Warriors Lose to Bourne at Home [VIDEO]

As the sun set on Friday evening, the outlook for the team's season opener seemed bright. Seekonk players and coaches were on the field, looking crisp in their pregame warmups and confident that a difficult preseason had made them a better team.

Bourne players and coaches, by contrast, were sitting in gridlock on Interstate 195. The game was eventually delayed by 15 minutes to allow Bourne to get off their bus and prepare to play.

But once things kicked off, it was clear that Bourne had arrived. Seekonk attempted an onside kick to start the game, and the Calanmen were ready and scooped it up, allowing them to start with a short field.

The first quarter was a battle of field position. With punts and failed fourth down conversions on either side, there was no score after one frame. Bourne drew first blood when quarterback Jason Moriarty ran in from ten yards out with under three minutes left in the half.

Bourne was inept in one area, converting points after touchdowns. Each time they scored a touchdown they skipped the PAT and each time they failed to convert for two. The score at half would stay at 6-0 Bourne.

Bourne head coach John McIntyre was happy with his team's effort overall. "We didn't turn the ball over, we're getting better," said the coach, whose Canalmen were coming off a five turnover game last week.

Fresh out of the break, a still optimistic Seekonk team lost a lot of confidence when Joe Epps ran 50 yards for a touchdown less than two minutes into the half.

Where Bourne had eliminated devastating turnovers, Seekonk had run into some of their own. "We fumbled on the first play of the second half," said Seekonk coach Jack Whalen, of the play that led to the Epps touchdown. "After that, we're chasing two touchdowns, that forces us to get away from what we do best, which is run the football."

A few minutes later, Seekonk dropped back to punt and had the kick blocked. The Warriors were able to recover the ball, but they gave it back to the Canalmen on downs. The resulting drive ended in Marquesse Rhodes punching it in from a yard out to give Bourne a 18-0 lead with the third quarter drawing to a close.

In the fourth quarter, Rhodes threw a 20 yard touchdown strike to Drew Girouard. This was the final score of the game, and it was more than enough to put Seekonk away.

After the game, Seekonk's coaching staff said next week will be just as tough. "Now we have to face another good team in Apponequet. It's the same offense, and it's another good team," said Whalen.

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