Game Photos: Captains reflect on Tigers’ season after Turkey game loss
Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Posted 12/2/24
The Tiverton High School football season came to an end after suffering a 40-0 loss to D-3 Rogers in a Thanksgiving Day match up at Toppa Field on Wednesday night. The Vikings made it alright after …
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Game Photos: Captains reflect on Tigers’ season after Turkey game loss
Senior captains Ben Troia, Roman Fauci, Tyler Garside and Malcolm Michaud pose for a photo with their pies from host Rogers after their Thanksgiving game loss at Toppa Field on Wednesday night.
Photos by Rich Dionne
Tiverton head coach Dillon Sheridan (middle) speaks to both teams after the game.
Game MVPs Alex Toribio (left) and Wayne Heilborn pose for a photo with teammates looking on.
Roman Fauci (right) and teammates are given pies after the game from host team Rogers.
Wayne Heilborn (left), Malcolm Michaud and teammates pick up apple and pumpkin pies after the game-given to them by host team Rogers.
Lineman Tyler Garside attempts to block a pass from Rogers' quarterback Hayden Younger.
Tiger's receiver Malcolm Michaud attempts to catch a pass from Ben Troia in the second half.
Tigers' receiver Roman Fauci attempts to catch a pass from quarterback Ben Troia in the second half.
Brendan Sowa attempts to make a tackle on a Rogers kickoff return in the second half.
Wayne Heilborn attempts to block a Rogers extra-point try in the second half.
Wayne Heilborn runs up field during a kickoff return.
Tigers' quarterback Ben Troia makes a throw downfield to receiver Malcolm Michaud in the second half.
Brendan Sowa catches a 25-yard pass from quarterback Ben Troia in the second half.
Brendan Sowa catches a 25-yard pass from quarterback Ben Troia in the second half.
Brendan Sowa catches a 25-yard pass from quarterback Ben Troia in the second half.
Tiverton cheerleaders cheer on the Tigers during their loss to Rogers in their Thanksgiving Day game at Toppa Field on Wednesday night.
Posted
The Tiverton High School football season came to an end after suffering a 40-0 loss to D-3 Rogers in a Thanksgiving Day match up at Toppa Field on Wednesday night. The Vikings made it alright after the game, handing out nearly 50 pumpkin and apple pies to the Tigers players and staff.
Tiverton and their 18 seniors still had a solid season, despite the loss. The 4-7 Tigers played with spirit all season long and went on to earn their first playoff birth in six years, a 14-13 defeat to Davies in the Division 4 quarterfinals.
After the game senior captains Ben Troia, Malcolm Michaud, Tyler Garside and Roman Fauci gathered and reflected on their senior season and some of their most memorable plays during the year.
“It was a lot of fun,” said senior captain Ben Troia, the Tiger’s four-year starting quarterback.
“The seniors got to go out together for our final year. We played some good games in there. There were a lot of good plays and it was a lot of fun.”
Troia’s most memorable play this season was a play his teammate senior Wayne Heilborn made in the quarterfinals loss to Davies. Heilborn was also the Turkey Day MVP for the Tigers.
“We forced a few fumbles during that game against Davies and we finally landed on one,” Troia explained. “Wayne scooped the ball up and ran it down the sidelines about 50 yards to set up a touchdown.”
Senior captain Malcolm Michaud, a wide receiver and defensive back said the team had a lot of expectations.
“The games came and went,” he said. “Some didn’t go our way. But what's in the past is in the past you can't change it anymore. But really, I just love this group of guys and I loved playing football with them. The games, in the locker room, practices, messing around.”
Michaud said that he and Troia had hooked up on many plays this season. But his favorite and most memorable was the play that occurred after Heilborn’s fumble recovery and run in the Davies game. Heilborn ran it to the Davies 15-yard line. Troia feathered a perfect pass to Michaud in the corner of the end zone for a toe-tapper touchdown to give Tiverton a 13-7 lead in the quarterfinal game.
“The game was tied,” Michaud said. “I started in motion and ran a wheel route. Ben rolled out and threw the ball over the defender’s head. I made the catch and got my feet inbounds for a touchdown. Tyler Garside ran over and hoisted me into the air and we all celebrated.”
Garside is the Tigers’ giant left tackle and feared defensive lineman. The senior captain also has the highest GPA on the team and was consistently, the hardest worker at practice and in games, according to Michaud. The big lineman started a tradition of lifting Tiverton players into the air after they scored a touchdown.
“It was a fantastic last season for all of us seniors,” Garside said. “The younger kids also got some reps to hopefully go into next season with some experience.”
His most memorable play was when Coach Dillon Sheridan gave defensive linebacker Daniel Correira a chance to play running back in the Tiger’s 49-0 beat down of Toll gate in a home tuneup game after playoffs.
“He ran for 14 yards having never touched the ball before,” said Garside of his fellow senior. “It was a great first run for him and it was amazing to be able to watch him do it.”
Senior captain Roman Fauci, a defensive linebacker first, tight end second, was looking forward to leading the defense as a captain this season.
“Most of us seniors were starters all four years and we've been more of a team than a lot of these other teams,” he said. “We banded together, formed a brotherhood and I loved playing with these guys.”
Fauci’s most memorable play was a fumble that he forced while playing middle linebacker during Tiverton’s 27-13 win over Smithfield in their second game of the season.
“It was a pretty good hit,” he said. “Smithfield’s running back came through the A gap. I lit him up and punched the ball out. We recovered and the stands exploded. I remember seeing their fans faces. It made me feel really good. It was awesome.”
