Central Outlasts Johnston, 42-36

Mike Washington scored 20 points overall, including three on TD runs, and rushed for 308 yards overall on 26 carries to propel unbeaten Central (3-0) past (2-1) by a score of 42-36 (2 OT) on Sept. 30 at Conley Stadium in Providence.

But in this three-hour affair between the Division II-A opponents, it was Knights junior fullback Carl Mangum who came through, bulling his way twice into the end zone in the extra sessions behind a determined offensive line.

"We were happy to get by Johnston,” said Knights head coach Peter Rios. “Thanks to coach Joe Acciardo, they prepared for us very well."

In the first half, Johnston exploded for four touchdowns — twice on the ground and twice in the air — all on large gainers.

Midway through the first quarter, the Panthers gobbled up 84 yards on the ground in three plays, featuring a 38-yard run by Joe Santilli followed by a scintillating cutback move by Victor Halton from left to right, breaking tackles and getting key blocks to finally reach the end zone on a 44-yard score. 

The hosts responded 10 seconds later on a 60-yard onside kickoff return by Edward Pupoh down the left sideline.

It took Johnston just three more minutes to move 69 yards on 7 plays for another quick-strike score. Evan Hopson had carries of 15 and 16 yards, and Brendan Pappas ran for 5 yards and a climatic 25-yard romp for a 14-6 lead.

Central bounced back with a 59-yard charge on just three plays. A 30-yard run up the middle by Jonathan Vinas was bookended by Washington runs of 16 and 13 yards for the score. Knight QB Kyle Amado passed to Michah Woods for the extra points to draw into a 14-14 tie.

On 4th-and-4 to open the second quarter, Panthers QB Steve Simone surprised the Knights with a quick pass to tight end Steve Perfetto on the left side, who went in untouched for a 43-yard score. Pappas easily ran in for the extra points.

Washington accounted for 60 of the Knights 75 yards on the next possession, and scooted for the final 10 yards to close the gap to 22-20.

Johnston ended the two-team scoring blitz in the first half on a pass from Simone to tight end Jason Cate, who snared the ball between two Knights defenders to complete a 38-yard scoring reception.

The Panthers, though, would not score again until after regulation had ended.

Central took less than three minutes into the second half to tie the score with Washington carrying six straight times, climaxed by a 15-yard romp. Washington also hauled in a pass for the extra points.

The Panthers then mounted the longest drive of the game by marching 66 ½ yards in 10 plays to the Knights ½-yard line. Then Knights senior defensive back Jose Ortiz came in behind Halton to strip the ball away, with Washington recovering for the Central.

"That was a huge momentum changer," said coach Rios. "That changed around the game and allowed us to come back."

Both teams halted each other in the final quarter in their respective tries to break the stalemate. On the Knights final possession in regulation, Washington finally broke loose for a 48-yard run to the 25, but was tackled by Panther Chris Pitacchio as time expired.

With the game deadlocked at 28, each squad got an equal chance to clinch the game in overtime. Under Rhode Island Interscholastic League rules, each team is given four downs from the opponents' 10-yard line until one team finally prevails.

Johnston scored first on three plays on a Hopson 8-yard TD and 2-point conversion to make the score 36-28.

Central took all four downs to score, turning to Magnum for a three-yard push up the middle when Washington cramped up and left the field after gaining seven yards on three carries. Ortiz hauled in the conversion pass to tie the score at 36.

With Washington out for good with more cramping, the Knights turned to Mangum again, who went right in for a 10-yard score and a 42-36 lead.

Johnston had a final chance, but a bobbled handoff resulted in the ball falling to the ground as Knights players and fans celebrated.

The Panthers next return to action on Oct. 15, when they host Chariho High School at 1:30 p.m. for the annual Homecoming game.

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