Johnston 12U Panthers improve to 5-0

Johnston Sun Rise ·

The Johnston Youth Football League’s undefeated 12U Panthers don’t like having company atop the Blackstone Division of the American Youth Football Association.

So, Head Coach Gary Salzillo’s squad racked up 341 yards in total offense and held visiting Seekonk to just 91 total offensive yards en route to an impressive, 20-6 victory versus the previously unbeaten Warriors Sunday at Mayor Joseph M. Polisena Stadium.

On a hot and humid sunny September afternoon that was more conducive for the beach, Johnston ran its record to 5-0.

After Seekonk drove to the Panthers’ 25-yard line early on, Johnston held the Warriors in check then needed only three plays to score, as Bernard Parsons raced 74 yards to the one, where Dillon So scored the first touchdown of his youth football career by punching the pigskin into the end zone from a yard out.

Johnston’s 6-0 lead evaporated rather quickly, as Seekonk turned a Panther fumble into a 35-yard scoring strike to knot the score at 6-6.

In the second half, Johnston’s offensive line of Alex Morin, Gian Tortolani, Eli Williams, Michael Laflamme, Michael Franco, Nick Kelly, Vinny Campanella, Camani Batista, Jess Pascetta and Anthony Abruzzi dominated the line of scrimmage and made some gaping holes for Parsons and Nick Baccala.

So, Johnston combined Israel Hirlado’s 20-yard kickoff return to set up the Panthers’ second score, this one being Baccala’s first of the game that came via a nifty 25-yard run. Parsons scored the point after to make it 13-6.

The Panthers later marched 60 yards in nine plays with Baccala scoring his second touchdown of the day from 10 yards out. Parsons scored the extra point to make the final count, 20-6.

As they’ve done to date, the Panthers’ defense was tough and included super efforts from Morin, Keller, Rafael Ayriyan, Roberto Martinez, Campanella, Alex Fedorchuk, Adrian Orellana, Armand DeCosta, Laflamme, Hudson Carvalho, Parsons, Baccala, Michael Salzillo, Joe Forte, Hiraldo, TJ Leomensah, Kyle D’Alessandro, Dante Iafrate and Dylan Martins.

Parsons was again Johnston’s rushing leader, as he racked up 198 yards on 22 carries. Baccala rushed for 111 yards on just 11 rushes and scored two touchdowns.