Football: South Kingstown Runs to Win, 34-19 Over Coventry

South Kingstown stormed to an early lead before going on to post a 34-19 victory over Coventry in the non-league season opener for both teams on Friday.

The Division Two Oakers began their home debut in stunning style on a 43-yard kickoff return by sophomore Stryker Blue. Quarterback Alex Zannella then took command, streaking ahead on a keeper for 31 yards on 3rd-and-16 from the Oakers’ 36 to the Rebels 17. Senior fullback Anthony Hodde, Oakers senior fullback, ran for three and four yards, respectively, before Zannella capped the 10-play, 54-yard drive with a 10-yard TD run.

But after the rapid start by the Oakers came a quick-strike, yardage-eating ground assault by the Division One visitors, resulting in four successive scores.

Nick Cruz started the Rebels ground thrust when he shook off a host of Oakers would-be tacklers for an 18-yard run to tie the score in the first quarter.

The Rebels then took over on downs following the next Oakers possession- one of three takeovers during the contest- to resume its relentless ground attack. Quarterback Garrett O’Dowd scrambled for 20 yards to the Oakers 16. A few plays O’Dowd kept the ball again and ran for 10 yards, hitting the pylon at the goal line and left sideline for the go-ahead score.

Kicker Nolan Reifsteck then converted the first of his five successive point-after kicks.

Highlighted by a 22-yard romp by Sean Conley and 25-yard scramble by O’Dowd, South Kingstown took just four plays to cover 56 yards for its third TD. Nick Cruz put the capper on the drive with a 7-yard run to put the Rebels ahead, 20-6.

Just before halftime, the Rebels forged ahead, 27-6, when O’Dowd at safety stepped in front of an intended Oakers receiver to pick off a Zannella pass and stormed into the end zone untouched.

Coventry picked up some momentum in the third quarter following a spectacular 79-yard return on a fumble recovery by Royce Remar. The senior linebacker scooped up the ball at the Oakers 17 and rambled all the way to the Rebels four before finally being hauled down. It took just two plays, a three-yard power run up the middle by Hodde, and a one-yard plunge by Zannella, who also kicked the point after, to trim the lead to 27-13.

South Kingstown immediately dampened the Oakers attempt for a miraculous comeback, though barely recovering another onside-kick attempt by the hosts. The Rebels capitalized again with good field position, marching 56 yards on eight plays, climaxed by 21-yard run by Conley.

The South Kingstown defense also stood firm against Coventry in crucial spots, three times taking over possession around midfield after decisive stops on fourth down attempts by the Oakers.

In the fourth quarter, Aaron Means went high to haul in two Zannella passes for the final Oakers score, accounting for almost all the yardage in a 7-play, 55 yard drive. Zannella first hooked up with his senior split end who outfought a few defenders on a lofty 33-yard pass deep into Rebels territory. Moments later, Means went high again at the goal line for a 20-yard touchdown reception.

Reserves came in for much of the final quarter for both squads.

“We played pretty well except for a few defensive breakdowns,” said South Kingstown head coach Eric Anderson. “Coventry made some crazy blitzes and they got through a few times, but we managed to adjust,” Anderson added. “Overall we played well.”

The game’s bottom line was largely determined by solid Rebels offensive line play and the talented quartet of O’Dowd, Conley, Nicholas Neill and Cruz. “We have four guys we know can run the ball and we mixed it up a lot with misdirection plays,” said Anderson.

After a bye, South Kingstown begins its demanding Division One schedule, including Bishop Hendricken, defending state champion, at home, and then travels to Pilgrim High School to face La Salle Academy, whose new field is still under construction.

“We had a couple of key mistakes late in the second quarter,” pointed out Coventry head coach Gerry Zannella. He added the Oakers also did not play in the round-robin nor practice until last Saturday since school began a week late due to the effects of Tropical Storm Irene.

“We didn’t fold once were down,” praised Zannella. “It was a great showing for us against a very good club. We needed to see what we need to work on. But we have a lot of work to do.”

“I thought Royce with his fumble recovery and run, Zach St. Pierre, Anthony Hodde, and Alex (Zannella) all played well,” said Zannella.

Coventry plays next Saturday night at Johnston to begins its Division Two-A schedule.

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