By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

EAST PROVIDENCE – The La Salle Academy Express was just passing through Pierce Field on Turkey Day. Judging by the whipping La Salle laid on East Providence, 54-28, the Rams’ train won’t slow down until it reaches its intended destination: the Super Bowl.
You name it, La Salle accomplished it. Through the air or churning up the ground, stopping the run or thwarting intended passes, the Rams displayed the many pieces which have many to believe they are the frontrunner to capture the Division I title. The Rams gorged the Townies for 295 rushing yards while quarterback Joe Charest passed for 143 yards and two scores.
Defensively La Salle was relentless. The Rams harassed Townies quarterback Aaron Spivey into zero completions (on six attempts) and four sacks. La Salle faces North Kingstown High in Providence in the D-I semifinals this coming Tuesday.

“I’ll tell you what, if they play like this against anybody else, they will be state champions,” declared EP head coach Sandy Gorham.
“We weren’t looking at North Kingstown until (after the final gun went off), but now that’s our focus,” said La Salle head coach Geoff Marcone. “We’ll enjoy (this one-sided affair) today and get ready for Tuesday night.”
With a losing record and a playoff-free future already assured, pride was the Townies’ calling card against their longtime holiday rival. The series dates back to 1929 with the edge belonging to the Rams (43-35-2).
Things started off promising enough for Gorham & Co. EP was able to move the ball on its initial possession, advancing to the La Salle 31 on six plays. The seventh play, however, proved to be a foreshadowing of how the rest of game would play out.
Senior tailback Corey Blair fumbled twice, the second one pounced on the Maroon & White. For the contest East Providence put the ball on ground 10 times, losing four fumbles.
“You would have never thought we practiced for eight days in preparation for this,” said Gorham, whose crew wraps up at 3-5 in league play. “(La Salle) puts a lot of heat on you and they come like (heck); you can’t simulate the speed of the game in practice.
“but if I had a dollar for every missed tackle we had, I’d be driving a Mercedes,” Gorham continued.
The first fumble didn’t completely decimate the Townies’ sideline. EP countered by creating a turnover, Jordan Britto ripped away a completion to La Salle’s Damon DiVozzi, coming on the Rams’ first offensive snap. Britto, a senior, went 31 yards for the score, giving the Townies a short-lived 7-0 lead.
“We thought a little bit of luck was looking down on us,” said Gorham. 
“He made a great,” said Marcone about Britto. “That’s what you teach your kids, to go for the ball.”
East Providence may have landed the first punch, but La Salle responded with a flurry of quick strikes that in no time pinned the Townies in a deep and inescapable hole. The Rams went from down seven points to up 14-7, the transfer of power coming in 49 seconds.
La Salle tied the score on a toss option to Damon DiVozzi, who turned on the jets down the right sideline, racing 55 yards. The Rams quickly got the ball back, Mike Buontempo recording a strip stack of Spivey. Two plays later, Gus DelFarno put the Rams in front for good, rumbling 27 yards for a 14-7 lead.
La Salle’s cushion swelled to 28-7 by the end of the first quarter as the Rams were well on their way to applying the finishing touches to an undefeated regular season (8-0). At halftime it was completely out of reach at 41-14.  
“We have a lot of kids who have played,” said Marcone about what makes La Salle a formidable foe. “We’re experienced on defense and this year we can throw.”  
East Providence showed signs of life late, scoring twice in the final quarter. Emerson Perez was the recipient, rumbling in from six and 45 yards out. John Gorham, son of the coach, scored on a fullback dive for his first varsity score.
Afterwards Gorham tried his best to lighten the mood.
“Focus on the good memories. As time goes on, you’ll think more of the good things than the bad ones,” said Gorham. “We were physically outmatched so hopefully we can get stronger in the off-season.”  
 
LA SALLE, 54-28
East Providence 7 7 0 14 – 28
La Salle 27 14 6 7 -- 54 
EP – Jordan Britto 31 fumble recovery (Aaron Spivey kick)
L – Damon DiVozzi 55 run (Colin Sullivan kick)
L -- Gus DelFarno 27 run (Sullivan kick)
L – James Bone 21 fumble recovery (Sullivan kick)
L – DiVozzi 28 pass from Joe Charest (kick failed)
L – Kendall Perry 60 run (Sullivan kick)
EP – John Gorham 1 run (Spivey kick)
L – Brandon Gomes 27 pass from Charest (Sullivan kick)
L – Charest 1 run (kick failed
EP – Emerson Perez 6 run (Spivey kick)
L – Vito Capuano 41 run (Mike McDermott kick)
EP – Perez 45 run (Matthew Collins kick)

EP L
First downs  11 10
Rushes-yards  32-193 25-282 
Passing  1-7-0 8-11-0
Sacks by  1-9 4-34
Net passing  (-30) 140
Punts-avg.  6-28.0 2-36.5
Fumbles-lost  10-4 6-3
Pen.-yards  1-5 11-112
***
Individual leaders
Rushing: EP – Emerson Perez 14-95, Corey Blair 11-63, Aaron Spivey 2-14, Robert Delgado 2-2, Richard Haley 2-18, John Gorham 1-1; L – Kendall Perry 6-95, Gus DelFarno 9-46, Damon DiVozzi 1-55, Joe Charest 3-29, Vito Capuano 3-41, Corey Fossa 1-9, Paul Rampone 1-6, Alex Hamel 1-1.
Passing: EP – Aaron Spivey 0-6-0-0, Robert Delgado 1-1-0-4; L – Joe Charest 7-10-0-143, Corey Fossa 1-1-0-6.
Receiving: EP – Alexander Therrien 1-4; L – Damon DiVozzi 3-69, Brandon Gomes 2-45, No. 18 1-13, Luke Francis 1-16, Paul Rampone 1-6.