The Mt. Hope High School football team got the win it needed to stem an early-season downturn as the Huskies traveled to Coventry Friday night, Oct. 2, and came away with a resounding 42-12 victory.

Mt. Hope, which had lost its previous two outings, improved to 2-2 overall. Just as important, the locals earned some increased points in the Division III power rankings with their win over the D-II Knotty Oakers. The hosts, though, dropped to 0-4 at the time.

The Huskies never looked back last weekend after Brody Cavalieri put MHHS on top with a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The first of Jake Mancieri's point-after kicks gave the locals a lead it would maintain the rest of the way.

The MHHS defense next turned the Oakers over on downs. Soon after, quarterback Will Francis hit end Tyler Rhynard for a 45-yard scoring strike. Francis rolled right, connected with Rhynard inside the Coventry five, then the junior scurried into the endzone for the score. Mancieri's boot put the Huskies up 14-0.

The Oakers clawed back six early in the second quarter on a quarterback keeper, but a low snap on the ensuing PAT kick attempt left the locals up by eight.

The margin soon grew to 15 when Francis capped a seven play, 58-yard Mt. Hope with a short keeper of his own. The third Mancieri kick made it 21-6.

Coventry's responding series was eventually curtailed by a turnover. The Oakers reached just outside the MHHS redzone where a botched handoff was recovered by Huskies' defensive end Adam Matloob.

On the very next play, Francis dropped back, lofting a pass down the left sideline to wideout Nick Rogers, who had more than a step on his defender and maintained it en route to a 68-yard throw-and-catch TD strike. Mancieri's fourth PAT upped the Huskies' edge to 28-12.

Coventry answered with its other scoring drive, again ending on a QB keeper. A pass attempt for the two-point conversion fell incomplete and the scored remained 28-12 into halftime.

What turned out to likely be the Oakers' last gasp came to begin the third period. Coventry drove to the Mt. Hope 11, but turned the ball over once more, this one an interception by Rogers, at his safety slot on defense, in the endzone.

Rogers returned it to the 15 where the Huskies began the game-deciding march. Francis engineered Mt. Hope back deep into Coventry territory. At the Oakers' 25, he hit Rhynard with a quick flare pass at line of scrimmage and the wideout darted the remainder to the endzone. Mancieri's kick gave the locals a commanding 35-12 lead.

The last points of the game were the product of the Mt. Hope D again turning Coventry over on downs, this time at the Oakers' own 34. Three plays later Matthew Thibaudeau, who opened the season playing on the offensive line because of absences, rumbled in from the one for the TD. Mancieri's sixth PAT accounted for the final score.

Mt. Hope was playing with its projected 2026 O-line fully intact. Senior transfer Zack Ledsworth, at right tackle, just recently became eligible and senior left tackle Riley Gagner was cleared to play after an offseason injury. They joined the interior trio of Jack Mullaney, Lucas Machado and Andrew Jordan.

The line blocked for fullback Cavalieri, who finished with 120 yards rushing on seven carries and the touchdown. The senior linebacker was also the defensive standout for the Huskies, finishing with eight solo tackles and 20 total. Machado, Thibaudeau and Chase Savinon each also hit double figures with 10 total tackles apiece.

Rhynard had four catches for 127 yards and the two TDs. Rogers also hit the century mark exactly in yards gained on three catches and his touchdown. Francis finish his evening 9-for-14 through the air with three TD throws and 267 yards. He also ran for 38 on three carries, including the touchdown.

Mt. Hope next serves as hosts for what will be its only night contest of the season when East Greenwich visits Veterans Field on Warren Friday, Oct. 9. The Homecoming game kickoff is set for 6 p.m. It will be Mt. Hope's first opportunity to play under the newly-installed, upgraded lighting system at Vets.