OPENING STATEMENTS
NS/MSC dominates Toll Gate
WARWICK — North Smithfield/Mount St. Charles Co-op made the most of its 2018 version of the R.I. National Guard’s “Salute to Service” campaign on Friday night.
Dressed in partly camouflaged uniforms, the Northmen/Mounties took advantage of two touchdowns in the initial 3:42 and later sailed to a 35-0 Division IV pasting of Toll Gate at the Warwick Vets Middle School gridiron.
Junior running back Cade Curran led the offensive surge, managing 14 carries for 122 yards and a trio of paydirts (and all of those came after the first three-plus minutes of the opening period), helping NS/ MSC improve to 2-0 overall and in league play.
“I thought we played pretty well, though we had some sloppy points, too,” stated head coach Wes Pennington, who always will critique a fine effort so his boys won’t become complacent. “There are some phases we need to improve upon, but – overall – I like the performance. We did some really good things.”
Curran opened the scoring with an 11-yard scoring jaunt, and – not long after – senior speed demon Xavier Croteau hustled 29 yards for the second just 3:42 after the opening boot. Sophomore Pasquale Camastro nailed his first and second of five PATs to give the Northmen/Mounties the 14-0 advantage.
Then, on the second snap of the second quarter, Pennington’s bunch capped a fiveplay, 53-yard possession when Puccetti completed a 27-yard
pass down the right sideline to senior receiver Jason Meriwether.
Camastro continued with a perfectly-executed onside kick, one recovered near the NS/MSC bench by junior Josh Carufel, and the visitors took over at the Titans’ 42. Curran immediately ran for 14 yards, and Croteau took a sweep 28 yards around left end for the TD, but officials called that back due to a hold.
Three plays after that, following Croteau’s nine-yard hustle, Curran swept left for 17 yards to lift the Northmen/Mounties to the 28-0 cushion with 8:11 still left in the half.
The defense stymied sophomore quarterback Jayson Pasquina once more, and NS/MSC regained possession at its own 36. Eleven plays later, Camastro lined up for a 35-yard field goal try, but a bad snap ruined that opportunity as time ran out.
Camastro suffered a similar fate on the opening drive of the third as he pulled a 25-yard attempt just wide of the left goalpost with 7:08 remaining.
Toll Gate actually mustered its first trip into NS/MSC territory on the ensuing possession, that after senior Ezra Cox plowed for an eight-yard gain. On the very next play, however, it was whistled for a 15-yard personal-foul penalty; the drive quickly fizzled.
Pennington and Co. took over at their 48, and Curran ran for 15 and Jared Beaudoin for six before Puccetti found Josh Carufel on an eightyard pass in the right flat.
Beaudoin chipped in a 13- yard jaunt before Curran ripped off a 10yard blast up the middle for the final score.
North Smithfield/MSC 14 14 0 7 – 35
Toll Gate 00 0 0–0
NSM – Cade Curran 11 run (Pasquale Camastro kick) NSM – Xavier Croteau 29 run (Camastro kick)
NSM – Jason Meriwether 27 pass from Jack Puccetti (Camastro kick)
NSM – Curran 17 run (Camastro kick)
NSM – Curran 10 run (Camastro kick)