Johnston Falls To St. Raphael, 10-0, In Season Finale

hosted St. Raphael Academy on a chilly Thanksgiving Eve, the Panthers' season finale, and couldn't get through the Pawtucket squad's tough defense in a 10-0 home loss.

St. Raphael struck first on a Zach Mays 35-yard touchdown at the 3:25 mark of the first quarter.

Johnston had a couple of long possessions, but couldn't break through the tight Saints' defense, whose junior LB James Berry tallied an interception as time expired in the first half.

The Panthers tried all kinds of plays — including a hook-and-ladder from Jason Cate to fellow senior Chris Pistacchio for 12 yards at about the six-minute mark of the second quarter — to no avail, trailing 7-0 at the end of the first half.

St. Ray's added to their lead with a 20-yard field goal by senior Julian Diaz at 4:00 of the third quarter, while the Saints defense continued to stifle Johnston drives. The home team nearly scored on a pass to Cate that the senior couldn't keep in his grasp.

The Saints defense made a final stand in the waning minutes, with a Mays interception at the St. Raphael 6 sealing the victory for the visitors.