Portsmouth dominates St. Ray's, 33-10, remains unbeaten

Faces tough test against South Kingstown next Saturday

EastBayRI.com ·

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High School varsity football team finally allowed an opponent to put some points on the board. Despite that, the Patriots still made easy work of St. Raphael Academy Friday night.

Portsmouth dominated the Saints, 33-10, and remain undefeated in Division I with a 4-0 record.

Portsmouth stormed out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, setting the tone defensively on the Saints’ first possession. After junior Peyton Robinson and senior Tristan Krensavage teamed up to sack Saints quarterback Xavier J. Torres for a big loss on third down, senior quarterback Sean Coyne made a nice punt return to the visitors’ 32-yard line. 

Senior running back Alex Khalfayan then took the ball twice, the second for 23 yards and into the end zone. A rare miss on the extra point by Coyne made it 6-0 Patriots only two and a half minutes into the game.

Shortly before the whistle signaled the end of the first quarter, the Patriots scored again on Khalfayan’s 16-yard touchdown run in a drive that was extended by several keepers by Coyne as well as a seven-yard rush by sophomore Brian Hamilton. 

Defense bends, doesn't break

In the second quarter, a short punt by Coyne handed the Saints a short field  and a golden opportunity to score. But despite starting their drive at Portsmouth’s 28-yard-line, St. Ray’s could manage only a field goal due to the Patriots’ stout defense.

“Our defense responded in some adverse times,” said head coach Ryan Moniz. “We had a short punt which gave them good field position at the 28-yard line, but we held them to a field goal. I think that speaks volumes to the character of our team.”

The Patriots’ next offense drive featured a 29-yard pass play from Coyne to junior wide receiver Adam Parson, who leaped to make the grab between two defenders and pulled the ball down at the 10-yard line. A few plays later, Coyne found Robinson in the end zone to make it 20-3 just before the half.

In the third quarter, Coyne kept the ball for a 1-yard TD run on fourth down. A low snap prevented him from getting a kick off for the extra point, making it 26-3 Patriots with 5:49 left in the quarter. 

The Patriots lost Khalfayan during the drive as he went to the sidelines after completing a 4-yard run. “He had a little shoulder injury last week and he kind of re-aggravated it. He could have gone back in, but at the time it was a three-possession game, so better be safe than sorry,” said Mr. Ryan.

Later on, Tristan Krensavage was also knocked out of game: “He appears to be a strain. I think he’ll be OK,” said the coach.

Coyne may have prevented a touchdown when he brought down a Saints kick-returner at the Patriots 41-yard-line. Still, St. Ray’s moved the chains on fourth and 10 and found the end zone a few plays later to make it 26-10 with 3:29 left in the third.

A night for Hamilton

The Patriots’ next offensive drive stalled, but Brian Hamilton got the ball right back when he intercepted a long pass by Torres to set up Portsmouth at its own 15 just before the third quarter ended. 

Hamilton finished the job himself when he caught a pass from Coyne at the 5-yard line and scrambled into the end zone, making it 33-10 with 4:35 left. 

After a three-and-out by the Saints, Portsmouth took the ball to visitors’ 20-yard line before taking a knee to end the game.

“I’m really happy with how the kids played,” said Mr. Moniz. “They finished really well. We started out fast and scored in the first two drives.”

The coach said his team did an “unbelievable job” with controlling the clock. “The last two drives took 16 minutes, with a touchdown,” he said. “It was  great execution from the kids, great job up front blocking from our offensive line, and all of our ball carriers did an outstanding job.”

Rebels up next

Next up for Portsmouth are the South Kingstown Rebels, which Mr. Moniz said will be a big challenge for his team.

“It’s magnified by the fact that they seem to play a lot better at home,” he said. “We haven’t won there in a long time — over a decade. They pose a unique set of challenges for us. They’re really physical and they do a great job of controlling the clock on offense. We’re in for a good one, I think.”

PHS football, Portsmouth High School