sebastian then threw to Clancy for the extra points, with the junior wide receiver extending his arm just past the goal line as he was being driven out of bounds.

Scituate kicker Pete Sugrue capped the scoring as time expired, nailing a 24-yard field goal to finish the half and narrow the deficit to 14-9.

Thereafter it was all Spartans, who not only held PDC/Wheeler scoreless the last 29 minutes, but controlled possession on offense as well.

Winfield, who ran for 125 yards overall but gained just eight in the first half, roared out of the gate after intermission. His 23-yard romp set up a Pugliese 7-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. And on an 11-play, 89-yard drive in the fourth quarter, Winfield rushed for 57 more yards on four carries, including a 33-yard scoring burst.

But it proved to be a competitive game for both fledgling programs.

Scituate reestablished its program in 2006 after a 30-year absence and had won one game in its first two years. PCD, which combined with Wheeler in Providence to begin its first Rhode Island Interscholastic League competition last year, earned one victory in its inaugural 2007 campaign.

Last week Scituate stayed with Division 3 Ponaganset deep into the second half before losing, 23-0, while PDC/Wheeler hung in against Mt. Pleasant before falling, 14-6.

"It was a big win," said Scituate coach Mark Reed, who thinks this season could prove to be "something special" as his squad steadily improves."Matt (Winfield) had his best game yet, Pugliese kept his head and stayed relaxed, Jared Hanson played well and James Murray was excellent on defense."

PDC/Wheeler’s first-year coach, Ron Mosca, says his squad simply has to execute better, especially on defense. The Knights carry just six seniors; the program has 40 students (out of a total enrollment of 100 boys) participating in either varsity or JV football.

"Our offense is just fine but we just didn't tackle," he said. "We lost a few players to injury, including our best runner, Nathan Morris, but Mele is a very good runner and blocks well."

Elsewhere in Rhode Island

* A 19-yard touchdown pass from Ryan O'Dell to Justin Perry late in the fourth quarter gave Lincoln a 27-26 win over host Shea in Division 2-B play.

* Tim Hazard, who ran for 138 yards on 20 carries, tied the score with a 3-yard run and then ran in the two-point conversion to give South Kingstown a 14-12 victory over Coventry in Division 2-B. Kane Noka also returned a second-half kickoff for an 80-yard touchdown for the Rebels.

* Emmanuel Versailles picked up a fumble and ran it in for a 64-yard score to clinch an exciting 32-28 victory for Central Falls over Classical in Division 4. Kevin Cleveland also scored three times for the victors while David Comerford matched that total with three scores for Classical.

* Hope quarterback Israel Rivera threw for one score and ran in for another in the fourth quarter to help produce a 14-6 come-from-behind victory over North Providence in Division 4.

* Aaron Spivey, Ryan Bellamy, Emerson Perez and Trey Britton each scored on short runs to keep East Providence unbeaten with a 27-13 win over Cranston West in Division 1. Perez gained all but eight yards in a 78-yard drive in the second quarter.

* Portsmouth running back Remington Alves rushed for 185 yards, including a 60-yard score in the third quarter, in the Patriots' 16-9 Division 1 win over Bishop Hendricken.

* Mike Read of Barrington had the most impressive effort of any Ocean State back last week, scoring twice on runs of 59 and 67 yards while gaining 196 yards overall in a 28-6 Division 1 victory over Rogers.

* Joe Charest scored on a 56-yard run and Kendall Perry ran in from 13 yards out to lead La Salle Academy to a 21-7 Division 1 win over North Kingstown.

* Toll Gate's Doug Johnson continued his offensive rampage and had a hand in all four touchdowns for the undefeated Titans, which rolled to a 28-0 Division 2 win over Cranston East. Johnson scored on runs of 44, 69 and 70 yards and connected on an 85-yard pass play with quarterback Joe Pichotte.

* Brandon Parillo threw for one score and ran for two others in Johnston's 40-14 Division 3 triumph over East Greenwich

Games of the Week

 In the third week, several teams will attempt to keep their records perfect. On Friday night, Portsmouth is at East Providence in a battle of unbeatens. Three teams with 2-0 records will be on the road. On Friday night, Barrington is at North Kingstown while La Salle travels to Rogers in Newport. West Warwick is at Woonsocket on Saturday. And Toll Gate has a chance to keep rolling at home versus Shea on Friday night.

Girls Volleyball

Defending Division 1 state champion La Salle Academy has won 18 straight games over six matches to keep the Rams atop the standings in Division 1 North. Only three other squads remain unbeaten, including West Warwick (6-0) in Division 2 North, Prout (5-0) in Division 2 South and Central Falls in Division 3.

Russ Waterman covers Massachusetts and Rhode Island for MaxPreps.com. He may be reached at rwathoop3@aol.com.