Friendly contest

Anthony Rampone makes a living fighting fires and saving lives.

Last Thursday night, though, he made a daring and dramatic rescue when he intercepted a pass and scampered some 15 yards into the end zone for what proved to be the winning – and only – score in Fire Bowl 2014.

Rampone’s heroics sent the North Providence firefighters home with a 7-0 victory over their Johnston counterparts – and the Fire Bowl Traveling Trophy.

But the real winner in the well-attended flag football contest was the Tri-Town Community Action Agency, which received upwards of 500 pounds of canned goods and non-perishable food items that filled the entire back end of a Johnston Fire Department Rescue.

It didn’t matter that a slight drizzle blanketed Johnston’s sparkling new state-of-the-art athletic complex. People of all ages kept arriving, and gave food items in little bags and big cardboard boxes to awaiting firefighters who were nothing less than impressed with the extraordinary efforts of caring community members.

By night’s end, the rescue was filled with every type of food item imaginable, and Tri-Town – headed by CEO Joseph DeSantis – also generated nearly $800 in monetary donations, including $200 each from the United Commercial Food Workers and Smithfield Fire Fighters Union Local 2050 and another $200 in gift cards.

The fund swelled by another $200 when Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena presented North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi with a check that was part of a two-way wager. The other half was that whatever team won, the losing mayor would have to wash his counterpart’s town-owned vehicle.

Although there has been no official date for when Polisena will perform that duty, Lombardi said after joining his team and accepting the Fire Bowl Traveling Trophy: “Now my biggest problem is trying to figure out how to inflict pain upon Joe … this victory is going to be sweeter when we all see him washing my car.”

Lombardi, who has worked on several important projects with Polisena, continued: “This was a great event at this magnificent [Johnston High School Athletic] Complex. The Fire Bowl brought our communities closer together while also helping people who are less fortunate in very much in need. We must keep this tradition going.”

One shining example of what Fire Bowl 2014 did was create an even closer bond between North Providence Local 2334 and Johnston Local 1950.

“This was a great game,” Jonathan “Jon” Pistaccio, vice president of the Johnston firefighters union, offered. “It was hard fought by both teams. The North Providence firefighters are a great group of guys, and we’re looking forward to playing them next year, especially since it’s for such a good cause.”

Pistacchio, who later admitted he was “blown away and shocked to see how the rescue was jam-packed with food items,” said: “We all want to thank Mayor Polisena and everyone who made this event possible, especially everyone that came out on a cold, rainy Thursday night and helped stock up the Tri-Town Community Food Bank.”

“I’m real proud of my guys, they were perfect hosts tonight,” Polisena said. “They played well and we came up short – just a yard – but tonight was more about people from both communities caring and showing their respect for people who are in need.”

The mayor, who didn’t give the date for when he’ll wash Lombardi’s vehicle, went on: “The food donations were an outpouring of concern and classic example of just how spirited and supportive people in our great town have always been.”

Even when it came to the 50/50 split-the-pot drawing, when the winning ticket was pulled, no one showed up in the press box to claim the prize. Thus, all the money went to the Johnston High School cheerleaders, who are trying to raise the necessary funds to perform at the Jan. 2 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

EXTRA POINTS: Fire Bowl 2014 had real referees, Eugene Matera, Peter Rios and Charlie Trant … Johnston High cheerleaders Lauren Petrozzi and Gabriella Costantini held the downs marker … Johnston Firefighter Dave Pingitore did a great job announcing the game, and Local 1950 President Keith Calci operated the clock and scoreboard with Pistacchio … Johnston’s late first-half drive – which included a masterful 45-yard pass and catch play between quarterback David Calabro and Brian Moreau – reached the one-yard line as time ran out … Jennifer Leone, wife of Johnston Firefighter Frank Leone, delivered a powerful and beautiful rendition of the national anthem.