Northmen play for first title
NSMSC meets No. 3 Tiverton in Division IV Super Bowl today
NORTH SMITHFIELD — The North Smithfield/ Mount St. Charles co-op football team is the only undefeated team left in the state, but the top-seeded Northmen-Mounties enter today’s Division IV Super Bowl against No. 3 Tiverton with a chip on their shoulder.
Dating back to their September meeting with the Tigers, NSMSC believes that folks outside the program thought the Division IV title went through Tiverton and Ponaganset.
But here the Northmen are, one victory at Cranston Stadium away from winning the program’s first title in their first trip to the Super Bowl.
“Ya, for some reason everyone picks against us and everyone is up on Tiverton,” NSMSC coach Wes Pennington said after Friday night’s practice on the Northmen’s snow-covered FieldTurf. “They’re a good football team, but we’re the only undefeated team in the state. We’re only giving up only about seven points a game and we score over 40 points a game.
“I hope the chip on their shoulder fires them up and makes the play good, motivated football on Sunday.”
Pennington has plenty of reasons to believe his squad should be the favorite against a Tiverton team that smashed Ponaganset in the semifinals to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since losing the Division III final in 2008.
Not only did the Northmen-Mounties hand the Tigers a 19-14 back in September, but they also have the most explosive offense in the division. If Pennington wants to run the ball, he can do so with a healthy Cade Curran, back up Jordan Allard or bruising Mount St. Charles fullback Jared Beaudoin. The backs run behind an offensive line led by Cole Dubois and Matt Johannis.
As he’s shown in the last month of the season, quarterback Jack Puccetti is dangerous in the passing game with three talented wide receivers in speedster Xavier Croteau, Jason Meriweather and slot man Josh Carufel.
“We’re healthy finally for the first time in a number of weeks,” Pennington said of his offense. “We have Cade back and our whole line is good and healthy and ready to go. We’re excited, but whether we run it or throw, we have Jack throwing the ball. We have LJ, X and Josh out there catching the ball. We’re loaded and ready to go.”
Tiverton (7-2 Division IV) gave up 35 points to Ponaganset in October and 34 to Narragansett in its season opener, but the Tigers allowed just 36 points in their last three games.
NSMSC (9-0 Division IV) has more offensive weapons than the Tigers, but Tiverton will likely have the best player on the field in junior quarterback Matt Gacoich. The rocket-armed righty threw a touchdown pass in the first meeting and recorded a pair of interceptions. Tiverton’s other touchdown came on a halfback pass from Nate Upchurch.
Pennington respects what Gacioch brings to the field – especially after watching the Tigers thrash Ponaganset, 40-14 in the semifinals – but he also knows he has a strong defense. Led by Tim deVries, Johannis, Croteau and Meriweather, the Northmen didn’t give up more than two touchdowns in their first nine games.
“It’s two good football teams, so every play and every snap is going to matter,” Pennington said. “It’s just who makes the most plays in the course of the game, and we made the most plays last time. I think we have a really tal- ented defense. Our secondary guys are up for the challenge against them and so are our d-line guys and our linebackers.
“[Gacioch] is going to make some plays, but we’re going to make some, too. A lot of people don’t see what we have on defense, but we’re talented. We have speed all over the field.”
While veteran Tiverton coach Bob Murray, who has won over 200 games in charge of the Tigers, has been in numerous Super Bowls, no player on either team has reached this stage in their scholastic careers. As a matter of fact, both teams earned their first playoff wins in a number of seasons Saturday at Tucker Field.
The challenge for both coaches is to keep their players focused on the game plan and the opponent in the hours leading up to the biggest game of their young lives.
“There are a lot of distractions that come with playing in a championship game, so you just want them to stay focused,” Pennington said. “We’ve made sure they’re working hard this week so they preform well. This team was young last year, so they’ve been together the last two years. They’ve been in the heat of battle, so I don’t think they will be antsy or nervous. They’re going to take the challenge.”
For Pennington, the Division IV title being the final title game in the Interscholastic League’s fall program is only fitting because he believes it will be the best of the four games played at Cranston Stadium this weekend.
“To be honest with you, I think this game will be the best of the four because Tiverton’s a good team,” Pennington said. “It’s going to be a real good football game come Sunday. We’re looking forward to it.”
“To be honest with you, I think this game will be the best of the four because Tiverton’s a good team. It’s going to be a real good football game come Sunday. We’re looking forward to it.”
— NSMSC coach Wes Pennington