Rolling along
That was once again the case as Burrillville empties bench in 61-6 romp of Juanita Sanchez Co-op
The undefeated Burrillville High football team put up 61 points in an easy win Saturday.
BURRILLVILLE – What had started as a fine representation of his football program in its entirety lost some of its magic for Burrillville High veteran head coach Gennaro Ferraro on Saturday afternoon – and understandably so.
With 5:41 left in regulation of what became a 61-6 blowout of Division II-B rival Juanita Sanchez/PCD/Wheeler Coop at Alumni Field, freshman Matt Gibeau seemed poised to register yet another Bronco first down when he pulled up injured on the BHS sideline.
In essence, Gibeau didn’t fall, as no one was near him; he just went down in a heap.
As an EMT and coaches addressed Gibeau, he said he felt extreme pain in his right hip. To be safe, medical and school officials called for an ambulance for transport to a hospital.
What made matters worse, at the same time, sophomore Finigan Perry sat on the team bench nursing an aggravated collar- bone.
When asked if the victory had lost some of its luster because of the two injuries, Ferraro hesitated, then said, “Hey, a win in football is worthy off a smile and being happy about it; injuries are part of the game, but everyone is important to this process, varsity kids, JV and freshman kids, too,” he explained. “Those kids work hard, just like the (varsity) starters do,” he added. “Them being hurt, it just saddens me.”
On the positive side, the Broncos (4-0, D-II B) had scored four times in the first quarter, then tacked on a fifth on the third snap of the second to coast to the easy verdict over the winless Cavaliers (now 0-5 overall, 0-4 in league).
“I knew coming in to this game that Juanita had lost a lot of talented kids to graduation, and I knew they hadn’t won a game, but I respect (head mentor) Steve (Nadeau) and his coaches and kids a great deal,” Ferraro noted. “Over the past few years, we’ve developed a terrific rivalry, and we knew we were going to get
their best effort.
“In this game, as soon as you underestimate an opponent, it’s a recipe for failure.”
Burrillville did not take the Cavs for granted, but – because of the nature of the walloping – not many of Ferraro’s kids had memorable statistical days. There were exceptions, such as senior Mathew Gongoleski, who posted 30 yards and two TDs on five handles and a 25-yard reception for another 25 and a score; and sophomore running back Bobby Thatcher, who earned 130 all-purpose yards on a scant four touches.
Thatcher returned the only two JS/PCD/ Wheeler kickoffs for 95 yards, then had two carries for 35 more a paydirt.
Senior quarterback Jake Gelinas nailed six completions in eight attempts for 93 yards and two TDs, while sophomore Jon Bergin went 2-for-4 for 36 yards and a score.
The Broncos needed just over 90 seconds after the opening boot to push the ball into the end zone; they maneuvered 50 yards (after Thatcher’s fine 35-yard return) on six plays culminating on Gongolski’s one-yard rush off left guard.
Junior Sean Foisy landed his first of seven PATs on the afternoon to make it 7-0.
Less than two minutes later, after senior Robert Barnes picked off freshman quarterback Matt Borden on the JS 14, Gongoleski swept 14 yards around right end to make it 14-0 with only 3:33 elapsed.
Next thing Ferraro knew, the Cavs were on the board, as junior Gabe Matos took a screen pass 73 yards down the right sideline; it had appeared junior Aiden Tupper had tackled him just before midfield, but officials ruled that Matos had rolled over a body on the turf and never actually touched the ground.
The BHS defense nevertheless stopped him on the two-point rush attempt.
Amazingly, Thatcher returned the ensuing boot 60 yards to the JS 25, and Gongoleski scored his third on a 25-yard left-side screen toss. That was at 7:34, meaning – in the span of 2:50 – the two teams had combined for four touchdowns.
Burrillville tacked on another when Gelinas hit senior Ryan Lockwood (two receptions, 47 yards) on a 24-yard aerial inside the left pylon, and – on th third snap from scrimmage in the second period – Thatcher took a Gelinas handoff and raced 10 yards untouched around left end for the 35-6 advantage.
With 9:03 left before intermission, Ferraro opted to replace his usual varsity crew with JV players, and Bergin eventually connected with junior Ethan Lambert on that same drive, a 13-yard TD pass in the left flat with 3:58 remaining.
That made it 42-6.
Junior Nick Roy chilled in a 51-yard scoring run; sophomore Conor Driscoll a 15-yard jaunt; and classmate Carlo Acquisto a oneyard plunge for the Broncos.
“We have 53 kids total on this team, and every single one of them played; that’s what makes me the happiest,” Ferraro stated after his post-game chat with his squad. “We got out in front, so were able to use everybody. The thing is, when you coach a kid in a game situation, it’s totally different than in practice.
“It’s a competitive atmosphere, and you can teach more hands-on,” he added. “It allows for more growth. When you can point a good play or one that he needs to improve upon, it helps him grow as a player, become more confident.
“We’re trying to develop four-year players here.”
As for the next task, it won’t be easy. “We’re at Middletown next week (Friday night at 7 at Gaudet Middle School), and they’re very good,” Ferraro acknowledged. “They’ve got a lot of speed and they’re wellcoached, so we’re going to have to do some good work in practice next week.”
Juanita Sanchez/PCD/Wheeler 6 00 0–6 Burrillville 28 14 13 6 – 61
BURR – Matt Gongoleski 1 run (Shea Foisy kick) BURR – Gongoleski 14 run (Foisy kick)
JS – Gabe Matos 73 (run failed)
BURR – Gongoleski 25 pass from Jake Gelinas (Foisy kick) BURR – Ryan Lockwood 24 pass from Gelinas (Foisy kick) BURR – Bobby Thatcher 10 run (Foisy kick)
BURR – Ethan Lambert 13 pass from Jon Bergin (Foisy kick) BURR – Nick Roy 51 run (kick failed)
BURR – Conor Driscoll 15 run (Foisy kick)
BURR – Carlo Acquisto 1 run (pass failed)