Sports Briefs

Special Edition – Thanksgiving Game Report

Holiday Day Football Tradition on Life-Support

East Providence and La Salle high schools played their 94^th Thanksgiving Day classic (95^th if you count all games) last month with the Rams holding off the Townies in a 17-14 closely played contest.  La Salle missed their “annual” state super bowl reunion with Hendricken after being handily knocked out of contention by North Kingstown.  The Townies finished a mediocre season with a couple of last-minute losses keeping them from the state playoffs.  Last year’s turkey game was also a close match with the Rams hanging on for a 41-36 win.  Some in Rhode Island think that the state’s longest standing holiday classic may be coming to an end, if not dead after the 2023 game.

Will the rivalry make its 100-year anniversary in 2027?

Give or take one or two years, I have been at most East Providence vs. LaSalle (LSA) Thanksgiving Day football games since the 1960's.  It is an intense rivalry which has been on life-support for a few years and may have its plug pulled after the November 23, 2023 game. And so, the once storied Townie-Ram rivalry is all but gone as older Townie and Ram alumni remember it.  Hendricken has raced ahead of everybody with their consecutive state titles from 2010-2016. LSA won their 16th title in 2017 and Hendricken won again from 2018-2021 (no game in 2020 due to Covid) giving them the 17 state titles. LSA beat Hendricken in the 2022 super bowl for its league tying 17th title and Hendricken just defeated North Kingstown in the 2023 super bowl for its 18th state title. East Providence remains with 15 state championships in the top division. The rivalry has changed for today’s players and fans. LaSalle’s current students feel that Hendricken is their true rival. Most today at LSA don’t understand the EP-LSA history, nor do many young students or fans at EP.

The History - A Rivalry to Remember

The series officially began in 1929. Although the two schools started turkey day play in 1927 (EP won 6-0), there was no game in 1928 and the state league officially “started” in 1929 with a LaSalle 19-6 win. November 23, 2023, will mark the 94th game between the two schools (95th if you count 1927). The game was played alternately at each other’s home field. The Townies home field was beautiful Pierce Memorial Stadium while LaSalle played in an old field behind their school on Academy Avenue in Providence, RI. East Providence always has a large fan following and would outdraw LSA, even in their own field. Most games were standing room only and you had to arrive by 8:30 am for the 10:00 start time if you wanted a good seat. Pierce was often known to house nearly 10,000 spectators during the rivalry’s glory days.

When the mostly wooden stands at LaSalle were closed due to safety concerns in the early eighties, the school was forced to host Thanksgiving at various Providence fields. City Stadium at Mt. Pleasant High and Brown Stadium were used at times. When the cost of renting Brown became too expensive, LSA offered to have all Thanksgiving Day games at Pierce. "It was cheaper for us to rent Pierce and it is a great field," said one LaSalle official. For several years players and students from both schools have only known playing at Pierce.  LaSalle has since constructed a new football stadium with synthetic turf and the series has returned to an alternating home venue. This year’s game was played at Lasalle on Thanksgiving morning.

Back & Forth

The EP-LSA series has seen changing momentum swings. From 1929 through 1940 the series pretty much went back and forth between schools. La Salle dominated the series from 1941 through 1948, winning a state title in 1942. A little back and forth again and then the Townies won from 1960 through 1967 and then again in ’69, ’70 and ’72, ’73. EP won state titles in ’66, ’67, ’69 and ’70. LaSalle took over and won the 1974, ’75 and ’76 games while EP bounced back to win from 1977 through 1980, with EP winning back-to-back state titles in 79, 80. EP then beat LaSalle from 1982 through 1984. Next it was an eight-year run for LaSalle as they beat EP from 1985 through 1992. La Salle spanked EP in 1992 by a 50-6 score but EP returned the favor with a 41-6 victory in 1993.

The 1970 State Champion Townies had 10 All-State players. And on it went, win one, lose one, until LaSalle has now gained dominance in the series. Most public schools can no longer compete with the privates who can draw their students from any city or even nearby state locales.  While private schools could always pick students from anywhere, most public school student-athletes wanted to play for their home town team, back in the day.  The question of high school recruitment of players has also been a discussion by many, with a growing sentiment to have the privates play in their own league like some other states.  (Mt. St. Charles has just withdrawn from RIIL competition).

Glorious Tradition

Thanksgiving is probably more associated with the word "Tradition" than any other major holiday. For many Townies, Thanksgiving week has always been full of tradition and plans for school reunions, family get-togethers and THE football game between old rivals East Providence High School and LaSalle Academy. However, to the disappointment of many, including this writer, traditions have drastically changed. Today, legions of young people have only heard older family members and friends talk about it. THE game was something to behold for fans of tradition and football. Each school, especially EPHS, would hold massive rallies on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. EP Alumni from all over would return home for the rally and from Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving week, class reunion parties would pop up all over East Providence. In addition to partying the night before the game, many Townie & Ram alumni and former players would gather for “breakfast” before the big game starting at 6 am at Bovi’s. Alumni would also crowd into Bovi’s the night before the game. Bovi’s Tavern at six-corners on Taunton Avenue was the place to be Thanksgiving week. Bovi’s owner, the late John Bovi (a LSA grad), would host scores of fans from both schools, although it was mostly Townies. After “breakfast” on Thanksgiving morning the group would move on to Pierce Stadium or to Providence and join thousands of other fans. The Thanksgiving game between EP and LSA often determined or had major impact on the state championship. It was the showplace game in Rhode Island, matched by none. And, of course, Thanksgiving dinner couldn’t start until the game was over and it always tasted better after a win. Halftime shows were epic with both schools bringing marching bands to entertain the large crowds. LSA stopped bringing a band to the game many years ago, but EPHS is still carrying on that tradition. The Townie marching band continues to dazzle crowds and is maybe the strongest remaining link to this rivalry. "Football teams are up and down but the band must always perform and sound good," said former band director Jack McNamara. He's right. The band continues to dazzle and perform one of the best halftime shows as well as old-school rah-rah fun in the stands during the game. Current Townie band director Marisa Martinez Silva is continuing that rich tradition.

An Edgy Rivalry?

The game wasn’t always the friendliest as the rivalry reached an intense peak through the early 2000’s. At the end of the game in 1971 there was a brawl between the two teams. It involved players, coaches and fans who left the stands to join the fray on the field.  Extra East Providence police were called in and bedlam ensued for a while. Solid sources have confirmed that EP coaches were warned before the game that trouble was brewing, and they would have a tough time during the game. A referee had an "unkind" comment toward an EP player at the game's end and more words were exchanged as the all-out donnybrook broke out. A hockey game between the two schools for that Friday night was cancelled and rescheduled to 3:30 pm on the following Monday at the (now closed) Dudley Richards arena in Rumford. Both EP and LSA were hockey powers during that era. You might say the rivalry was a smaller scale of Red Sox-Yankees or Ohio State-Michigan. Yes, a smaller scale but just as intense for many. Making that ’71 game memorable was the coaching situation for both teams. Long time Townie head coach Jim Deffley left teaching and was hired as the new LSA coach. Deffley’s assistant at EP, William “Bill” Stringfellow took over the reins of the Townie team. Townie fans didn’t love seeing Coach Deffley wearing the LSA colors! Let’s just say that even the coaches got into the “mix” a little that day at Pierce. Coach “Beansie” Stringfellow went on to become a successful Townie legend and the rest is history. Today, Bill’s son Jonathan Stringfellow is the head coach working hard to bring the Townie program back to prominence.

What Happened?

Thanksgiving is a non-league game now.  By Thanksgiving, the RIIL season is basically over. State champions have already been crowned. The EP-LSA Thanksgiving game is non-league and really has no meaning for most, although current players on both teams show up and play their best. Also, the long famous Bovi’s Tavern is gone, demolished with an empty lot in its place. It should be noted that the move away from regular season games on Thanksgiving Day was opposed by both EPHS and LSA, but the Principal's Committee on Athletics, consisting of school principals and league officials, were responsible for the 2014 vote to change history. "Beginning in 2014 all Thanksgiving Day “league games” must be played during the regular season. As a result, all semifinal games will be played on the Friday before Thanksgiving. The traditional Thanksgiving Day games will be played as in the past, but as “non- league” games. Divisional championship games will be played a minimum of seven days after Thanksgiving," said former RIIL full time director Tom Mezzanotte at that time.

Most high schools in Rhode Island don’t have the extensive rivalry that EP-LSA once knew. Some have even stopped playing on Thanksgiving and play on Wednesday night. "We tried to convince the league to keep Thanksgiving Day as a league game for us," said former East Providence Athletic Director Bob Duarte in 2015 comments. "But the rest of the league's school athletic directors approved. They don't have the tradition that we have. It could mean the end of the LaSalle-EP Thanksgiving Day game as we know it," said Duarte. By the time East Providence and LaSalle play each other this Thanksgiving, a Super Bowl champion has already been crowned and the season is basically over for most. Additionally, the dominance of Hendricken and LaSalle have contributed greatly to the demise of Rhode Island’s oldest football rivalry.

Is the Big Game Done?

Officials from East Providence and LaSalle are hoping to keep the tradition going. "The change in the format certainly had an impact on the Thanksgiving game," said LaSalle's former A.D. Ted Quigley in an interview a few years ago. "When I became La Salle's AD in 2000, it was close to the peak of the rivalry. Everything about the game was magnified. In the 1990's. Ken Reall (former EP AD) started the "Good Faith" dinner prior to the game. It was attended by the coaches, captains, and administration from each school. Phil Ricci (former EP AD) and I continued the tradition and expanded it to include all the seniors on each team. That lasted almost 20 years. The 2001 game (LSA won) was probably the most watched high school football game in Rhode Island in the past 50 years. People were sitting along the grass berm by the main entrance at Pierce because the stands were full. Both teams were undefeated coming into the game and the atmosphere was electric. Each year, if the game wasn't being played to determine a champion, it was played for seeding in the playoffs. Once the game became a non-league game, much of the excitement was lost," added Quigley.

"Because the game is now played after the playoffs are concluded and the championship has been decided, it has lost its competitive luster. It has become, in essence, a glorified exhibition game. This is not the Thanksgiving Day rivalry we all grew up with and enjoyed so very much. We are keeping tradition alive, but it is certainly a far cry from the glory years," said East Providence former Athletic Director and Rhode Island Secretary of State, Gregg Amore. It is still special to many, but it doesn't have the feel of prior years. We're trying," Amore added at the time.

"I would hope that the game would continue, but so much of the enthusiasm for it has waned. Attendance has gone from counting it by the thousands to counting it by the hundreds. However, high school sports are very cyclical. Things tend to come around,” said Quigley. “This is still the longest in-state rivalry in Rhode Island. We are a few years from the 100th anniversary of the first game in 1927. It would be a shame to see it end, but I am also realistic enough to know that not everyone feels that way," Quigley added.

Attending the 2017 game, sitting on the Townie side of Pierce, was Ken Otis, a 1984 East Providence graduate. Otis was wearing an EP cap but a LaSalle shirt. "I'm an EP grad but I have kids that went to LaSalle," said Otis. Then he pointed to the Ram side and said, "I like to say my money is over there (tuitions) but my heart is over here," to smiles from family and nearby fans.

"It is incredible to see so many friends and Townies here” said the 70's all-state football star Mike Whittet. He hasn't missed a game since his state champion years and the list went on. Bobby Good, Jim Rose, Matt Lopes, Bill Irons, Dr. Izzy Ramos, r. Paul Colella, Bob, Steve & John Brady, and countless other Townie football alums.

Will it happen?  Current Townie head coach, John Stringfellow told the Reporter that he hasn’t been involved or heard of any plans to end the series yet.  Somehow, fans of Rhode Island’s oldest holiday school rivalry hope THE game makes it to the 100-year anniversary in 2027.  It will be quite a celebration.  LSA leads the series 54 to 37.  ReporterToday.com has the complete year-by-year scores.

Townies Finish Strong Fall Season

EPHS Girls Volleyball Win D2 State Championship
The 2023 Townies girls’ volleyball team finished the year undefeated culminating with a state championship win over Cumberland at RI College last month.  EP started out a bit slow in the championship match, but coach Alex Butler’s team showed why they’re undefeated and eventually took charge in the 3-0 sweep to take the program’s eight overall state championship.  “We worked hard, our players didn’t talk being undefeated, they played hard game by game and shook off the pressure of being number one,” said coach Butler.  The Townies hold a state record for winning five consecutive titles starting in 2000 and hope to regain dominance in the sport.

"Cumberland did not play well today. They kind of looked like us last year," Butler said, reflecting on the Townies' 3-0 loss to Chariho in the 2022 D-II final.

He added, "People don't understand what it's like for these kids to go out in the heat of the battle and doing it without the experience. We had that from last year, and I think it showed. Once we got rolling, I think (Cumberland) kind of felt it and that was kind of it."

The championship was the eighth all-time in program history for the Townies and first in D-II. East Providence won six of seven Division I championships between 2000 and 2005, adding to its first ever D-I crown won in 1993.

The Townies actually won a state record five consecutive titles from 2002-05, two of those coming in 2004 the final year girls' volleyball was played in the spring before becoming a fall sport later that same calendar year.

It was also the first as a head coach of EP for Butler, who was the assistant to Townie legend Luis Carvalho during the six-title run. Butler took over the program in 2007 and led the locals to four more state finals without a win.

In late season wins the Townies became clear favorites to take the title.  East Providence shut out Cranston West with scores of 25-11, 25-14 and 25-21. The Townies dominated the match except for a couple of moments in the third game when the Falcons took advantage of a couple of miscues by EP and briefly led. “At this point in the season I don’t need to tell them (players) what they need to do. We were struggling a bit with our service-receive in game three and we had too many unforced errors, but they know that and snapped out of it on their own,” said head coach Alex Butler after the match.

In a sweep over Cranston East, Keira Mullen had 9 kills, 11 assists and 4 aces, while Malia Mullen had 6 kills, 4 blocks, and 2 aces for EP. Overall East Providence, which came into the quarterfinals undefeated, played well. “I told the team that the first playoff game is always the hardest. This is a new group on the floor for us. There are some different people in different spots, so there will be some nerves that go along with that. For the most part they did what they needed to do. It’s a great bunch of kids, they respond well, on the court and in the classroom, I couldn’t ask for more,” said coach Butler and the school’s Athletic Director.

East Providence defeated Barrington in the semifinals and then North Kingstown on their way to the state title win over Cumberland.

PCD Tennis wins Championship, EPHS Girls State Runner-up
The Townies made it two consecutive years reaching the D2 state championship as they fell just short each year.  EP came into the final game undefeated after knocking off Cranston East to gain the finals.  The Cranston East match came down to the last volley in a 4-3 playoff win at EPHS. The win propelled the undefeated Townies to the state championship match against neighboring prep school, PCD. “We’re going back to the championship,” yelled head coach Slade Sharma after the exciting match concluded. “We were down a player and really haven’t faced a similar challenge, but the players responded,” said Sharma after the match. “Seeing the players during school, in the halls, seeing their eyes and determination, I felt good that we were going to win this thing. The belief was high, we haven’t been tested like this before, the team wanted it,” the excited coach continued. However, in the title match, underdog PCD got the best of East Providence in a 4-2 upset win.  The PCD head coach is former Townie tennis player and 1982 EP graduate, Mike Silva.  “It was a great season,” said EP coach Sharma.  “Two years in a row at the championship match for a team that works very hard, especially our seniors.”

EPHS Girls Basketball – New Coach – New Era
Tammy Drape, a veteran former basketball coach at Tolman and St. Raphael Academy, is the newly appointed Townie girls basketball head coach. The Townies are facing a rebuilding year after a recently very successful season in which EP went to the final four before bowing out of the playoffs in an upset loss.  Drape has proven to be a very successful coach at St. Ray’s winning a Division One state championship there.  An East Providence resident, Drape is a teacher in the Pawtucket School System.  The townies girls team has had several coaches within the past few years and AD Alex Butler hopes to stabilize the program by bringing Drape to East Providence.

Drape was head girls basketball coach at St. Raphael Academy for a little over 8 years, from 2015 – 2023.  Before that, Drape was the head coach at Tolman High for 15 years, from 2000 -  2015.  Drape is also a veteran PE/Health Teacher for the Johnston School Department before her current job as a PE/Health Teacher in Pawtucket for the last 24 years.

Townie / Eagle Pride – Sandy Gorham Wins Titles
Former East Providence High School teacher and coach, John “Sandy” Gorham just won another coaching state championship.  The retired Townie teacher, EP alum and head coach for football, softball and swimming, continues his winning ways at Barrington High School.  Gorham has the most coaching wins in Townie history and in retirement has continued that trend, now at Barrington High.  He excelled as a student at EPHS in football and swimming and then taught at his alma mater.  Gorham’s teams have won 7 super bowls and 15 swimming championships.  Throw in a softball championship into the mix and that spells success.  His career has also led him to be inducted into 6 halls of fame throughout the state.  Gorham’s most recent championship came when his Barrington Eagles defeated a bigger and very good Cumberland team last month for the D2 title.  This Townie graduate continues to impress and mentor young student-athletes, even in his teaching retirement.  “I have Eagle pride but will always bleed Townie Red & White,” said Gorham.

Townie football players receive post-season awards and honors:
The Rhode Island Football Coaches Association voted Steven Clark Jr., Anjai Izquierdo and Isaac Fox to the All-Division 1st team.  Jacob Duarte, Machar Francis and Grant Peoples were named to the All-Division 2^nd team.  Jordan Carl and Colin Roche received 3rd team honors.  Darius Davis, Tyler Dicecco, Machar Francis, Colin Roche, Ty Messier and Ryan Travassos were named to the All-Academic team for high honors. 

Interscholastic Winter Sports Underway
Area high school and middle schools have begun the next season in earnest with team practicing and games about to start.  Upcoming games will be posted at ReporterToday.com.