Hawks, Pats set for semifinal action

By Jacob Marrocco
Posted 11/19/15

Playoff season is finally here and while every Warwick team didn’t qualify, they are all preparing for action. Pilgrim and Hendricken are getting ready for postseason play this weekend, while …

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Hawks, Pats set for semifinal action

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Playoff season is finally here and while every Warwick team didn’t qualify, they are all preparing for action. Pilgrim and Hendricken are getting ready for postseason play this weekend, while Warwick Vets and Toll Gate are gearing up for big Thanksgiving games next week.

 

- The ’Canes had a rough result last weekend in a non-league matchup added late to their schedule against Johnston. After taking the lead on the opening kickoff, the ’Canes’ defense had trouble stopping the Panthers, falling 64-6. However, there is no better way to close the books on Warwick Vets football than with a win over its most hated rival, Pilgrim. The Pats got the better of the ’Canes last season, but Vets holds the overall edge with a 29-22-1 record. That will never be taken away from them, and the ’Canes can end their disappointing season with the 30th all-time win in the series. It will be a tall task stopping the likes of Owen Kelly, Darren Grant and David McMullen, among others, but sports is all about upsets. Check back in next week for the prediction.

 

- Toll Gate was unable to finish its Division III slate with a .500 record this past weekend after dropping a close game on the road at Ponaganset, 21-15. With the regular season over, the Titans now have Division I Hendricken to focus on for what potentially could be the last of that rivalry series depending on realignment. The Hawks hold the 35-8 all-time advantage in the series, but the Titans will be able to devote two weeks to the game while Hendricken could be distracted by playoff preparation. Toll Gate can try to steal away the victory this season at home, though the Hawks bring a plethora of weapons to the table. Stay tuned for the prediction next week.

 

- Pilgrim is playoff-bound at 6-2, but didn’t end its season the way it would have liked to. The Pats went on the road to undefeated East Greenwich and were beaten 47-0 to get the No. 3 seed in the Division III playoffs. The loss can’t hang in the Pats’ heads for long, though, as a matchup with No. 2 seed Classical looms this Saturday afternoon. Pilgrim will be out for revenge after dropping a 19-14 decision at home to the Purple on Oct. 2. That night, the field was muddy, the conditions were inclement and head coach Tom O’Connor was serving a suspension. The forecast for Saturday is partly cloudy and the Pats are 5-1 with O’Connor in the regular season, so they will get another crack with better conditions. It was the wet weather that caused the ball to slip out of quarterback McMullen’s hands, which led to the game-winning fumble return touchdown for the Purple. Classical is 3-1 in league play at home this season, with East Greenwich’s 42-7 win being the only blemish. Pilgrim’s offense has to forget the shutout and return to form, or Classical will move on to the Super Bowl. It will be close, but I think it is too hard to shut down this offense back-to-back weeks.

Prediction: Pilgrim 30, Classical 24

 

- Hendricken closed out the regular season with a 39-14 win over South Kingstown, and it will seem like deja vu all over again this Friday at 7 p.m. when it hosts the Rebels again in the D-I semifinals. The Hawks and Rebels are coming into the playoff game from two different paths. Hendricken cemented itself as the top overall seed with a 53-23 victory over previously undefeated La Salle two weeks ago before soaring past the Rebels on Friday. South Kingstown, after an impressive 4-0 start, has lost three of its last four games, all to playoff teams. The Rebels only averaged seven points across those three losses to Hendricken, La Salle and East Providence, so it could be hard to stack up against those squads again in the postseason. South Kingstown will be able to better prepare for the Hawks after just seeing them a week ago, but I think they will be too much to handle yet again.

Prediction: Hendricken 40, South Kingstown 20

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