by Charlie Adams, TSM Writer
CRANSTON, RI - The Thunderbolts kicked off the season against the Coventry Oakers Friday night, in front of a packed Cranston Stadium full of students in cowboy getup as part of the game’s Wild West theme. The ‘Bolts, coming off a disappointing Injury Fund half-game against Woonsocket, were looking to rebound from that 18-6 defeat. However, their problems persisted as the Oakers ran through the Thunderbolts, 38-12.
Coventry High School is coming off a 6-4 season in Division II, including a 12-6 win over Cranston East in last year’s season opener. However, now in Division III, they were shut out in their Injury Fund game against Cranston West, as their most explosive offensive player, University of Connecticut baseball-signee Tom Turner, sat out. With Turner in the line-up against the ‘Bolts, the issues they had on defending the run against Woonsocket would be severely tested.
The Oakers dominated on the ground, consistently gaining yards and converting 3rd and 4th downs. Coventry quarterback Gavin Nurmi made plays when called on, converting seemingly insurmountable third and long situations with regularity. Other than committing some costly penalties, the Coventry defense largely stifled the Cranston East offensive attack, bending at times, but holding strong in their own end. Their consistent pressure on ‘Bolts quarterback Da’Qwon Foster played a large part in the Oakers’ dominating performance.
The Thunderbolts won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Foster’s second pass attempt of the opening drive was intercepted by Turner, allowing Coventry to set up with less than 30 yards to the end zone. Nurmi made them pay on third and long, lofting up a pass behind the Cranston East zone to wide receiver Charles Read that would give them the first points of the game. The extra point snap was botched, keeping the Oaker lead at 6-0.
Looking to fire back, Coventry’s defense smothered East’s offense, pushing the ‘Bolts back 14 yards before forcing a punt from the back of their own end zone. New ‘Bolts punter Tim Calixto’s punt went off the side of his foot, setting up the Oakers’ offense up again inside the 30-yard line.
Coventry added on as they pushed through another touchdown on a 1-yard sneak by Nurmi, and converted the 2-point conversion with another rush to follow to build a 14-0 lead before the first quarter was complete.
After a third East possession in a row without points to show for it, Calixto pinned the Oakers’ deep in their own end. With seconds left in the quarter, Naz Milien picked off Nurmi with a leaping grab on a pass intended for the right flat, bringing it back 20 yards for the score. The lead nearly cut in half, Cranston East entered the second quarter down 14-6 after their conversion rush was stuffed.
Coventry began the second quarter with possession as they marched down the field, eating clock. A field goal attempt by Christian Sheehan was blocked by Romeo Cordeiro, and looked to be the potential momentum shift to reignite the Thunderbolt offense.
A mixture of flags and effective plays brought the ‘Bolts to the red zone with a chance to tie, but Coventry’s defense stayed strong and forced a turnover on downs inside their own ten-yard line. Coventry ran out the clock on the ground to keep the score 14-6 as they headed into the half.
Kicking off to start the second half, East’s defense struggled to hold off Coventry’s run game. As the Oaker offense marched towards the red zone, back to back tackles for loss nearly stopped them in their tracks. It was not to be as Coventry was successful in a fourth and “a mile” conversion that set up a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Nathan Petrarca. The 2-point conversion that followed brought the game to 22-6 with less than seven minutes of the third quarter remaining.
The ‘Bolts offense made it past the 50-yard line as they looked to respond, but bad turned to worse as snaps on both 3rd and 4th down were muffed. Coventry made East pay for their sloppiness at the start of the fourth quarter with a Tommy Turner touchdown. Another two-point conversion pushed their lead to 24 points over Cranston East, 30-6.
On the ensuing kickoff, senior Antonello Lucchetti brought some life back into the ‘Bolts with an 85-yard kick return to the house that chipped away at the now 18-point deficit.
A fumble recovery by senior Tommy Roche gave East another scoring opportunity, but it was too little too late as the Thunderbolts couldn’t mount enough offense to reach paydirt.
With under 2 minutes left in the game while trying to grind out the clock, the Oakers’ finally wore down the ‘Bolts for good when Petrarca broke free from 60-yards for his second touchdown of the night. He then tacked on a conversion rush, finishing off the night’s scoring - and the ‘Bolts for good, 38-12.
The Thunderbolts are back in action for another non-league game next Friday as they travel to Conley Stadium to take on Division I Central High School. Central is now one of four teams competing for the State Championship, and returns several key players from last year’s Division I Super Bowl runners-up.
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