Novans shut out by West
Woonsocket playoff hopes take hit against Falcons
CRANSTON – This was Woonsocket’s chance to show that it was ready to make a run at its first playoff appearance since 2013.
Under the bright lights at Cranston Stadium on Friday night, the Villa Novans showed they still have plenty of work to do.
Cranston West’s defense pitched a shutout and quarterback Nicholas Dionizio passed for three scores in a 35-0 victory in Division I-A action. Woonsocket (2-3) trailed 7-0 at halftime but soon found itself hanging on for dear life as a West offense that coming in had scored 20 or more points in four of five games against in-state foes came to life in a major way.
Woonsocket quarterback Geraldi Paniagua had his productive moments, but the junior also threw three interceptions. The Novans committed four turnovers that directly led to 21 points for the Falcons (4-1).
Another seven points were giftwrapped by Woonsocket after missing a 38-yard field goal at 3:41 of the third quarter. On the ensuing play, Falcons senior William Such broke off an 80-yard run that pinned the Novans in a 210 hole.
Such also found the end zone on three occasions. His third score covered 90 yards on the ground and achieved mercy-rule status with seven minutes remaining.
“We shot ourselves in the foot and have a lot of things to clean up,” said WHS head coach Charlie Bibeault. “Geraldi hung tough and took a lot of hits. We just had a lot of unfortunate things happen.”
The first half saw both sides suffer through some untimely penalties and struggles in the red zone. The Falcons took the opening kickoff and marched 43 yards in just five plays en route to producing the lone score in the opening two quarters. Woonsocket deflated its chances to get off the field by allowing a 29-yard completion on third down and committing pass interference in the end zone.
“We shot ourselves in the foot and have a lot of things to clean up.” – Woonsocket coach Charlie Bibeault
Cranston West took full advantage as Dionizio looked left and saw that Evan Degaitas was all alone in the flat. The seven-yard completion at 10:11 was extended to a 7-0 lead as Matthew Carvalho was true on the point-after try.
Woonsocket possessed the ball for the final 6:31 of the first quarter and for the first two plays of the second quarter. After advancing the ball to the Cranston West 8, the Novans began to move backwards. A penalty moved Woonsocket back to the 17 before the drive ultimately fizzled out at the 10yard line.
The Falcons assumed possession and marched all the way to the 16 before running out of gas and turning the ball over on downs. Woonsocket appeared to have something cooking after taking over at the Cranston West 36 with 47 seconds left in the half. Instead, the Novans lost 12 yards on first down and Paniagua threw an interception with 22 seconds remaining.
Cranston West’s last gasp of the half saw Davis come away with interception with no time on the clock.
Trouble for Woonsocket started on its first possession of the second half. Looking for more yardage after hauling in a short pass, senior Ke’Vaughn Davis had the ball knocked loose and Cranston West recovered. That set the stage for the first of four second-half touchdowns by the home team.
Woonsocket returns to action next Saturday afternoon at Barry Field against seventime state champion Bishop Hendricken.