Power Pack: RI High School Football: Super Bowl Sunday
Jack Andrade, GoLocalProv Sports Reporter
Power Pack: RI High School Football: Super Bowl Sunday
After a season's (and an offseason, and in many cases a childhood's) worth of hard work, preparation, and determination, the payoff is here. Super Bowl Sunday: December 8th, 4 new state champions will be crowned on the gridiron. 43 teams began the RIIL season hoping to get to this point. Less than 20% of those teams have the priviledge of playing on Sunday. Here's an updated look at my Top 10 teams in the state heading into Super Bowl Sunday, as well as the schedule for all 4 games this Sunday.
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Division 1: Cranston East vs. Hendricken 12:00 p.m. at Cranston Stadium
Division 2: Cumberland vs. West Warwick 3:00 p.m. at Cranston Stadium
Division 3: Moses Brown vs. Mt. Pleasant 12:00 p.m. at East Greenwich HS
Division 4: Exeter/West Greenwich vs. North Providence 3:00 p.m. at East Greenwich HS
Power Pack: RI High School Football: Super Bowl Sunday
North Providence
Division Record: 7-0 (Division 4)
Overall Record: 7-3
North Providence dominated Division 4 start to finish this season, and they're one Super Bowl win over Exeter/West Greenwich away from an undefeated season in divisional play. NP scored 317 points in league play this season and allowed just 52.
North Kingstown
Division Record: 5-2 (Division 2-B)
Overall Record: 9-3
The Skippers didn't make the Division 2 playoffs despite their 5-2 record, as 5 teams tied at 5-2 in Division 2-B and NK was the odd man out via tiebreakers. NK is the only non-playoff team in my Top 10 but they did beat the 2 teams facing off in the Division 2 Super Bowl during the regular season. That has to count for something.
Portsmouth
Division Record: 6-2 (Division 1)
Overall record: 9-2
Portsmouth fell short against Hendricken in the Division 1 semifinals and the Patriots slide a bit in my Power Pack to allow teams still in the Super Bowl hunt to move up.
Moses Brown
Division Record: 8-1 (Division 3)
Overall Record: 9-2
Moses Brown deserves to be higher on this list, but I couldn't find a place for them anywhere else. The Quakers knocked off Division 2 playoff team St. Raphael on Turkey Day and throttled Middletown 31-0 in the Division 3 semifinals. They get a rematch (lost by 2 in the regular season) with Mt. Pleasant in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
West Warwick
Division Record: 5-2 (Division 2-B)
Overall Record: 8-3
West Warwick earned the top seed in Division 2-B and then went on to win a pair of playoff games over the past couple of weeks. The Wizards beat Mt. Hope 42-0 in the Division 2 quarterfinals and Rogers 34-13 in the semifinals. West Warwick also knocked off Coventry 36-22 on Thanksgiving to keep their roll going. The Wizards play Cumberland in the Division 2 Super Bowl Sunday.
Cumberland
Division Record: 5-2 (Division 2-B)
Overall Record: 8-3
The Clippers beat Coventry 42-7 in the Division 2 quarterfinals and then knocked off St. Raphael 49-35 in the semifinals. Cumberland then knocked off rival Woonsocket (the top team in Division 2-A) 21-14 on Thanksgiving. The Clippers now get set to meet West Warwick Sunday in the 2 Super Bowl. Cumberland lost to West Warwick 14-0 on November 8th.
Barrington
Division Record: 7-1 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 11-1
Barrington had a terrific season but the #1 seed in Division 1 was defeated handedly by Cranston East in the semifinals last week. It's a disappointing end for the Eagles but not anything that takes away from them having one of the 5 best seasons in RI high school football.
Cranston East
Division Record: 5-3 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 8-3
Cranston East is arguable the hottest team in the state right now. Fresh off a Thanksgiving Day win over rival Cranston West, the Thunderbolts absolutely stunned Barrington 46-13 in the Division 1 semifinals. QB Alex Corvese and company take their electric offense into the Super Bowl Sunday against Hendricken.
Mt. Pleasant
Division Record: 9-0 (Division 3)
Overall Record: 10-1
Mt. Pleasant continues their torrid run through Division 3, including a Thanksgiving victory over Classical and a 22-0 victory over Narragansett in the Division 3 semifinals. The Kilties face off with Moses Brown in the Super Bowl, and look to complete their perfect season in Division 3 play.
Hendricken
Division Record: 7-1 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 10-1
Hendricken is back in my top spot after their 36-15 win over Portsmouth in the Division 1 semifinals. The Hawks are the favorites in Division 1 but Cranston East proved last week they can't be taken lightly. The two heavyweights square off in the Super Bowl Sunday.
