MaxPreps 2014 Rhode Island Football Fab 5
Bishop Hendricken held off Cranston East for the 2013 RIIL Division 1 title, and will try to repeat again this fall in going for a fifth straight championship.
Photo by Mike Braca
1. Bishop Hendricken (Warwick, R.I.)2013 finish: 11-1, RIIL Division 1 champs
Head coach: Keith Croft
Team previewThe Division 1 Rhode Island champions for the last four years will be sporting a new quarterback — currently running with sophomore
Chris Hindle — but will depend on their power running game to carry them into the winter. "I think it's the same method that we've had for the last five years," said Bishop Hendricken coach Keith Croft. "We have to run the football into December. We like to throw the ball, we like to spread it around, and we like to get the ball to our athletes in space, and that's all well and good and I know the game of football has changed — and we have some spread principles in place — but when push comes to shove and the weather starts to change, it's time to pound the football." Bishop Hendricken will utilize a trio of backs, including
Gary Gibbs,
Terrence Gibbs and
Power Kanga, as they defend their title and legacy.
See the most dominant Rhode Island football teams of the MaxPreps Era2. La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.)2013 finish: 5-5
Head coach: Geoff Marcone
Team previewWith quarterback
Jace Pena (70 of 156 passing for 985 yards) and running backs
Don'trae Odufanade (915 yards, 7 touchdowns) and
Kyron Lopes (377 yards, 5 touchdowns) returning, the Rams are hoping for a better year after finishing 5-5 in 2013 and missing the playoffs.
See MaxPreps Rhode Island football photo galleries3. Cranston East (R.I.)2013 finish: 9-4, RIIL Division 1 runner-up
Head coach: Tom Centore
Team previewSenior
Marquem Monroe, a utility player on offense and defensive back, will help lead a Cranston East team that looks to make its fourth trip to the Division 1 playoffs. East fell short of a championship last season, losing to Bishop Hendricken in the title game. The Thunderbolts ended up losing star quarterback
Alex Corvese, the state's leading passer, as well as four-fifths of their starting offensive line to graduation. But there's more than enough fire power on defense to keep this team going.
See MaxPreps Rhode Island computer rankings4. Cumberland (R.I.)2013 finish: 9-4, RIIL Division 2 runner-up
Head coach: Josh Lima
Team previewMoving up from Division 2 might seem like a tall task for Cumberland, but with a trio of talented returners, including quarterback
Tyler Calabro who threw for 1,472 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, along with talented skill players like
Mike Stock (830 yards rushing, 8 touchdowns) and
Jared Talbert (30 receptions, 515 yards and 6 touchdowns), the Clippers are in good hands.
See MaxPreps Rhode Island football playoff brackets5. Portsmouth2013 finish: 9-3, RIIL Division 1 semifinalist
Head coach: Ryan Moniz
Team previewLinebacker
James Coll (75 tackles) will return to help anchor a Patriots defense that allowed 16.9 points per game last season while advancing to the Division 1 playoffs as the third seed. Portsmouth will try to replace the production of former standout quarterback
Matthew Sewell (29 total touchdowns) with returnees
Evan Criner and
Colin Tullson. See MaxPreps Rhode Island football statistics pageZuri
Berry is a sports writer and producer for the Boston Globe and Boston.com. You can follow him on Twitter @zuriberry, and reach him via
e-mail at zuri@zuriberry.com.