The Warwick Vets football team couldn’t capture much offensive momentum in a non-league defeat on Friday to Division II-B Chariho, 6-2, despite three interceptions and a few strong drives.

Despite the non-league loss, Vets head coach Rob Pacifico was pleased with the resilience his team displayed in keeping Chariho close all night.

“That’s what it takes to become a family,” Pacifico said. “We are becoming a family. We’re working together, believe in the one-play-at-a-time, short-term memory. We’re buying in. Everything is a step in the right direction. Soon enough we’re gonna get a score in our favor.”

The ‘Canes’ defense gave a solid performance in the air and in the trenches, with the exception of one play in the second quarter. Chariho junior quarterback Domenic Ciringione opened the second with a slant across the middle to senior wideout Jake Beauregard. Beauregard dashed through the middle to the left sideline and into the end zone for the only touchdown of the night.

The defense and special teams helped Vets get closer later in the quarter, as senior Jacob Isaac’s booming punt placed the Chargers at their own 12. Isaac had an impressive night overall, as he was both senior quarterback Nick Beaufort’s best receiving target and a dangerously efficient punter.

Chariho was almost out of its own corner when Di-Aundre Wilson fumbled and lost nearly 20 yards on the play. Fourth down eventually came, but the snap sailed high and the punter kicked it out of the end zone for a safety, making it 6-2.

On Chariho’s next drive, the ‘Canes came up clutch again. With the Chargers driving, Ciringione threw a pass to the right sideline, but Richard Bateman picked it off. The interception got returned to midfield, but an illegal-hit-to-the-head penalty pushed Vets well into Chariho territory at the 34-yard line with 1:07 left in the first half.

“We have a good, solid defensive team,” Pacifico said. “Defensive coordinator Terry Siravo has done an unbelievable job putting together the 4-3 defense that we’re running. They’re doing a great job. We’re coming along. We’re building pride back into this program, you can see it.”

Beaufort converted a third-and-9 to Bateman up to the 20-yard line and Vets stopped the clock with its second timeout. However, miscommunication resulted in the ‘Canes burning their final timeout.

Senior running back Mike Isles rushed for no gain, and Beaufort spiked the ball with two seconds left and 20 yards to go. Beaufort tried to find Isaac at the right corner of the goal line as time expired, but the pass was well defended and went incomplete.

On its opening drive of the second half, Chariho once again was driving to extend its lead. At about midfield, Ciringione looked for a receiver on the left when Beaufort stepped in front and picked it off. He dodged a few tackles to return it down the sideline to the Chariho 21-yard line.

“I think any time you’ve got a two-way player, they can see both sides of it,” Pacifico said. “He’s just as good a safety as a quarterback. It would be a mistake not to have him [at safety].”

Again, though, the offense couldn’t gather much steam. The ‘Canes gained six yards on three plays before Beaufort was sacked on fourth-and-4 to turn the ball over.

Beaufort got his revenge on Chariho’s next drive. On third down at Vets’ 35-yard line, Ciringione overthrew a pass attempted to the right side that fell into Beaufort’s arms for his second pick. Beaufort brought it back 10 yards to Vets’ 45-yard line to set up another short field for the ‘Canes.

The Chargers’ defense stood pat, allowing just one yard and setting up another punt deep into their own territory.

The ‘Canes and Chargers exchanged punts until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Chariho started its last drive on its own 40. A couple of short rushes brought up a crucial third-and-1 with a couple minutes to go. The ‘Canes’ defensive line stuffed the give up the middle to force another punt.

Vets had to drive 74 yards in 2:11 to win the game, and Chariho gave the ‘Canes some help. On a third-and-10, Beaufort eluded a couple sacks before firing a pass across the middle that went incomplete, but defensive pass interference was called.

“It’s all learning blocks,” Pacifico said. “We have a lot of young kids. They’re seeing things for the first time. To them it’s going a thousand miles an hour. So the more reps they get, the more it’s gonna slow down in their head. That’s gonna be big.”

With a fresh set of downs at their own 42, Beaufort threw a quick screen pass to Isaac for four yards. On the next play, though, Beaufort launched a throw into triple coverage intended for Daniel Pratt that got intercepted to effectively end the game.

The road doesn’t get much easier for the ‘Canes. They will take to the road for a game Friday against Rogers, which went 5-2 last season. The ‘Canes don’t play at home again until Oct. 2 against Coventry (4-3).

Though the odds are stacked against them, Pacifico believes his ‘Canes will be prepared with clear minds for their tilt with the Vikings.

“They’re gonna lick their wounds tonight [Friday], [have a] short-term memory, wake up ready to go for Rogers,” Pacifico said. “We have no choice. These guys are tough. This group is tough. They’ve shown us things the last couple weeks. If you asked me a month ago, I didn’t believe we had a group that was this tough.”