The celebration started once the ball cleared the uprights.

The Barrington High School football team knocked off Woonsocket 28-27 in an overtime thriller on Friday night, Oct. 28. The Eagles clinched the victory with an extra point kick by BHS senior Will Hopkins. 

“That’s what I’ve been thinking about — a game-winning kick. That’s a dream right there,” Hopkins said, following the game. “That’s what I’ve been dreaming about for four years. It was awesome.”

Barrington was hoping the win over Woonsocket, combined with a Westerly victory over South Kingstown, would be enough to lock up a spot in the Division II playoffs. 

At the end of the regular season, four teams (Barrington, Woonsocket, Shea and South Kingstown) held a 3-3 record in the division, but only two of the four teams would qualify, as Portsmouth and Westerly had locked up spots with stronger records. 

Interscholastic league officials looked to the tie-breaking rules. The teams with the best record in pool play were in. Woonsocket and Shea, which each had 2-1 records against the other teams in the tie-breaker, locked up the third and fourth seeds, respectively, in Division IIB. Barrington and South Kingstown were out.

The Eagles will instead play a non-league game on Saturday, Nov. 12. Barrington will host Mt. Pleasant at 7 p.m. at Victory Field. 

The Eagles final game of the season will be at Mt. Hope on Thanksgiving. 

Early lead

Barrington capitalized on a Woonsocket fumble in the first quarter. After taking over possession at midfield, BHS quarterback Alex McClelland faked to fullback Payton Murphy and scrambled 23 yards for a first down. A run by AJ DiOrio and two Woonsocket penalties gave the Eagles the ball at the Novans’ 1 yard line. A penalty pushed the Eagles back, but on third and goal, McClelland dropped back to pass and then sprinted toward the end zone. The junior launched himself into the end zone at the goal line — he got hit low and flipped head over heels in for the score. 

Woonsocket drew to within 1 at 7-6 about five minutes later, but Barrington built on its lead late in the second quarter. The Eagles relied on runs by Murphy to push deep into Woonsocket territory. McClelland called his own number for the touchdown run, and Hopkins booted his second extra point for the 14-6 lead. 

The Novans tied the score 14-14 with 5:34 left to go in the third quarter, and then took a 21-14 lead at 8:27 in the fourth quarter. 

But the Eagles were not to be denied. 

On the ensuing drive, Barrington took over at its own 25. McClelland broke free on a long run to the Woonsocket 43. The Novans stopped the Eagles on the next two plays, and facing a fourth and inches, Barrington turned to Murphy. The senior fullback took the handoff, cut to his right and broke free for a long touchdown run. Hopkins kicked the extra point and the score was tied 21-21. 

A squib on the kick-off gave Woonsocket the ball at midfield and a few plays later the Novans had first and 10 at the Eagles’ 14. Barrington’s defense made two key stops on first and second down, and then the Woonsocket QB missed his target on third down. On fourth and seven, BHS defensive back Chucky Potter knocked down a pass, forcing a turnover on downs. 

Barrington’s offense had to punt on the next series, but again the Eagles’ defense made a stand, and with 40 seconds left, the Eagles’ offense took over at its own 26 yard line. Barrington pushed the ball to the Woonsocket 25 with :06.5 remaining in the game. Hopkins came in and nearly booted through the 42-yarder. 

“I thought it was good… look at the film. I turned around, I thought it was good. It felt so good, coming off. I see it go straight. Just a little too high…” Hopkins said. “When I came off the field, all I was thinking about was ‘I really want a second chance.’”

That second chance came a few minutes later in overtime. After Woonsocket scored and failed to convert the extra point kick, the Eagles offense had its chance. Murphy barreled for seven yards on first down, and then plowed across the goal line on second down. 

“I was just looking straight forward. Just run. Just run,” Murphy said. “They were really good. Their line was really big up front, so that was hard.”

Hopkins and the extra point team took the field and capped the win, sending the Eagles sideline into celebration mode.