'Bolts shut out Townies in crossover matchup

The Cranston East Thunderbolts rolled over the East Providence Townies 42-0 Friday night under the lights at Cranston Stadium.

“I was very pleased with how they played tonight,” Cranston East head coach Tom Centore said. “A really nice effort on their part tonight. They had a goal in mind to finish 6-1 and have a chance to be a co-division champion and they did it tonight.”

The ’Bolts received first and started from their own 49-yard line. On first down, junior quarterback Justin Neary connected with sophomore wide receiver Robenson Antoine for a first down at the 38 of East Providence. Next, senior running back Malik Gavek rushed nine yards to the 29. On second-and-1, Gavek took it to the 16 for a first down. During the next series, the ’Bolts hit a bump in the road and faced a fourth-and-12. That is when the Cranston East offense got back on track. Neary scrambled right before tossing to his slot receiver Jake Palazzo, for an 18-yard touchdown. Senior kicker Jaireal Rodriguez added the extra point and the ’Bolts had a 7-0 lead, two minutes and 14 seconds into the contest.

East Providence began its first drive from its own 35. On first down, sophomore running back Dion Hazard was hit for a loss of two yards. On third down, Cranston East junior Jose Sandoval, and senior Josh Hernandez brought down Hazard. So, on fourth-and-17, East Providence’s Tyler DeBarros punted.

This time, the ’Bolts started from their own 26. On first down, Jay Bast rushed four yards. On second down, Neary completed a pass to Palazzo for six yards to the 32. After an incompletion on third down, the ’Bolts punted to the East Providence 29.

Senior quarterback Ryan Ellinwood overthrew wide receiver Steve Simpson on first down. On second down, the ’Bolts smothered Hazard for a four-yard loss. An Ellinwood keeper was stuffed on third down and East Providence punted to the ’Bolts’ 43-yard line.

Facing a fourth-and-4 from midfield, the ’Bolts ran a fake punt with Gavek, who took it for a first down at the East Providence 24-yard line. Now, facing a third-and-17, Neary threw it 30 yards to an open Palazzo in the end zone for a 14-0 ’Bolts’ lead with 1:07 to play in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, the ’Bolts started a drive from their own 30-yard line. On first down, Bast received a direct snap and muscled forward six yards to the 36. On second and 4, Bast faked a handoff before running it left for a first down at the East Providence 38. Next, Bast ran a keeper for a gain of six. Neary came back in and threw a laser to senior wide receiver Sam Hanley for a first down at the 30. Then, Bast ran a quarterback sneak 23 yards for a touchdown, putting Cranston East up 21-0 with 8:21 left in the first half.

East Providence started its next possession from its own 20-yard line. An Ellinwood keeper on first down was sniffed out for a loss of three yards. Two plays later, Ellinwood was picked off by Bast and the ’Bolts had the ball at the East Providence 18-yard line.

Alvarez overthrew junior wide receiver Isaiah Hinds on first down. Next, Alvarez was hit for a loss of one. On third-and-11, Alvarez threw incomplete to Hanley. On fourth down, the ’Bolts went for it, but Alvarez overthrew Hinds again and East Providence took over at its own 17 with 5:32 left in the half.

The East Providence offense gained just one yard on its next drive and on fourth down, a bad punt gave the ’Bolts the ball at the East Providence 33-yard line.

On first down, Gavek rushed 24 yards to the 9. Next, Gavek was hit for a loss of three. On the next play, Bast took a direct snap and powered his way ten yards to the 2-yard line. Then, Gavek rushed in for the score, making it 28-0.

Cranston East had a chance to extend its lead with 4.8 seconds left in the half, but a 29-yard field goal attempt by Rodriguez went wide left.

Because Neary got a little banged up during the first half and it was senior night, Centore chose to rely on seniors Alvarez and Bast to run the offense for the most part during the second half.

East Providence started the second half with the ball at its own 30. Sophomore backup quarterback Aaron Parsons took over leading the offense. On first down, Hazard lost a yard. On third down, Parsons was sacked. DeBarros punted it away on fourth-and-long to the East Providence 28.

On second down, Alvarez found senior wide receiver Ryan Winn for a five-yard gain to the 18-yard line. On third-and-4, Gavek rushed into pay dirt from 18 yards out, giving Cranston East a 35-0 lead with 8:07 left in the third quarter.

East Providence started its next possession from its own 34. Hazard totaled eight yards on the first three downs and on fourth-and-short, East Providence punted to the ’Bolts’ 38-yard line.

On first down, Bast rushed 10 yards to midfield for a first down. On second down, Alvarez ran a keeper to the 45 of East Providence and moved the chains. Next, junior Kei-Sean Felix rushed for a gain of six. Then, Alvarez ran a keeper for a first down at the 21. Next, senior Randy Duran came in at quarterback and ran a keeper 10 yards to the 11. Later, Alvarez plowed forward for the touchdown, putting the ’Bolts up 42-0 with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter.

Centore hopes his team can ride the momentum into the postseason.

“It's good going into the playoffs next week,” Centore said.

With the ‘Bolts up big, the coach had a chance to empty his bench.

“We’re a very versatile team,” Centore said. “We can do a lot of different things. So, I was very pleased that everybody contributed…You give those other kids a chance to play because they practice hard too.”

Cranston East plays at home Friday night in the playoffs against Portsmouth at 6 p.m.