Eagles win Thanksgiving Day rivalry game…on Easter weekend

Barrington defeats Mt. Hope, 33-20

By Josh Bickford
Posted 4/7/21

Different holiday — same passionate rivalry.

Most years, the Barrington High School football team squares off against Mt. Hope on Thanksgiving. This year, the Eagles waited until Easter to …

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Eagles win Thanksgiving Day rivalry game…on Easter weekend

Barrington defeats Mt. Hope, 33-20

Posted

Different holiday — same passionate rivalry.

Most years, the Barrington High School football team squares off against Mt. Hope on Thanksgiving. This year, the Eagles waited until Easter to battle the Huskies.

The annual rivalry was shifted to the spring when officials at the Rhode Island Interscholastic League moved football from the fall to the spring, or Fall II season. On Saturday, members of both teams embraced the opportunity to play the long-awaited showdown. Barrington, powered by an impressive running attack, defeated Mt. Hope 33-20. The game was played at Gaudet Middle School in Middletown, as the field at Mt. Hope was not yet ready.

Barrington, which improved to 2-0 with the victory, established its ground game early. Eagles head coach Sandy Gorham said senior quarterback Brigham Dunphy played great, rushing for 208 yards.

“Brigham ran wild,” Coach Gorham said.

In addition, Barrington running backs Mark Bernardo, Bryan Ivatts, Luke Gorham and Matt Daft took turns gashing the Mt. Hope defense. Coach Gorham said he was very pleased with Barrington’s play on the offensive line, as Mt. Hope had some very large linemen.

“They were really big up front,” Coach Gorham said. He added that the Eagles needed to make some changes on the offensive line because of injuries. He said Evan Van Bree moved to center, Josh Nutter went to guard, Noah Mincone moved from tight end to tackle and sophomore Dan Lemos filled in at the other tackle position.

“We started two new tackles,” Coach Gorham said. “They did a great job. We played very well offensively.”

The coach also praised the play of guard Jack Kelleher.

“He’s the unsung hero. Works hard. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He was helping out Lemos. They were getting to the second level. He did a really nice job,” Coach Gorham said.

Barrington capitalized on a Mt. Hope mistake early in the game. On the opening kickoff, the Mt. Hope return-man fumbled the ball and the Eagles recovered on the Huskies’ 11 yard line. A short time later, Bernardo barreled into the end zone.

Luke Gorham later carried the ball into the end zone for his second touchdown of the season. Dunphy, when he wasn’t dazzling the crowd with his runs, connected with receiver Cole Reed for another Eagles’ score. Dunphy also converted the two-point try. Later in the game, facing a fourth down and less than a yard, Dunphy called his own number, broke through the Mt. Hope defense and sprinted 55 yards for a touchdown.

“He’s a lot faster than I thought he was,” Coach Gorham said.

The Eagles coach said Mt. Hope dominated the third quarter, aided by some Eagles’ defensive mistakes. Coach Gorham said his defense jumped off-sides on more than one occasion, was flagged for roughing the passer, and also lined up in the neutral zone.

“We gave them a couple of first downs,” Coach Gorham said. “But they played well.

“They’re a good team. They beat Rogers. I was very pleased with the way we played.”

Next up, Barrington will play against Pilgrim High School. The game is scheduled for Friday, April 9 at Barrington High School at 7 p.m.

Coach Gorham said Pilgrim is a big, tough team.

“They’re not as big as Mt. Hope, but they’ll be tough. It will be a real good challenge,” Coach Gorham said.

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