The Johnston Panthers sixth grade team captured their fourth consecutive victory with a 43-14 decision over the North End 49ers on Sunday.
The Panthers offense started the game off strong. Nic Comella had a nice 45-yard run to set up running back Justin Powell’s 5-yard touchdown run. James Isme then converted the extra point for an early 7-0 lead.
The defense also came out sharp. Newcomers Lee Ray and Jake Picard joined Joey Patterson and Comella to hold the 49ers offense to a four-and-out on its first possession.
Back on offense, Powell found the end zone again with a 35-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good. The Johnston lead was now 13-0.
On North End’s next series, Comella tackled the quarterback for a 5-yard loss, jarring the ball lose and it was recovered by the Panthers. With some excellent blocking from Joe Charette, Isaac Samayoa, James Manisay, David Valenti, Chris Lombardi and Wayne Smith, quarterback Sam Stone handed the ball off to Roman Stanley who ran up the middle for a 35-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good and the lead now was 19-0.
On the next 49er offensive possession, Mahki Thimas had a touchdown saving tackle, but the 49ers ended up scoring and converting the extra point. The Panthers’ lead was now 19-7. That did not stop the high-powered Panther offense. Comella ran for a 46-yard touchdown and Wayne Smith’s two-point kick was no good, making it 25-7.
Comella came out on the next defensive possession and stripped the ball, with the help of outstanding tackling by Picard, Tim Isom and Nicholas Butler. Quarterback Tom Comella then threw a 20-yard pass to Avian Farrell. This set up another Powell 8-yard touchdown run, his third score of the game. The extra point was no good and Johnston went to the break leading 31-7.
To begin the third quarter, the defense forced a fumble and Nic Comella recovered. The Panthers offense wasted no time, with Picard breaking a 52-yard touchdown run. The lead was 37-7. Nicholas Butler kicked off to the 49ers for 20 yards. Anthony Pafumi, Valenti, Lombardi, Stone, Samoya, Thimas, Charette, Jeremey Pigeon, Manisay, Smith, Junior Hartley and Butler held the 49ers to a four-and-out and turning the ball back to the offense. Stanley then ran for his second touchdown of the game from 64 yards out.
North End scored one more time for the final 43-14 margin. The Panthers have a bye this week and will resume their season on Oct. 6 at Johnston High School, where they host the Fall River Falcons.
Fourth-grade team gets wet and runs wild
On a rainy Sunday morning, the Panthers fourth grade team ran past the Darlington Braves 31-6 in the shadow of McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.
After a tough game last week, the Panthers wasted no time getting into the end zone, despite the rainy weather. On the first play from scrimmage, running back C.J. Ragosta took the ball around the end and scampered 70 yards for the team’s first touchdown. The extra point was no good, but the Panthers led 6-0.
Darlington had a quick answer, driving down the field for a touchdown on its first possession to tie the game.
“We instituted a new defense for the week by putting in another safety over the top,” head coach Brian Iafrate said. “After the quick scoring drive by the Braves the coaches decided to go back to our traditional 4-4 defense.”
The switch kept Darlington out of the end zone the rest of the way, and Johnston quickly regained control. On the next offensive possession, running back Dimetri Iafrate rambled 60 yards for a score to make it 12-6. That run was part of a strong overall effort by the Johnston offensive line featuring Gianni Palumbo, Phil Constantini, Ryan Schino, Antonio Gemma, Ken Irizarry, Andrew Picard and Dante Iafrate.
The Braves did have two offensive possessions after their first touchdown in which they got the ball on their side of the field but both drives came to an end on interceptions by Dimetri Iafrate. The defense was led by Joey Acciardo, Isaiah DeBritto, Dante Ricci, Gian Carraccio, Gemma, Matthias Barros, Dylan Silva, Dario Branch, Nick Perron and Jesse Pascetta.
On the third and fourth Panther possessions, Dimetri Iafrate scored again by dashing 65 and 70 yards on plays that saw multiple defensive players miss on his way to the end zone. An extra point was finally made by tough running from DeBritto, putting the Panthers ahead 25-6. Other Panthers to gain positive yardage throughout the game were fullback Dante Ricci and quarterback Joey Acciardo.
“It’s hard to key on just one running back on our team as we have multiple backs who can cause headaches for the opposition,” Brian Iafrate said.
The final scoring drive was capped off on a pass from Dimetri Iafrate to his brother, tight end Dante Iafrate, covering the final 15 yards and getting Johnston into the end zone one last time. Key running plays on the drive came from Carroccio, Ricci, and Acciardo.
“Today’s game was our overall best performance for the team on both sides of the ball,” Brian Iafrate said. “The Panther defense was as strong as it has been all year, only allowing an average of four points per game by the opposing teams. We continue to get better and better each week, which is what we try to instill in our team from one game to the next.”
The Panthers’ next game will be this Sunday at 11 a.m., against Lincoln at Veterans Memorial Park in Pawtucket.
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