EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School football team hosted perennial state power Bishop Hendricken last Friday night, Oct. 27, in a non-league game at Townie Stadium where the visiting Hawks came away with a 42-21 win.

Hendricken is the top seed in the upcoming Division I state championship playoffs. The Hawks improved to 7-1 overall on the fall. The Townies saw their record move to 3-5.

The visitors took control of the contest from the outset. Hendricken's Rollins Sonpon returned the opening kickoff from his goal line to midfield. Quarterback Dylan Lynch next completed a pair of passes to move the Hawks into scoring position. The first went to Sebastian Nault on third down to keep the drive alive. The second, he hit Nathan Rivas just short of the endzone to the Townie one. Ronjai Francis rushed in for a touchdown on the next play. The kick for point made it 7-0 Hendricken minutes into the first quarter.

The Hawks doubled their advantage early in the second quarter when Sonpon raced in for a score. The PAT upped the visitors' advantage to 14-0.

Hendricken would eventually take a commanding 21-0 lead to halftime. East Providence seemed headed for a solid drive when quarterback Jacob Duarte made a nice throw to end Lucas Santa Cruz to put the Townies just at midfield. But on the very next play, Duarte threw the ball up for grabs and it was intercepted by the Hawks' Xiaivier Fisher.

Lynch, in contrast, made two more impressive tosses, another to Nault then to Sebastian Lora for 30 yards into the red zone. The same pair then connected on a 20-yard scoring strike and the third kick for point by Scot Belford gave the Hawks a three-touchdown margin.

The only highlight for the Townies when game was still on the line was an interception of a Lynch toss by Jordan Carl. Making the pick even more noteworthy was the junior linebacker did so with a huge cast on his right hand as he recovers from a break.

East Providence eventually did all of its scoring in the second half. Duarte held it for a nine-yard keeper to get the Townies on the board early in the third quarter. Later in the period, the sophomore QB again hooked up with Santa Cruz, this time for a 16-yard TD. Steven Clark Jr. rushed for a two point conversion. Clark added the other TD for the locals on a one-yard rush. Justin Jardine kicked for the final EPHS point of the evening.

The Townies have added another game to their schedule prior to their season-ender on Thanksgiving Day against rival LaSalle. East Providence plays Shea on the road Friday, Nov., 10, at Max Read Field in Pawtucket. Kickoff is 6 p.m.