|
Woonsocket defeats Cumberland, 27-14 |
|
|
Friday, 27 November 2009 |
By STEVE MAZZONE
Sports writer
WOONSOCKET - During its successful regular season en route to a Division II-A championship, Woonsocket High has relied primarily on its ground attack on the offensive end. Although he played an integral part in that scheme, there was little use for the arm of quarterback Dominic Hernandez.
In the Villa Novans’ annual Thanksgiving Day showdown with Cumberland High Thursday morning at Barry Field, it was Hernandez turn to make the headlines.
The senior signal-caller provided the perfect motivational boost for his teammates, tossing for three first-half touchdowns as Woonsocket (6-1, 9-2 overall) earned its third straight victory and the coveted St. Germain Trophy with a convincing 27-14 decision.
Woonsocket took care of all of its offense in the opening half, racing to a 27-0 lead by the break. Hernandez, who was named the game’s MVP, was a big reason for that comfortable cushion, hitting 9 of 13 passes in the first two quarters, including two scores to senior Jose Merced. He finished the game making 12 of 21 attempts for 168 yards.
Senior running back Travis Gagne also rushed for 102 yards for the Villa Novans, who had just 104 for the day.
“I thought (Hernandez) threw the ball exceptionally well,” said WHS coach Carnell Henderson. “We felt for us to have success we need to throw the football. We have done a great job of establishing the run all year. We haven’t really had to use Dominic. When he’s playing, he plays well. It’s another great option. You really got to take what they give you. If they are going to give you an option to throw, sometimes you have to try and exploit that option.”
Hernandez as well as his team have been competing this year in memory of assistant coach Curtis Henderson, the former Villa Novan standout and brother of the WHS coach who died unexpectedly earlier this season.
A newspaper clipping and a photo of Henderson holding the St. Germain Trophy after a Villa Novan victory over Cumberland on Thanksgiving hangs in the locker room.
“This game is basically for him,” Hernandez said. “He has been our inspiration.”
“It was very emotional today. Some of my brother’s biggest games were Thanksgiving,” said Carnell Henderson. “This season has been tough since it happened. But these kids just keep coming out here and giving me everything they have as you can see from another great result and another great effort.”
Cumberland (3-4, 3-8), which has been saddled with a truckload of unnecessary penalties this fall, was again its own worse enemy on Thursday, particularly in the opening half. The Clippers had four penalties in the game’s first eight minutes and six by the time halftime arrived.
The Clippers were much more disciplined in the second half, but the damage was already done.
“I feel bad for the seniors. We have 16 on this team,” said CHS head coach Chris Skurka. “We made some adjustments at halftime, but obviously it was a little too late.”
Woonsocket scored its first touchdown with just 17.3 seconds remaining in the first quarter with Brian Doire finding the end zone a one-yard run. Doire’s score capped a 57-yard drive that was aided by two Clipper penalties and three long passes from Hernandez. The talented senior hit junior Geovanni Heredia on a 10-yarder to begin the drive, found Rafael Rodriguez for 18 more and had his biggest of the series when he spotted Rodriguez again for a 39-yard pass play that set up Doire’s one-yard plunge.
Woonsocket took advantage of a few Clippers being out of position in earning its success via the air.
“I think they were expecting us to come out and run the football,” Henderson said. “It kind of gave us some things that we thought we could throw the ball down field.”
The turning point of the game occurred midway into the second quarter when Woonsocket scored twice in just over a minute. The Villa Novans scored on their first drive of the quarter with Hernandez tossing a four-yard TD pass to Geovanni Heredia. The play finished off a 55-yard drive with Gagne rushing for all but five of those yards.
The Villa Novans would get the ball again shortly after. On a second-and-12 from the 38, Rodriguez intercepted his first of his two passes in the game, picking off a pass thrown by QB Dan Canavan (12-for-22, 136 yards, three interceptions). The Villa Novans made good use of the turnover when Hernandez and Merced hooked up for a perfect 50-yard pass play with the senior receiver hauling in the ball near the left sidelines.
Hernandez completed four of six attempts in the Villa Novans’ final drive of the half - a lengthy drive that began at their own 39 and ended with the QB tossing an 11-yard pass to Merced with 25.8 ticks on the clock.
“I thought we came out and played almost a flawless first half,” Henderson said. “It seemed everything we dialed up was right on.”
Dave Elkas led the Clippers’ ground game, finishing with 81 yards on 10 handles. Elkas accumulated 65 of those yards in the second half. The Clippers also limited their mental mistakes after the break and were tagged for just one penalty the final two quarters.
“In the second half, you saw they made some adjustments,” Henderson said. “That’s the game of football. We were just fortunate to come out on top and got the upper hand early.”
Cumberland had both its touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Canavan connected on a 20-yard pass to Brad Camiel and Elkas scored on a one-yard run.
“Our goal was to win the game and make something happen,” Skurka said. “I just feel bad for the kids. They never quit.”
“Woonsocket is a good football team: he continued. “They are obviously going to be a tough team to beat in the playoffs.”
Besides taking home the hardware and earning the bragging rights for another year, Woonsocket also gave itself a nice tune-up for the upcoming playoffs when they face Coventry in the semifinals on Tuesday night at Barry Field.
“Now we can really focus on Tuesday,“ Henderson said. “It’s been tough. These kids have been trying to stay focused on Cumberland, but knowing the excitement that Tuesday brings. Now we can just focus on Tuesday before we enjoy Thanksgiving with our families.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 13 December 2009 )
|
CUMBERLAND CLIPPERS WRESTLERS GOOD LUCK IN SANFORD MAIN THIS
WEEKEND AND MAKE RHODE ISLAND PROUD!!!!! - Mike Glad Best wishes to the Tigers tonight in the SuperBowl! - Celeste Swaim-Black
Good Luck to the Woodlawn basketball teams in their CYO
games this weekend!! - From all the coach's I wish the best to the Warriors on Saturday game keep up the
great work team. George Carle auntie Ne-Ne is proud Happy hoildays from The Carle &
Pettaway Family........
Good Luck Girls Basketball Tolman Tigers lets kick some
courts... YEA JENNA !!!!!Keep it going!! - Carols Ayala go sentinells THE CHAMPIONS ON ICE DIVISON 2 VINNIE (TEDDY
BEAR) TUDINO.LOVE POPA - Anthony Paolino
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Horoscope
