Islanders Win Season Opener 32-0

With gleaming Gaudet Field lights reflecting off the ocean blue helmets of the Islander high school football team, players exchanged pain for a chance at glory Friday night.

Following three weeks of aching bodies, weary eyes and dead beat brains attributed to pre-season practice, Middletown was poised and prepared for their first regular season contest against Central Falls.

Middletown hit the ground running—literally. Following a pivotal interception by cornerback Randy Butler on the second series of the game, the Islanders climbed on the back of 1,000-yard rusher Rico Mccray. The Islander offensive line dominated the Central Falls front line and allowed Mccray the room to burst into the second level. Following an impressive 42-yard scamper in which Mccray broke three arm tackles, the Islanders stuck with what worked. With 3:32 left in the first quarter, Mccray plunged in from a few yards out to cap a potent scoring drive.

The physicality of the Islanders' offensive line was a catalyst for a brawny ground attack headed by Mccray and quarterback Dylan Gracia. Gracia and Mccray gashed the Central Falls defense in the first half. Gracia used fleetness of foot in order to bounce runs down the sideline, while Mccray ran north-south and broke an abundance of would be arm tackles. At half time, Mccray had 16 rushes for 106 yards, and Gracia had 72 yards on 10 carries. Aside from breaking 100 yards in the opening half, Mccray scored all three of the Islander's first half touchdowns. Middletown went into the locker room with an 18-0 lead.

Like the offense, the defense was fast, physical and up to the task. The Islander defense flew around the field, recovering two fumbles and an interception during the first half. Furthermore, Dylan Atibagos played a major role by intercepting two passes. The team followed the cornerstone of their defensive blue print: 11 helmets to the ball every play. Feeding off one another, both the defense and the offense won the war in the trenches and the skilled players broke big plays.

When all was said and done, Middletown breezed to a 32-0 victory. Rico Mccray led the team with 192 yards rushing. Not to be forgotten, Gracia chipped in with 106 yards on just 16 carries.