Tiverton's comeback kids celebrate first Super Bowl in 18 years

Down 22-0, Tigers win first Super Bowl in 18 years

Story by Kristen Ray, photos by Richard W Dionne Jr
Posted 11/19/18

The narrative could have been entirely different for the young Tiverton Tigers varsity football team. Finding themselves drowning in a 22-0 deficit midway through the second quarter during Sunday’s …

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Tiverton's comeback kids celebrate first Super Bowl in 18 years

Down 22-0, Tigers win first Super Bowl in 18 years

Posted

The narrative could have been entirely different for the young Tiverton Tigers varsity football team. Finding themselves drowning in a 22-0 deficit midway through the second quarter during Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup against North Smithfield/Mount Saint Charles Academy, they could have easily decided to pack their bags and leave Cranston Stadium resolved to try again next year. However, head coach Bob Murray, in his eighth career Super Bowl appearance, knew better.

“I said to them all along, never quit on yourself because all it takes is a play,” he said.

That play would come with just over five minutes left in the half, kickstarting the Tigers’ tenacious comeback to win 43-29 and earn them their first Division IV championship title in 18 years.

With 5:24 left on the clock, junior Matthew Gacioch launched a pass from Tiverton’s own 38 yd line to a wide-open Logan Beattie, who ran the ball in for the Tigers’ first touchdown of the night. Tiverton would get the ball right back, after senior William Kiser forced a fumble on North Smithfield/Mount Saint Charles’ return. Gacioch took advantage of the turnover, finding junior Adam Amaral in the right corner of the endzone at 4:27.

“I was like alright, here we go, we got the momentum now,” Gacioch said.

Tiverton’s sudden burst of energy in the second quarter didn’t end there; at 2:17, Gacioch would get the ball to junior Nathan Upchurch, who dodged numerous North Smithfield/Mount Saint Charles defenders for the Tigers’ third touchdown in just over three minutes. A two-point conversion would tie the game up heading into halftime.

After the startling end to the first half, North Smithfield/Mount Saint Charles was able to keep the Tigers at bay for most of the third quarter, once again taking the lead with a touchdown at 8:18. A botched touchdown pass attempt that put the ball right back into their opponent’s possession could have shaken the Tigers, but Upchurch responded with an interception of his own late in the game, storming down the field for a 54 yd touchdown run with just 14.8 seconds left in the third.

From that point forward, it was all Tiverton; Gacioch lobbed a 34 yd pass to senior Daniel Garde, who ran the remaining 10 yds to give Tiverton their first lead of the night at 10:05 in the fourth. Gacioch would finish off the game with an 18 yd scoring run himself with just 1:49 left on the clock.

That play, along with his other four touchdown passes throughout the night, made Gacioch an obvious choice for Sunday night’s MVP.

“When you have a kid like that, it’s kind of easy to win if you do the things alright,” said Mr. Murray.

It wasn’t just Gacioch, though; it was Tiverton’s defense and the leadership demonstrated from assistant coaches Andrew Gacioch, Bill Phillips, Chip McGrady and Jorge Pessoa that shined as well.

“I believe we are what we are because of those men,” Mr. Murray said.

As for Mr. Murray, he’ll enjoy the night, but already he’s thinking past his fourth Super Bowl win and focusing instead on Thursday’s holiday matchup against Rogers.

“Tomorrow, they have to come into school and we have to put this away and we’ve got to go again,” he said.

The new Division IV champs will face off against Rogers at Tiverton at 10:15 am on Thursday.

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