An early lead wasn't enough for the football team to pull off a win against East Providence Friday night as the Skippers fell to the Townies 49-14 at Pierce Memorial Field.
The Skippers began the game on a high note as a long drive was punctuated with a six-yard touchdown pass. Alex Sabitoni caught the pass from Jacob Morris and North Kingstown led 7-0 with about five minutes left in the first quarter.
Senior Jalin Braxton was a force all night for the Townies. A 28-yard run by Braxton set up 1st and goal from the seven-yard line. Senior quarterback Brandon Peters ran the option and scurried into the end zone to tie the game.
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"He takes control of the offense because when I call the play I don’t know who’s going to carry the ball," said East Providence coach Sandy Gorham. "People have said I call the same play, but there are three plays in one and Peters makes the decision on where the ball goes."
Momentum shifted to the Townies when Eric Towne picked off Morris and returned it to the Skippers 24-yard line. Peters found the end zone again after scrambling out of the pocket on fourth and goal from the four. With just under 11 minutes left in the second quarter, East Providence led 14-7.
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A crucial penalty by the Skippers gave East Providence excellent field position, after the Townies defense forced a three and out series. The punt was returned to North Kingstown's 32-yard line and a 15-yard facemask penalty gave the Townies first and 10 at the 17.
Peters had an incredible night and notched his third touchdown run of the half from five yards out.
"Brandon Peters is a slippery runner and a very instinctive player," Townies coach Sandy Gorham said.
North Kingstown fought back and got themselves back into the ball game with a big third down conversion. On third and five, senior Alex Young made a leaping catch, reaching back for the ball, for a 34-yard gain to the Townies' 37-yard line.
A few plays later, Sabitoni's 22-yard touchdown run cut their deficit to 21-14 with 4:38 left in the first half.
However, their momentum would be short lived as East Providence's next drive would begin at their own 17-yard line and only last one play. Braxton took the hand-off and ran 83 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. After the extra point, East Providence led 28-14.
At the very end of the half, the Townies looked primed to score again. Peters made one his only mistakes of the game when he fumbled inside the five-yard line.
Peters redeemed himself early in the third quarter with a 65-yard touchdown run, his fourth in the game, which increased the Townies lead to 35-14.
North Kingstown could not manage anything on offense for most of the second half as the Skippers defense was unable to keep up with the Townies' running game. Their seven touchdowns were all rushing touchdowns.
Braxton padded the lead to 42-14 with a sweep around the right end for a 29-yard touchdown run. East Providence scored once more and won the game 49-14.
