Tigers thrilled to be back
Tolman returns to field with win over Islanders
PAWTUCKET — Bottom line, the Tolman High football team was thrilled to resume its season on Saturday.
It didn’t matter that several key regulars were out for the Division II nonleague contest against Middletown. The Tigers needed a game in the worst way. They needed to see another team standing on the opposite sideline. Exactly two weeks had passed since their last game. Over consecutive weeks, the Tigers missed out on taking the field due to COVID-19 issues with the opposing teams (West Warwick, Lincoln).
With a make-or-break game against Moses Brown on tap this coming Saturday, it was imperative that Tolman reacquaint itself with the finer points of hitting and blocking in a game day setting. The idea of being off three straight weeks with a potential playoff spot hanging in the balance … you can understand why head coach Jason DeLawrence begged athletic director Frank Laliberte to line up someone for the fourth week of a fiveweek regular season.
“This was great. I have to give it up to Middletown. It was my kids’ Senior Night. Thank you Middletown for coming to play us.”
— Jason DeLawrence
“This was great,” said DeLawrence after the Tigers dispatched the Islanders, 28-7, at Max Read Field. “I have to give it up to Middletown. It was my kids’ Senior Night. Thank you Middletown for coming to play us.”
In his first varsity start at quarterback for Tolman, junior Alex Medeiros passed for two scores, ran for another touchdown, and rushed for two two-point conversions. Both of his scoring strikes landed in the hands of senior Leandro DePina.
“He was way more comfortable in the second half than he was in the first,” said DeLawrence when asked about Medeiros.
Medeiros moved into the starting QB role after COVID’s wrath forced senior Jordan Cooper to the sidelines. Cooper wasn’t around his Tolman teammates when he learned that he had to quarantine for 10 days.
“Hopefully he can come back. We’re going to need him against Moses Brown so we can throw the ball a little bit,” said DeLawrence.
At running back, the Tigers spread the carries around with senior Anthony Morrison and junior Jaden Nunez seeing time in place of senior Jamarus Godette, who suffered a concussion during the April 3 game against St. Raphael.
Tolman features plenty of size and strength along the offensive line with senior Glenn Sharpe and junior Devin Ward setting the tempo. As Saturday’s game progressed, Morrison and Nunez did less dancing in the backfield and more exploding through the holes that were opened up by the boys in the trenches. Nunez helped to finish off Middletown with a 13-yard score that served as the game’s final points with 5:45 remaining.
“Anthony has been playing a little bit of varsity. He had been backing up Jamarus. Jaden was killing it with the JVs. I said, ‘Today’s your chance, buddy,’” said DeLawrence. “My line is physical. They like to hit. They like to ball. That’s what we’re going to do.”
On Godette, DeLawrence says a checkup on Monday will reveal his status for the week ahead.
“If they say he’s clear, he’ll play [against Moses Brown]. If not, he has to keep waiting,” said DeLawrence.
Medeiros’ job was made a lot easier thanks to DePina, who split two Middletown defenders for the game’s first score – a 25-yarder at 2:27 of the first quarter. With Tolman nursing a one-point lead (8-7), DePina displayed total concentration in coming away with a 12-yard TD grab on fourth-and-goal that upped the advantage to 16-7 with 7:49 remaining in the third.
On DePina’s second score, he out-jumped two Middletown players before catching the ball on the deflection. One Middletown defender was able to get his hands on DePina, but the 6-foot-2 livewire kept on trucking his way to crossing the goal line before his knee hit the turf.
“My coach yells at me every practice, saying that I’m 6-foot-2 and need to be athletic,” said DePina. “I had to push [on that second touchdown grab].”
DePina’s value is equally important when the Tigers are on defense. He lines up at safety and makes all the calls. Had DePina not collided with his teammates, he would have added to his banner day with a pair of interceptions.
“If we’re lined up correctly, we’ll be good,” said DePina. Middletown 0 – 7 – 0 – 0 --- 7
Tolman 8 – 0 – 14 – 6 --- 28
(First Quarter)
T – Leandro DePina 25-yard pass from Alex Medeiros (Medeiros run), 2:27
(Second Quarter)
M – Leonard Pina 35-yard pass from Pierce Claire (Caleb Florendo kick), 9:30
(Third Quarter)
T – DePina 12-yard pass from Medeiros (Medeiros run), 7:49
T – Medeiros 8-yard run (run failed), 2:41
(Fourth Quarter)
T – Jaden Nunez 13-yard run (run failed), 5:45