LaSalle’s Offense Too Much for Cranston West’s Defense

Friday night’s football game between and LaSalle Academy promised to be a classic case of a great defense versus a great offense.

Entering the contest, the Falcons had allowed a league low 18 points per game. LaSalle boasted the league’s best offense, scoring close to 41 points per game.

For most of the first half, West’s stingy defense kept the Falcons within a point, 7-6. But in the closing minutes of the second quarter and the opening minutes of the second half, the Rams exploded for 23 unanswered points for a 30-6 win.

With starting quarterback Anthony Francis unable to play due to an ankle injury, Jack Collins filled in admirably for LaSalle. In the opening quarter, the junior completed two long passes on third down and one on fourth down to set up a 2-yard keeper for the first score of the game. Peter Picerelli tacked on the extra point.

Later in the quarter, West recovered a fumble by LaSalle’s Josh Morris, giving the Falcons possession on LaSalle’s 32 yard line. Thanks to the running of Joe Manni and a couple of encroachment penalties on the Rams, West was able to march down to the one yard line.

With momentum on their side, the Falcons committed a costly 15-yard personal foul for pushing a LaSalle player after the play had ended. When the possession continued in the second period, quarterback Matt Rousseau was forced to throw the ball away on third down, as he was forced out of the pocket. Stefano Marziale kicked the ball through the uprights, but the field goal was erased due to another penalty by West.

“We committed too many penalties in the first half and throughout the game,” said Falcons’ head coach Steve Stoehr. “It really showed a lack of focus and a lack of discipline on our part.”

On LaSalle’s next possession, two penalties of their own set up a second down and 23. Under pressure, Collins threw an ill-advised pass that was picked off by West’s Tyler Rocha. The lineman rumbled 25 yards for the  touchdown return. Marziale missed the extra point, making the score 7-6.

With a couple of minutes left in the half, Morris turned a slim lead into a comfortable one for LaSalle. Touchdown runs of 21 yards and 51 yards, along with the ensuing extra points, gave the Rams a 21-6 advantage at intermission.

In the third quarter, a holding penalty backed West up close to their own end zone. On the next play, Rousseau was called for intentional grounding. Since he was standing in the end zone at the time, it was ruled a safety, giving LaSalle two more points.

Several minutes later, LaSalle scored their final touchdown of the evening. Following four consecutive carries by Martin Bannerman, Collins pushed the ball across the goal line from one yard out. The Rams converted the extra point, making the score 30-6.

Despite the 30-point output, Stoehr was pleased with his team’s defensive effort.

“They had a couple of big plays that hurt us, but we didn’t allow them to have long, sustained drives,” stated Stoehr.

West’s offense however, was one dimensional, as the passing game struggled.

“We wanted to get rid of the ball quickly, but we didn’t do it,” explained Stoehr. “We also ran a waggle in the beginning of the game, but that didn’t work much.”

In fairness to Rousseau, he spent most of the week nursing a leg injury and didn’t take any snaps in practice until Thursday.

The Falcons’ next game will be next Friday night at Bishop Hendricken, which will be a pivotal game in the standings.

“If we have any shot at the number two seed, we have to win out,” said Stoehr. “There won’t be any easy games.”