EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School football team dropped an 18-6 decision to visiting Westfield, Mass., Friday night, Sept. 8, at Townie Stadium as the locals played their final non-league tuneup in preparation for the start of their 2023 Division II schedule.

The Bombers never trailed after scoring on their first possession of the game midway through the first quarter.

Westfield drove the field inside the East Providence 10 yard line to set up a first and goal. Penalties pushed the visitors back the 24, but on third down quarterback Jaxson St. Pierre connected with Lucas Guay on a screen pass in the flat. The latter did the rest, scurrying the distance to the endzone.

The point-after kick attempt was blocked, leaving Westfield up 6-0.

The Townies, guided for the first official game by sophomore quarterback Jacob Duarte as their starter, went three-and-out to end their first series after Westfield decided to attempt a surprise on-side kick.

The Bombers appeared to make their hosts pay immediately when Guay returned the ensuing punt of EP's Cam Evora 76 yards for a touchdown, but the play was called back due to a blind-side block by Westfield.

Regardless, the Bombers would again complete a long drive for a score, finishing off the series early in the second quarter when St. Pierre connected with Nick Guy for a 20-yard TD strike.

Again Westfield's point-try was unsuccessful and the visitors had to settle for a 12-0 edge, a lead which Westfield took to intermission.

The Townies' offense failed to click in the opening 12 minutes. Duarte was obviously a bit nervous and the line in front of him proved porous.

But both of those of things changed in the second half.

A keeper by Duarte that picked up about a dozen yards seemed to give the young signal-caller the jolt he needed. And a decision to hand off the ball to senior co-captain and running back Steven Clark often also paid dividends.

Clark capped East Providence's best drive on the night with a 10-yard carry to cut the Townies' deficit in half with 6:09 left in the third quarter. Isaac Fox's point-after kick was blocked.

The teams later traded fumbles, the Townies' turnover, Duarte put the ball on the ground as he attempted to gain extra yards while being brought down by a bevy of bombers, proved the most costly. Westfield scored on its possession right after the miscue.

The previous recovery for East Providence, as he did earlier in the game on another Westfield fumble, was made by  Franklin Carela Lopez.

Zach Price set up the touchdown with a 17-yard run to the EP one. St. Pierre then finished it off with a keeper right behind his center with 7:07 left in the game. The Bombers' attempt at two, St. Pierre rolling out to his right looking to pass, was snuffed out with a sack by EP's Evora.

Neither side came close to scoring the rest of the way.

The Townies, who beat Central Falls 28-6 the week prior in their Injury Fund contest, now prep for their 2023 Interscholastic League D-II starter Friday night, Sept. 15, against St. Raphael. EP heads to Pawtucket's Pariseau Field to take on the Saints for a 7 o'clock kickoff.

Westfield, which plays in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's AA Division, plays host to Northhampton the same night and time.