LaSalle edges East Providence late in Thanksgiving Day football contest

Rams, Townies renew rivalry in Providence for first time in over three decades

By Mike Rego
Posted 11/25/16

PROVIDENCE — Playing the game on its campus for the first time in some 34 years, host LaSalle Academy rallied late to defeat East Providence High School, 35-32, to capture the 88th edition of …

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LaSalle edges East Providence late in Thanksgiving Day football contest

Rams, Townies renew rivalry in Providence for first time in over three decades

Posted

PROVIDENCE — Playing the game on its campus for the first time in some 34 years, host LaSalle Academy rallied late to defeat East Providence High School, 35-32, to capture the 88th edition of the teams' Thanksgiving Day football rivalry Thursday morning, Nov. 24, at Cimini Stadium.

The upstart Townies, seeking their second consecutive win in the series after having dropped the previous eight outings, pushed the state championship game-bound Rams throughout. East Providence led 26-21 at the end of three periods before LaSalle came back to outscore the locals 14-6 in the final 12 minutes of action to increase its overall lead in the series to 14 games.

The Rams became the first of the sides to reach 50 wins in the longest continuous rivalry between intra-state teams. LaSalle now leads the overall series, 50-36-2. The last time the teams played on the Rams' grounds in Providence was 1982 when the Townies won 20-7.

This year, East Providence, 41-23 winners in the 2015 meeting at Pierce Stadium, trailed 14-7 at the end of the first period. The score remained that way to intermission. But the Townies found the end zone three times in the third period to take the lead before the Rams responded in the fourth to secure the victory.

East Providence senior co-captain and quarterback Ryan Ellinwood was involved in four of the five Townie touchdowns. He twice ran for two-yard scores, added another on the ground from 14 yards out and connected with end Cameron Greene on a 65-yard completion. Sophomore Dion Hazard, an emerging talent on offense, accounted for the other E.P. touchdown with a six-yard interception return on defense.

The Townies' efforts were hindered, however, by failing on four of their five extra-point attempts. The Townies converted just once, an Ellinwood to Hazard pass for a two-point try.

By contrast, LaSalle's Ryan Trojan was perfect on five PAT kicks, which proved the difference in the game.

All of the Rams' touchdowns came on the ground, two each by Jamari Jenkins and Nate Lussier. Jenkins scored on runs of six and 70 yards while Lussier reached the end zone on runs of six and two yards, the latter proving to be the game-winning tally. Andrew Wright added a one-yard run.

For the Townies, their season ends with a 3-7 overall record. E.P. went 2-5 in the Division I regular season.

LaSalle next prepares to face Hendricken in the Division I state championship game Saturday afternoon, Dec. 3, at 1 o'clock at Cranston Stadium. The Rams, (10-2 overall 8-1 in D-I), will be seeking to avenge losses to the undefeated Hawks (10-0 overall, 9-0 in D-I) in the last two state title games.

Hendricken earned its sixth consecutive state championship last fall with a 24-20 victory over the Rams. The Hawks also beat LaSalle, 32-7, in 2014. Hendricken defeated the Rams in their lone regular season meeting this fall, 27-14 on November 4.

— Photos by Alex Watrous

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