The Barrington High School football team used its rushing attack to power past Pilgrim 16-0 in an Injury Fund game on Thursday night, Sept. 1 at West Warwick High School. 

Barrington quarterback Alex McClelland capped two drives with touchdown runs — the first was a 13-yard sprint to paydirt, and the second went for 20 yards. The Eagles’ Will Hopkins kicked both extra points, and the BHS defense also broke onto the scoreboard with a safety late in the second quarter.

“I liked what I saw today,” said Barrington Head Coach Sandy Gorham, following the game. “It’s a very good start. I’m very happy for the kids.”

Gorham said the Injury Fund game was a step in the right direction for his team, following two tough scrimmages. Barrington played against LaSalle and Central, and, at times, struggled against the Division I programs. 

“One of the things that struck me so much was, in preparation for this game I went back two years ago because that’s when we played these guys (Pilgrim). I had a veteran, confident team that trusted each other, they knew their alignments and their assignments,” Gorham said, referring to the Division II state championship team from the spring of 2021. 

“Then, after watching us against Central and LaSalle, it just struck me how young we were. Athletic? Yes. But young and inexperienced. So I said all we’re going to do tonight is go out and run the option. That’s our bread and butter. So we did.”

After the BHS defense held Pilgrim to a three-and-out to start the game, the Eagles’ offense went to work. 

On the first play from scrimmage, McClelland faked to the fullback, sprinted a few steps and then pitched to AJ DiOrio. The junior running back bolted up the field and bulled over a pair of Pilgrim defensive backs for a 14-yard gain. 

Pilgrim’s defense held the Eagles’ fullback Payton Murphy to a couple of short gains on first and second down, and on third down and five, McClelland kept the ball and ran for another first down. One play later, McClelland, a junior, sprinted around the left side of his offensive line, cut upfield and then darted into the end zone. 

Barrington’s defense played well on the next series. DiOrio, Ryan O’Connell, Charlie Potter and Will DiGiacomo each made nice tackles. The Eagles forced another punt, and on the ensuing drive, DiOrio gashed the Pilgrim defensive for a long gain. The play was called back on a holding penalty, but on the next snap, Murphy broke through the defense for long run to the Pilgrim 20. 

A turnover ended that drive, but Barrington was not finished scoring yet. A minute into the second quarter, McClelland made a nice fake to the fullback and then ran 20 yards for the Eagles’ second score. A Hopkins kick made it 14-0 with 11:08 to play in the second quarter — the Injury Fund games consist of two quarters.

Barrington’s defense continued to frustrate the Pilgrim offense, and after a stalled BHS drive, the Eagles’ Evan Anderson dropped a punt at the Pilgrim 2 yard line. Two plays later, a group of five Eagles tackled the Pilgrim quarterback in his own end zone for a safety. 

“This is a great step for the kids, just for their confidence level and understanding the reads,” Gorham said. “The offense isn’t easy to learn, particularly for the linemen… they took some big steps and that’s really, really important because it’s a work in progress.”

The Eagles will play a non-league game against Burrillville on Friday, Sept. 9. The game will be played at Barrington High School’s Victory Field at 6 p.m.