Sports
Woonsocket High Defense Steps Up
The Woonsocket Villa Novans' defense helps clinch a 14-0 win against the Cumberland Clippers in the annual Thanksgiving day rivalry game.
In the proud tradition of New England Thanksgiving day football, the defending division II champion Woonsocket Villa Novans (7-2) and the Cumberland Clippers (5-5) faced off in their annual bout for the Thanksgiving day trophy. The game was hard hitting defensive battle as both offenses struggled to move the ball but the Villa Novans 14-0.
Twice in the first half the Villa Novans went for the first down on a fourth down play instead of kicking a field goal in the redzone, only to turn the ball over on downs. The only offensive touchdown of the game came with six seconds left in the first half. Set up on a great catch on fourth down by Jason Garfield-demontigny, Villa Novan running back Orlan Thomas pushed the pile from the one yard line on first and goal to score.
It was the Villa Novans' defense that really stood out today as they had no trouble stopping the Clippers. They swarmed to the ball with purpose, stopping the Clippers multiple times on third and short and stopping them in the backfield on fourth and inches. They recorded two sacks, two forced fumbles (one recovered) and a pair of crucial picks.
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The fourth quarter opened with the game's first interception, when on fourth and nine defensive back Juwann Simpson caught a bad pass and returned it 72 yards to put the Villa Novans up 14 to 0. The second pick, with less then two minutes left in the game, stopped a Clippers late drive as Villa Novan linebacker Jason Garfield-demontigny intercepted the ball on a deflection on the one yard line. This allowed the Villan Novans to run out the clock and walk away with this year's Thanksgiving trophy.
