East Providence earns first football win, shuts out Woonsocket

Townies score twice in first quarter to take control

EastBayRI.com ·

WOONSOCKET — The East Providence High School football team broke from the gates early, scoring two first-quarter touchdowns en route to earning its first win of the season with a 20-0 shutout of host Woonsocket Saturday afternoon, Oct. 1, in a Division I-A contest at Barry Field.

Quarterback Ryan Ellinwood reached the end zone on four and 40-yards runs in the opening period. Warren Smith kicked for point after each score to put the Townies on top 14-0. The locals had another potential first-quarter touchdown called back due to penalty before Ellinwood later threw a short pass to wide receiver Jakhi Thompson for a five-yard TD in the second period.

"I'm happy for the win. I'm happy for the kids. Now we've got to build on it," said EPHS head coach Jay Monteiro. "But we also played sloppy at times. We weren't as physical as we need to be and we've got to tackle. We've just got to get better overall, but it was nice to get that first win. It was a nice ride home."

The Townies enjoyed their trip to the northern reaches of the Blackstone Valley where they faced one of the teams that moved up to D-I during the most recent realignment, a now 0-3 Villa Novans side still trying to figure out what it will take to compete in the state's top tier.

"Woonsocket is in transition. It's a transition year for them. They've got a little ways to go to build their program up, but they tried hard. They didn't give up," Coach Monteiro said.

East Providence, which improved to 1-2 in the I-A standings with the win, next prepares for its third road game in as many weeks when the Townies travel to face 2-1 South Kingstown Friday night, Oct. 7, at the Curtis Corner Middle School Athletic Complex at 7 o'clock.

The Rebels have sandwiched wins over the same Woonsocket side (35-6) to open their league slate and last week over Cranston West (41-6) around a loss to unbeaten Hendricken (35-0).

"South Kingstown can put up some points. They have an All-State running back in Anthony Shepard. He is very good. It we don't tackle and block better, it's going to be a long night," Coach Monteiro added. "We could be a good team but we won't be until we get our assignments right and we play physical. Until we do those things, we aren't going to be. I think we have a chance to win our next two games (including October 14 against Cranston West) but we have to play better than we have to this point."