The Barrington High School football team will host St. Raphael’s in a D-II semifinal playoff game on Friday night, Nov. 10, at 6:15 p.m.

BHS Coach Sandy Gorham said the Saints are a talented team with a freshman quarterback that will test the Eagles’ defense. 

“He’s very impressive for a freshman. He’s poised in the pocket. He doesn’t get happy feet,” Gorham said. 

“We have to contain him. We have to keep him inside the pocket and try to disrupt his passing lanes, like we did against Mt. Pleasant, which had a similar type quarterback. We need to get in the passing lanes.”

The Eagles coach said his defense will also need to stop the Saints running attack and must continue to play aggressively, just as it has all season.

“We’ve got to run to the ball, gang tackle,” he said. “I think this year’s team has done that better than others. They’re aggressive.

“They’ve got solid running backs. (Number) Twenty-two is an elusive backs. He bounces the ball to the perimeter. The other kid, he’s the type of all-around athlete, good runner, good blocker, good receiver. He’s number 14. We’re going to be challenged to keep them off the field.”

Gorham said Barrington’s offense offers multiple ways to attack a defense. He said senior quarterback Alex McClelland plays a key role. 

“Alex gives us the ability to be a little more versatile… because of his ability to throw the ball downfield, but also run the ball,” Gorham said. “He’s a dynamic runner.”

The Eagles relied on the run game in the D-II quarterfinal game against Mt. Pleasant. McClelland ran for three touchdowns and senior running back AJ DiOrio ran for three touchdowns also. 

Gorham said it is difficult for opposing teams to fully prepare to defend the option offense Barrington runs. 

“My whole thing about the option is that they’re going to have a hard time duplicating it in practice, running it as well as we can,” he said.

Barrington entered the D-II playoffs as the top seed in Division II B, while St. Raphael’s is the number two seed in Division II A. The Eagles finished the regular season 6-0 in division play. The Saints were 4-2 in division play, with losses to Cumberland and East Providence. St. Raphael’s defeated South Kingstown 26-6 in a quarterfinal playoff game.