Hendricken stops Shea
Raiders play well in loss to No. 1 team in state
PAWTUCKET — The first half? It was a mistake-free stretch for the Shea High football team. As a result, the Raiders appeared to be in very good shape heading into the second half of Friday’s Divison I-A contest against Bishop Hendricken.
Alas, there was still another half to go. That’s where the trouble started for the Raiders, who committed two turnovers in the third quarter that the Hawks turned into 14 points. It all added up to a 21-14 victory for Hendricken, now 5-0 in league play.
Had Shea quarterback Eric Palmer not thrown two interceptions to go along with two touchdowns, perhaps Friday’s game would have sung a different tune. One thing is certain and that’s the respect that Hender- icken had for its opponent. The Hawks played Friday’s game minus All-State lineman and University of Georgia commit Xavier Truss, who was held out per coach’s decision.
“I thought Shea played a great game. Their kids were ready. Coach Dino (Campopiano) did a great job with them,” said Hendricken head coach Keith Croft. “Their kids didn’t say, ‘Oh, here comes Hendricken. We can’t be on the same field as them.’”
Hendricken quarterback Tom Comella collected two touchdowns – one rushing, one passing – but like Palmer also tossed two interceptions. The game’s first score came after a scoreless first quarter as Comella floated a 32-yard throw that was grabbed by Angel Sanchez in the left corner of the end zone.
In a game that Shea desperately needed to remain in contention for a home game in the Division I quarterfinals, the Raiders could only watch as a good team made them pay dearly for their third-quarter transgressions. Comella and the Hendricken offense took full advantage of a short field that resulted in the junior calling his name from six yards out. That widened the Hawks’ lead to 13-6 with 6:15 left in the third quarter.
Shea’s second turnover of the third quarter came at the 4:01 mark. Once again, the Hawks turned the interception into points. Israel Emmanuel covered 15 yards and Hendricken proved successful on the two-point try to take a 21-6 lead in the final quarter.
The Raiders managed to heighten the drama when Palmer hit senior Gio Delgado for a 16-yard score. Palmer then found Greg Williams on the two-point try that made it a seven-point game, yet the Hawks succeeded in running out the final three minutes after recovering the on-side kick.
Shea received a break beforehand hen it
was revealed that Truss wouldn’t be in uniform. The Hawks didn’t seem to miss the talented lineman too much on the team’s opening drive of the game. Hendricken chewed up over seven minutes of clock and advanced the ball down to the two yard-line before fumbling it and the Raiders recovering. The turnover was one of three committed by the Hawks in the opening half.
The Raiders turned one of the Hendricken miscues into points. Junior DeJuan Hayes, a recent transfer from St. Raphael, came up with an interception at the 3:59 mark of the second quarter. Down 7-0, Jaylen Smith brought the home team to within a point (76) after taking a short pass from Palmer and covering 38 yards for the score. The play featured some fancy footwork by Smith, who broke out to the far sideline and eluded several Hendricken defenders.
Shea missed the extra point after the Smith score. Otherwise, the teams would have been locked in a 7-7 stalemate at the half. Farmogun Travaughn picked off Comella with 21 seconds left in the second quarter but the Raiders elected to run out the clock.
“I know we lost, but I’m super proud of the guys,” said Campopiano. “We made a couple of mistakes that hurt us, but they bat-
tled right to the end.”
Shea (3-3, Division I-A) will close out the regular season with a road game at North Kingstown next Friday night.