Photos: Portsmouth pounds Novans, Coyne kicks record-setting field goal

Nick Colicci and Mary Stack are named Homecoming King and Queen

By Nick Friend
Posted 9/24/16

PORTSMOUTH — Led by standout quarterback, defensive back and kicker Sean Coyne, the Portsmouth High School football team beat Woonsocket in convincing fashion by a final score of 45-0 Saturday …

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Photos: Portsmouth pounds Novans, Coyne kicks record-setting field goal

Nick Colicci and Mary Stack are named Homecoming King and Queen

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Led by standout quarterback, defensive back and kicker Sean Coyne, the Portsmouth High School football team beat Woonsocket in convincing fashion by a final score of 45-0 Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, in a Division I contest at Kennedy Field.

However, it wasn't always smooth sailing for the Patriots in their annual homecoming game. After the first quarter, the game was still scoreless before the hosts scored 35 straight points by halftime.

“I thought we were slow to start, but once we got ourselves composed I thought things went really well,” Portsmouth head coach Ryan Moniz said.

In front of a packed crowd, Portsmouth received the ball first and proceeded to drive all the way down to Woonsocket’s 34-yard line. The Patriots were then stopped right there as Coyne missed a rare field goal to keep the game scoreless.

On the Villa Novans' first drive of the game, they ran the ball successfully down to Portsmouth side of the field before they were stopped on a third and eight forcing them to punt.

After the punt, Portsmouth received the ball at their own 16-yard line. The Patriots were then led by running back Alexander Khalfayan all the way down to Woonsocket’s 12-yard line. On the second play of the second quarter, John Roche ran the ball down the left side to put the Patriots on the board. The made PAT by Coyne put the locals up 7-0.

Woonsocket’s next drive was then cut short by a penalty and a sack by a swarm of Patriots. Portsmouth wasted no time going down the field as the Pats went to their hurry up offense. Just four plays later, Khalfayan took it in from 26 yards out after breaking several tackles to give his team a 13-0 lead. A successful PAT by Coyne extended it to 14-0.

The Patriots would then begin their next drive just over a minute later thanks to Coyne who came up with an interception that gave Portsmouth great field position. On the very next play, Coyne scrambled out of pressure and found Adam Parson with a perfect pass in the corner of the end zone. After Coyne kicked the successful PAT, the Patriots' lead grew to 21-0.

Portsmouth's momentum would continue to grow as its defense quickly got the hosts the ball back. The Patriots proceeded to drive down the field behind Khalfayan, who would eventually run in a touchdown from nine yards out. This and a Coyne PAT put Portsmouth up 28-0 with just over a minute until halftime.

As Woonsocket tried to get something going offensively before the half, they fumbled the ball which led to junior linebacker Peyton Robinson running it the other way for a Patriots’ touchdown and gave the locals a very comfortable 35-0 lead.

After the half, it was more of the same as Woonsocket went three and out on its first possession. The Patriots stormed right down the field as Coyne delivered another good pass to Matthew Clark who took it in for a 28-yard touchdown that gave the Patriots a 42-0 lead.

Portsmouth then starting subbing backups into the game as they ran down the clock. However, it wasn't the end of the afternoon for Coyne who would come into the game to get redemption from his early missed field goal. This wasn't just any field goal however, if Coyne made the 58-yard kick he was about to attempt, it would be a state record.

“I just said to myself ‘get your footwork right and hit it,'” Coyne said after the game.

The senior standout did just that as it was good by a couple of yards as his team swarmed him for going down in the record book. Coyne finished the game with an interception, two touchdown passes and the aforementioned record-setting field goal.

“That is the type of football player Sean is,” Coach Moniz said. “He does a lot of different things for us and he does a lot of different things very well. I think the thing that standouts the most is his ability to kick. He is a special kicker.”

The kick gave Portsmouth a 45-0 lead which the locals would hold onto for the rest of their game, giving their defense the second straight shutout in as many league games.

“I think we have done a really good job tackling,” Coach Moniz said. “We are covering really well and I am really happy with the defense.”

The win improves the Patriots to 2-0 while Woonsocket is 0-2. Portsmouth now prepares to go on the road to face Mt. Hope in a non-league game which Coach Moniz isn't taking lightly.

“They are a pretty impressive team that is well coached and have some impressive victories,” Coach Moniz said of the D-II Huskies. “We are going to have our work cut out for us.”

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Jim McGaw

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.