Football: West's Season Ends with Fourth Loss

Cranston West hosted its final home game of the season on Friday, when it welcomed Portsmouth to Cranston Stadium. The Patriots held the the Falcons in check on the ground and their fast and furious running attack propelled them to a decisive 38-14 victory.

Cranston West had dropped their last three games coming into Friday's contest after starting off hot at 3-0. Both West and Portsmouth needed this game to maintain any semblance of playoff aspirations, with a host of teams battling for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division.

West came out agressively, starting the game with an onside kick, which they recovered in Patriot territory. Quarterback Matt Rousseau rushed for a first down on the first set of downs, but the drive stalled on the next set and Portsmouth took over on downs at their own 25 yard line. 

The Patriots didn't waste any time getting their star running back Matthew Greenman involved, as he took the first down handoff 55 yards up the sideline to the Falcon 20. After a one yard loss on first down, Greenman got the carry and punched it, again using his speed to find a seam to the outside. The touchdown coupled with the extra point gave Portsmouth an early 7-0 lead.

The Falcons went three and out on their next two possessions and Portsmouth turned it over on downs on its next possession. Cranston West punted to end the first quarter and the Patriots called for the Quarterback Keeper to open the second quarter, which Bobby Chavous ran for a 66-yard touchdown, putting Portsmouth up 14-0.

Cranston West could not get anything going offensively in the first half, only gaining three first downs, punting four times, and turning it over on downs once. After the Falcons' third punt of the half, Portsmouth took over with good field position at thier own 45 yard line. Greenman busted another big run, this one for 19 yards, bringing the Patriots into Falcon territory. Daniel Thorpe added an 8 yard reception as the Patriots marched down the field. But Autin Szczepaniak had a 13-yard gain and capped off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown, giving the Patriots a commanding 21-0 lead halfway through the second quarter.

Both teams punted on their next possession, but the Falcons were picked off at midfield with three minutes remaining in the half. Matthew Greenman continued to put his stamp on the game, jumping the route and intercepting Matt Rousseau, returning the pick for 12 yards to the Falcon 38.

Portsmouth settled for a field goal on the drive and lead 24-0 with 18 seconds remaing the half. The kickoff was a touchback but a 15-yard personal foul was called on Portsmouth. Cranston West took advantage of the break and Matt Rousseau found Xavier Ferland-Haroun for a 47-yard gain to the Patriot 18-yard line with seven seconds remaining in the half. The Falcons ran two pass plays, both intended for Ferland Haroun, but neither could be completed and the half ended with Falcons on the wrong side of a 24-0 game.

Cranston West had possession to start the second half but were stopped on 4th and 1 on their first set of downs. The Patriots took over near midfield and Matthew Greenman continued to show his array of talents as he caught a pass from Bobby Chavous and took it 40 yards up the sideline.

"Before every game I ask him, 'Matt, Where are you going to be today?" And his answer is everywhere. That's how he plays. He's a great athlete," Portsmouth Coach Ryan Moniz said, referring Matthew Greenman.

Autin Szczepaniak capped off the drive for his second of three touchdowns in the game, effectively putting the game out of reach at 31-0.

The Falcons started to get their offense going in the fourth quarter, albeit too late. Matt Rousseau found Xavier Ferland Haroun for a 39-yard touchdown on a post pattern and the Falcons started to find some seams in the running game as well. Joseph Manni added another touchdown for the Falcons with a two-yard touchdown carry. But the Falcons fell 38-14 to Portsmouth.

The loss leaves only a glimmer of playoff hope for West, as they would have to defeat Cranston East by a large margin on Thanksgiving and other teams would have to lose in order for the Falcons to have any shot.

"We're on the cusp but we need a lot of help. But we don't deserve to make it frankly. We started off real hot but we've really faltered down the stretch," Cranston West Coach Steve Stoehr said. 

"We have good kids. They work real hard. But they lack a little football aptitude. Blocking to the whistle, tackling, and doing the things we're supposed to do. We're just not as good as we thought we were," Stoehr said.

West will face off against East on Thanksgiving, likely playing their last game of the season. 

"It's our senior superbowl. We've got a good team. We've got a team that can beat East. So we'll see what happens," Stoehr said.