EAST PROVIDENCE — LaSalle Academy defeated East Providence High School, 35-14, in the 91st Thanksgiving Day football classic between the rivals played Thursday morning, Nov. 28, at Pierce Memorial Stadium to cap off the 2019 season.

The visiting Rams did most of their damage through the air with quarterback Nate Lussier threw for three touchdowns. He also added a rushing score as did Alex Nuahn. The two TDs for the Townies, who trailed 13-7 at the break, were scored by seniors Juan Diaz and Carew Gomes, a pair of the 19 EPHS players who were honored while suiting up for their last high school game.

Lussier was hot from the start, tossing a couple of long touchdowns in the first quarter. His first to end the Rams’ first possession was a 52-yarder to Jacob Gibbons. His second, 46 yards, went to Dimetri Iafrate. The opening period ended with LaSalle up 13-7, the same score. Diaz accounted for the EPHS score with an 18-yard run. Another of the highlights on the day for the Townies in the opening 24 minutes came via an interception of Lussier by Michael Foster just before intermission.

Undaunted, the LaSalle QB stayed hot with the pass in the third quarter, completing yet one more bomb, a 40-yarder to Steven Doss, that set up a 19-yard pitch and catch for touch to Iafrate. Lussier then took things into his owns, better yet feet, completing another drive with an 11-yard run to put Rams up 28-7 by the end of the period.

The sides later traded fourth quarter touchdowns to end the scoring. Nuahn ran 14 yards for the LaSalle points while Gomes caught a 13-yard pass from EPHS QB Justin Pena.

The victory upped LaSalle’s all-time edge in the Thanksgiving Day series to 52-37-2. The Rams finished their season with an 8-3 overall record. For the Townies, their 2019 season ended with a 4-7 overall mark.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com staff photographer Rich Dionne shot the accompanying gallery of photos.