Portsmouth pounds Central to win Division I Super Bowl

Quarterback Coyne is involved in six TDs for the victorious Pats

By Nick Friend
Posted 12/4/16

Six touchdowns engineered in part by quarterback Sean Coyne propelled the Portsmouth High School football team to a resounding 51-28 win over Central Sunday for the Division I Super Bowl title.

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Portsmouth pounds Central to win Division I Super Bowl

Quarterback Coyne is involved in six TDs for the victorious Pats

Posted

CRANSTON — Six touchdowns engineered in part by quarterback Sean Coyne propelled the Portsmouth High School football team to a resounding 51-28 win over Central Sunday for the Division I Super Bowl title.

With the victory, the Patriots realized their biggest goal this season: to be recognized as the best public school football team in the state.

During a high-scoring first half at Cranston Stadium, Coyne lead the Patriots to three touchdowns and a 29-14 halftime edge. In the second half, Coyne and Portsmouth’s offense proved to be just too much as they would go on to a 23-point win. 

In his last start for Portsmouth High, the senior quarterback dazzled once again.

“When we were preparing for this game, we felt like it was going to be a Sean (Coyne) type of game,” Portsmouth head coach Ryan Moniz said. “He picked the most opportune time to have his best of his career.” 

Central received the ball to start the game, but Portsmouth’s good run defense forced a fourth-and-2 early. The Knights decided to go for it early at midfield before a false start penalty forced them to punt. 

Portsmouth faced an early third down on its first offensive possession, but Coyne scrambled to his right and found a wide-open Alex Cory for an 18-yard gain.

Just a few plays later, Coyne’s pass was dropped on a third-and-goal, setting up a fourth down just four yards out. Mr. Moniz passed up the short field goal, however, and Coyne faked a handoff which fooled the Knights’ defense as he ran it in to put Portsmouth up 7-0 early. 

Central’s next drive lasted just three plays as Cory made his second big play of the game, coming up with an interception. The Knights then forced a turnover of their own as they forced a fumble with the Patriots driving to begin the second quarter. Ball security continued to be an issue for both teams as Central fumbled the ball right back.

Big pass play

On the very next play, Coyne threw a beautiful 36-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Robinson to put the Patriots up 13-0. Mr. Moniz continued to be creative as his team faked the extra point and scored on a two-point conversion — holder Robinson threw to Adam Parsons — to put the Patriots up 15-0. 

Central then committed its third turnover of the game to give Portsmouth great field possession. The Patriots couldn’t capitalize, however, as Central stopped Coyne on another fourth-and-short and took over on downs.

Central answered back as the Knights showed their speed on a 81-yard touchdown pass. The Knights’ two-point conversion attempt fell just short as they cut Portsmouth’s lead to 15-6.

The Patriots wasted no time in responding, as Coyne showed his speed on a 58-yard run and Noah Johnson ran in from seven yards out for another touchdown on the next play. After a successful extra point, Portsmouth’s lead grew to 22-6 with six minutes until the half.

The high-scoring first half continued as Central responded with a 39-yard TD pass. After a successful two-point conversion, Portsmouth’s lead was cut to 22-14.

But once again, the Patriots answered with another big play. As he was getting hit, Coyne delivered a strike to Parsons for a 36-yard touchdown. After the extra point, Portsmouth upped its lead to 29-14 before halftime.

Second half

To start the second half, Portsmouth fumbled the ball shortly into its drive, but Central failed to take advantage and punted just three plays later. Coyne continued to impress in his last game in a Portsmouth uniform as he ran it in from 57 yards out to put the Patriots up, 36-14. 

On Central’s next drive, the Knights converted on a fourth-and-goal with a seven-yard touchdown pass. After the successful two-point conversion, Portsmouth’s lead was cut to 36-22.

The Patriots drove down the field on their next drive, which was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Coyne. After another two-point conversion, Portsmouth was up 44-22 with just under 10 minutes left in the game.

Central scored another touchdown to make it 44-28, but Coyne later ran into the end zone again for the final scoring drive, making the final 51-28.

“Central is a good team so I was surprised with how high scoring it was, but I know our offense can really score,” said Coyne, who was named the game's MVP. “This was a great season.”

Team goes 10-3

For Portsmouth, its season ends with the D-I Super Bowl trophy and an overall record of 10-3. The Patriots went 7-3 in league games, including a quarterfinal playoff win over Cranston East and a semifinal loss to seven-time state champion Hendricken in the semifinals. 

Central, which made its return to the D-I level with the expansion of the league through realignment, finished its year with a 6-6 overall record, including a loss to state runner-up La Salle Academy in the semifinals.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.