By Nick Friend

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School football team ended its 2015 season by likewise ending an eight-game losing streak to LaSalle Academy on Thanksgiving Day as the host Townies upended an albeit limited Rams' squad 41-23 Thursday morning, Nov. 26, in a non-league outing at Pierce Memorial Stadium.

Just one week after LaSalle beat East Providence, 35-20, in the semifinals of the Division I football playoffs, the sides met once more for what was actually a third time this fall. The Rams also defeated the Townies, 41-14, back in September in their D-I league encounter.

Thursday, while the Rams played their regulars in just the opening quarter with an eye towards their championship game with Hendricken on December 5, the Townies starters played throughout in their season finale and it paid off. E.P. finished its fall with a win and finally put a halt to its long losing streak against its rival; eight in a row on Thanksgiving and 12 games in total dating back to 2006. With the 87th edition of the contest in books, LaSalle now holds a 49-36-2 overall lead in the series.

In the first half, E.P’s defense came up big by forcing two fumbles which helped the locals jump out to a 22-7 lead at the half. Then in the second half, the Townies defense remained stout while the offense continued to put up points as they captured the win.

“It was a good game and I know they played their reserve guys but a win is a win and I will take it,” EPHS head coach Jay Monteiro said. “I was really impressed to see them bounce back after a loss like that.”

The locals looked to be on the right track in the early parts of the first quarter when LaSalle was stripped of the ball and a host of Townies jumped on it.

E.P’s offense failed to take advantage however dropping two passes before the third one deflected off a receiver’s hands and into the opponents as the Rams took over at their own 34-yard line.

LaSalle then drove down the field due to two long gains through the air from backup quarterback Vince DiMonte. The drive was gapped off by a five-yard touchdown run putting LaSalle up 7-0 after the PAT.

E.P. quickly responded through the air as well on third-and-eight quarterback Ryan Ellinwood threw a 41-yard dart to Charles Hazzard in the corner of the end zone for a TD. The Townies then showed their aggression early with a good two-point conversion to put them up 8-7.

With about four minutes remaining in the opening quarter, LaSalle got the ball back but failed to do anything with it as they went just five yards and were forced to punt. The Townies were then stopped after a three-and-out of their own as the first quarter came to an end.

To begin the second quarter, LaSalle was forced to punt for the second time in a row due to an illegal procedure penalty. The locals took full advantage as they went 52-yards in less than three minutes, highlighted by an electric burst of speed from running back Mario Peoples who helped put his team up 15-7 after the good PAT.

It only took one play from the line of scrimmage for the Townies to get the ball back as Jonathan Labrecque recovered a at LaSalle’s 41-yard line.

The Townies would continue to make the best of the Rams mistakes as another 20-yard scamper by Peoples set up Ellinwood for a one-yard TD run with five minutes remaining in the half. The extra point put the locals up 22-7.

Penalties from LaSalle then kept them out of the end zone followed by the Townies being content to take a knee as the teams went into the lock rooms with E.P. up 22-7 over LaSalle.

To begin the second half, the Townies went on a 60-yard drive lasting nearly five minutes with all of it coming on the ground with Tommy Lopes and Peoples doing the bulk of the work. Lopes eventually scored on a four-yard TD run which put E.P. up 29-7 after the PAT.

“We wanted to run the ball and that was the game plan. Just trying to keep the game within reach for us,” Coach Monteiro said.

The Townies’ offense wasn’t off the field for long as their defense forced another fumble giving them the ball at their own 49-yard line with six minutes left in the third quarter.

The Townies drove down the field again thanks to Lopes and Peoples power running game. Lopes later broke several tackles en route to a 24-yard TD run which put E.P. up 35-7 after the missed PAT.

By the end of the third quarter LaSalle had the ball and was driving before they were forced to punt due to penalties. The Townies then ran down the clock before turning the ball over on downs with just five minutes to play in the game. The Rams would not go away quietly as two rushes over 20 yards led to a TD and a successful two-point conversion. Shrinking the locals lead to 35-15.

The Townies answered right back as Dion Hazard broke free for a 58-yard TD as they were trying to run out the clock. The missed PAT grew their lead to 41-15.

With just over a minute to play LaSalle would score again on a 55-yard TD pass. This put the score at 41-23 after a successful two-point conversion. However, it was too little too late as E.P. took two knees to end the game and take home the win in the season finale.

“I lay my hat on defense and you saw that,” Coach Monteiro said. “My thing is we are a bend don’t break defense and for today it worked again.”

LaSalle did rest most of its players in preparation for its Super Bowl clash against five-time reigning state champ Bishop Hendricken in a rematch of last year’s final  next week at Cranston Stadium.

“I think they have a good chance of winning and football is a funny game,” Coach Monteiro said of the Rams. “I think they can do it.”

The Townies finished their season with winning record both overall (7-4) and in league play (5-4) for the first time in four years.