Panthers Pounce On Warwick Vets, 46-6

Junior backs Evan Hopson and Victor Halton each scored two touchdowns to help earn its second straight Division II-A win, 45-6, over Warwick Vets in a game moved to Sept. 24 after rain forced a postponement from the day before.  

The host Panthers were a model of efficiency on offense, making several big plays on defense and forcing or capitalizing on Hurricanes errors to keep the visitors scoreless most of the contest.

By halftime, the Panthers were ahead, 32-0, and were able to cruise to the victory, with several reserves seeing action for the first time this season.

Hopson, a junior transfer running back, had a breakout game, scoring 14 points overall. He carried the ball three times for 69 yards with his standout run from scrimmage a 45-yard TD. Averaging 38 yards on 3 punt returns, Hopson made his biggest return count for a 62-yard score, running to the right sideline, avoiding tackles, and cutting back to the middle of the field to then outrace defenders. For added measure, he also punted three times for a 38.0 average. (See video for post-game comments).

On two of his three carries, Halton had TD jaunts of 18 and 38 yards.  

Panthers QB Steven Simone had a quiet afternoon, but connected on 2-of-4 passes for 71 yards and one touchdown, both receptions to Jason Cate. The senior wide receiver made a dazzling 32-yard diving reception in the right corner of the end zone on a ball perfectly thrown by Simone just out of reach of the Hurricanes linebacker.

Joe Santilli capped the Panthers scoring with a four-yard run on a six-play, 64-yard drive that featured a 39-yard reception by Cate and a 28-yard tackle-busting run by Hopson.

Sophomore backup quarterback Marc Breton also scored on three PAT conversions.

The Hurricanes (0-2) scored their first points of the season in the third quarter. Sophomore quarterback Daniel Greaves led the Hurricanes on a six-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by successive pass plays to senior wideout John Leonard for 25 yards and junior receiver Justin Gomes for 22.  Hurricanes senior running back Sean Banno then rushed for six and Greaves made a 1-yard TD plunge.

Other Warwick drives were halted by staunch Panther defense, including an interception by Panthers safety McKenzie Robbins. An assortment of penalties hurt the Hurricanes offense and several sacks by Johnston defenders also drove the visitors back several times.

“It’s hard when things go wrong and you try to reverse things from the past few years,” said Hurricanes coach Mike Nappa after the squad’s second straight big loss this season. “We have just six seniors and two sophomore quarterbacks, but the kids are getting better. But we just can’t wait for success to happen. On defense senior linebacker Nicholas Salois (recovered fumble and several tackles) had a big game and so did junior lineman Nathan Brotman”

“We wanted to come out and execute better than we have the past few games,” said Johnston head coach Joe Acciardo. “Our goal was not to hurt ourselves with penalties and offsides and I think we executed pretty well.”

Johnston is next scheduled to play Central High School on Sept. 30.