Moments before the kickoff, officials for the Division II Super Bowl invited the captains for both teams to the center of the field for the coin toss.
St. Raphaels sent four players to the …
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Moments before the kickoff, officials for the Division II Super Bowl invited the captains for both teams to the center of the field for the coin toss.
St. Raphaels sent four players to the 50-yard line, while more than 20 players from Barrington locked arms and walked slowly toward midfield. In fact, the Eagles decided to send every member of the senior class to the coin toss.
Barrington High School Football Coach Sandy Gorham said this year’s seniors are a close-knit group: good teammates on the field and great friends off it.
“It’s that chemistry thing,” Coach Gorham said, adding that if a team does not have chemistry it may struggle not matter how great the talent. This year’s seniors, he said, pick each other up when they are down and are quick to celebrate each other’s successes.
“It’s probably been a good 10 years that a lot of them have played together,” he said.
Many of the seniors were members of the same Barrington Pop Warner team over the years, a squad that nearly captured a regional championship at the Midget level. This year’s seniors also reached the Freshmen State Championship game, nearly upsetting top-ranked Hendricken. Coach Gorham’s son, Luke, is a member of this year’s senior class, meaning the BHS coach has had a front row seat for this group’s games over the years.
Coach Gorham said watching his team win the title on Sunday night was the perfect ending to the season. He said he spoke with his team prior to the game, reminding them that the Division II Super Bowl would be the last time they would all play together on the same team.
“We took the season to the very end,” he said. “There were no empty feelings. It was such a sense of satisfaction.”
Coach Gorham said the 34-6 win over St. Raphaels on Sunday night may have been the team’s best complete performance. He said he even received a text message from one of the player’s fathers who said the same thing.
Coach Gorham praised the play of his team, making certain to mention his offensive line. He said the group that included Evan Van Bree, Jack Kelleher and AJ Prete did a fantastic job opening holes for the Eagles’ running backs.
“I was amazed at how much of a push they got against a big line,” he said.
“They did a great job.”
Following the game, Coach Gorham enjoyed a special moment with his son, Luke. He said Luke walked up to him, picked him up and hugged him.
“For me personally, it’s the last game I’ll ever coach my son,” he said.
BHS Seniors (as listed on RIIL.org)
1 Ethan Tomulonis
3 Will Sanchez
4 Brigham Dunphy
6 Mark Bernardo
10 Noah Mincone
13 Cole Reed
21 Asher Kranowitz
23 Ben Proulx
24 Thomas McAdams
25 Max Williams
26 Andrew Jameison
28 Luke Gorham
29 Elijah Muller
31 Matt Cabral
32 Tom Rocha
41 Matt Daft
42 Jack Kelty
43 Jackson Bennett
53 AJ Prete
59 Sergio DaSilva
72 Evan Van Bree
73 Jack Kelleher
77 Josh Nutter