BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

1982Cumberland quarterback John George and running back Scott Duarte of Woonsocket both tallied two touchdowns, but it was Paul Murphy’s two extra-point kicks that led the Clippers to a 14-12 victory over the Villa Novans in a fierce, hard-hitting Thanksgiving Day battle whose outcome was not decided until the final seconds. George scored on two second-half one-yard QB sneaks for coach Tom Carlson. Duarte, who caught four passes for 124 yards, hooked up with QB Dave Beauchemin for TD strikes of 45 and eight yards.

1992Coach Dennis O’Brien’s Cumberland gridders ended a three-year Thanksgiving Day losing streak by routing Woonsocket 32-6 on a sloppy, muddy Tucker Field. The Clippers’ touchdowns were scored on a seven-yard scamper by tight end Marco Vieira, a six-yard bull by fullback Eric Edge, a 17-yard jaunt by John Walmsley and a 23-yard aerial from QB Bill King to Kyle Geiselman. O’Brien, who suffered a stroke in mid-season, is uncertain whether or not he will return to the gridiron next season.

2002With 11 ticks remaining and Woonsocket a mere six

yards from tying up the 39th annual Turkey Day classic, Jarrid Tapley stepped in front of would be receiver John Martin – on a second-and-goal situation – and intercepted QB Anthony Marsella’s bullet just inside the one-yard line to preserve a 7-0 Cumberland win over the arch-rival Villa Novans at icy but still playable Tucker Field. The Clippers’ points were scored on a 17-yard gallop by Shawn Perry who broke a pair of arm tackles as he scurried into the end zone with Tapley kicking the PAT with 1:10 left before intermission.