SRA makes statement
Saints too much for talented Woonsocket
WOONSOCKET – Like bringing Frankenstein’s monster to life, St. Raphael football coach Mike Sassi had a vision upon taking over the team’s offensive play-calling duties.
In order to shift from the creative stage to clear-cut reality, Sassi understood he had to make a focal point out of one of SRA’s senior playmakers. Take Andrew Andella, have him line up here or there, and remind whoever is at quarterback to never hesitate to look in his direction.
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“We’re trying to do everyrthing with him,” said Sassi. h Rushing and receiving, rAndella touched the ball seven times in SRA’s 23-7 non-league win over defending Division II Super Bowl champion Woonsocket on Saturday afternoon. Offennsively, Andella’s biggest condtribution came in the second quarter as the Saints capped off a 10-play, 65-yard drive nwith Andella hauling in a 25myard touchdown pass from dquarterback Andre Gray. a Gray initially looked to his right before turning his body ever so slightly. Once dthat happened, the junior rlocked eyes with Andella. With three Woonsocket defenders in the area, Andella nhauled in the pass just short of the goal line before walking in with a score that tied the game at 7-7.
The touchdown grab wasn’t the only big play registered by Andella at Barry Field. He staked a strong claim to be viewed as a twoyway contributor when in the fourth quarter and the Saints protecting a 9-7 lead, Andelhla picked off Woonsocket quarterback Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan. As defender who is fully capable of linying up at either safety or cordnerback, Andella was shadtowing Woonsocket senior Jaylen Lopez when Robinson-O’Hagan sought to execute a back-shoulder pass along the far sideline.
With the ball on the Woonsocket 7-yard line, Andella jumped the route and caused one of five turnovers by the Novans.
Upon notching the interception, he found enough daylight for a 13-yard return before getting taken down at the Novan 4. On the first offensive snap of the ensuing drive, SRA’s Napoleon DeBarros powered his way up the middle for what proved to be a game-clinching fouryard rushing score, one that put the Saints up 16-7 with just over a minute remaining.
“I kept my eyes on (Lopez), read his hips, and the ball was right there,” said Andella, one of two captains on the SRA roster.
Photo by Ernest A. Brown
During the summer, the full extent of Andella’s ball-hawking skills were on display at a football camp put on by Rhode Island native and 12-year NFL veteran Will Blackmon. Andella was St. Raphael 0 – 7 – 0 – 16 --- 23 Woonsocket 0–7–0–0 --- 7
W – Eric Agyemang 25-yard pass from Tarik Robinson- O’Hagan (Robinson- O’Hagan kick)
SRA – Andrew Andella 25 pass from Andre Gray (Adam Gomes kick)
SRA – Safety, ball knocked out of the end zone
SRA – Napoleon
(Gomes kick)
SRA – Moses Meus return (Gomes kick)
DeBarros
60-yard
4-yard
run
interception