Panthers 12U team finishes off perfect regular season

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Football weather arrived on Sunday as the 12U Johnston Panthers hosted the Providence 49ers, as the Panthers stayed unbeaten with a 29-7 win.

The 49ers kicked off first and Tom Comella received the ball and brought the ball into Panther territory. After runs by Nic Comella and James Isme, Isme was able to run the ball in for the first score of the game with a 35-yard touchdown. Nic Comella converted the extra point and the Panthers were quickly up 7-0.

Justin Salvatore had a solo tackle for loss of yardage to start the Panther defense, and Jacob Martins, Arion Kennedy and Joey Patterson lead the defense to a 4-and-out.

On the next possession, Tom Comella ran the ball for a 42-yard touchdown and Nic Comella scored the extra point, putting the Panthers up 14-0.

Joey Patterson kicked off after that, and Nic Comella and Martins each had tackles behind the line of scrimmage. On the next offense possession, quarterback Zack Laverne threw a perfect 30-yard pass to Tim Isom for the next Panther score. Patterson’s extra point kick was good and the 12U Panthers lead extended to 22-0. The Panther defense led by Martins, Kennedy, Nick Guenette, Anthony Marsella, Adien Scott, Christian Olasanoye and Joey Charette were dominating, as they once again held the 49ers scoreless.

Isom and Michael Ferreria each ran the ball for positive Panther yardage on the next panther possession. Tom Comella, now in at quarterback, ran for a 43-yards touchdown for the next Panther score. Aidan Scott, in at quarterback, got the call to keep the ball and scored the extra point, putting Johnston up 29-0.

“From the first game to the last they worked together as a team,” said special teams coach Brian Martians. “It really showed out there today”.

The Panthers will play their first playoff game tonight night at 6 p.m. vs the Upper Cape Spartans at the new Johnston High School Athletic complex.

 

Panthers 10U roll into the playoffs

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The 10U Johnston Panthers capped off the regular season in dramatic fashion, taking down the defending Super Bowl champs the Providence 49ers 31-14. The Panthers finished the regular season with a 9-0 record.

The Panthers wasted little time, as Diemtri Iafrate ran 60 yards on the second play of the game to give the Panthers an early 6-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Iafrate stripped the ball, which put the ball back in the hands of the Panther offense, led by quarterback Derek Salvatore.

After a few good runs by Isaiah DeBritto and a long pass reception by Andrew Picard, Dimetri Iafrate ran the ball in the end zone from 10 yards out giving the Panthers a 12-0 lead.

On the 49ers next possession, after the moving the ball down the field, DeBritto stripped the ball and ran with it in the opposite direction, but the Panthers’ offense was unable to capitalize. The 49ers then managed to put a few good runs together, finding their way into the end zone to bring the score to 12-7, which put them right back in the game.

With little time left before halftime, the Panthers offense once again took the field. The Panthers moved the ball down the field with big gains from both DeBritto and Iafrate and, after driving the ball deep into 49er territory, Iafrate managed to score from 10 yards out to put the score at 19-7 at halftime. The Panthers offense was led by the blocking from Alex Morin, Noah Lavergne, Dylan Silva, Michael Morris, Michael Franco, Kyle Iannucillo, Dario Branch, Michael LaFlamme, Andrew Picard, Carlos Alfaia, Cory Collins, Rafael Ayriyan, Michael Vita and Jesse Pascetta.

The Panthers kickoff team took the field to start the second half and Carlos Alfaia stripped the ball from the returner for the Panthers’ third forced turnover of the day. The offense didn't take long to capitalize, as Iafrate ran 55 yards for his fourth touchdown of the day. The Panthers lead was extended to 25-7 deep into the third quarter. The defense took the field for the Panthers and stripped the ball for the fourth time and it was recovered once again by Carlos Alfaia. The defense was led by Alfaia, Dante Florio, Austin Jencks, Nick Baccala, Michael Salzillo, Matthias Barros, Dante Iafrate, Armand DeCosta, Cory Collins, Kyle D'Alesandro, Jayden Bereault, Jayden McKenna, Jake Trahan, Eric Luna, Devan Kent, Adrian Orellana, Nick Perron, and Joe Forte.

On the Panthers’ next possession Hudson Carvalho put together a few nice runs and found his way into the end zone from 15 yards out, giving the Panthers a 31-7 lead. The 49ers scored on their last possession for the final score.

The team will be entering the playoffs as the No. 1 and will play its first game this Sunday. Time and location are still undetermined. Please visit the Johnston Panthers website or like the Johnston Panther Facebook page for updates.

<$>Johnston 11U Panthers pick up a win 

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The Johnston 11U Panthers faced the South Attleboro White Hawks this past weekend and came up with a big 13-6 victory. 

Defensive lineman Rozellio Jones came up with a huge tackle on fourdown to stop the White Hawk offense and force a turnover on downs early in the game. 

On the Panther’s opening drive, linemen Nick Keller and Robert Joseph pushed back the White Hawk line to make a big hole for running back Peter Bibby.

Defensively, lineman Phil Costantini had two impressive tackles, one of which saved a White Hawk touchdown. In addition, linebacker Raymond Beaumier put a hard hit on the White Hawks running back to halt their drive.

In the second quarter, lineman Caleb Visnicky sacked the White Hawk quarterback resulting in a big loss. On the next play, linebacker Jake Martino closed down the middle, making a tackle that resulted in no gain for the White Hawk offense.  Safety Emma Salzillo and lineman Gianni Palumbo contributed to the Panthers defensive dominance with tackles. Later, quarterback Thomas Zednick hit Jones for an 18-yard pass play.  This set up two great runs by Bibby for a total of 50 yards.  Yet, unable to score, the Panthers went into halftime tied 0-0. 

The Panthers received the ball in the third quarter and their running game continued to find open holes from great blocks by Jamel Gonzalez, Todd Dilullo, Sebastian Annicelli, David Silva and Kenny Irizarry, which allowed running backs, Brando Coico, Beaumier and Domenic Petrarca to move the chains.   

After the offense was stopped on fourth down, the Panther defense continued to step up. Troy Nicotra put a big hit on the White Hawk running back. Later in the drive, Petrarca made an impressive touchdown-saving tackle. However, several plays later, the White Hawks scored to take a 6-0 lead. 

But the Panthers came back. After the teams traded possessions – including a White Hawk fumble that was recovered by Johnston’s Ryan Schino – quarterback Joey Acciardo found the sideline and raced for a 20-yard Panther gain to end the third quarter. As the fourth quarter started, the Panther running game continued to move the ball downfield with solid runs from Bibby. This set up the Panther’s first touchdown, with Legault going 15 yards up the middle to score and tie the game at 6-6. 

On the next drive, The Panther defense stood tough with tackles from Acciardo and Ragosta that stopped the White Hawks. On third down, the White Hawks threw a desperation pass only to be picked off by the safety, Bibby.

The Panther offense capitalized, as Ragosta ran for 30 yards to put the Panthers in the red zone. With time running out in the game, Acciardo handed the ball off to Bibby, who stopped and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Zednick, giving the Panthers a 13-6 lead with less than a minute left in the game.   

The Panthers sealed the victory with an interception by Beaumier. Jonathon D’Angelo, Antonio Gemma and Jack Russo were unable to play.

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