The Barrington High School football team bounced back from a tough loss a week earlier and defeated St. Raphael’s 24-21, at Max Read Field in Pawtucket on Friday night, Oct. 30.

“I was really proud of how they rebounded,” said Barrington High School Coach Sandy Gorham. “They showed their true colors. They showed me a lot about the type of kids they are.”

A week earlier, Barrington appeared to have locked up a key win over Central. The Eagles had stopped the Knights’ last second attempt to score and ran off the field with the scoreboard showing: Eagles 10, Knights 6. But the crew of referees decided to add extra time to the clock, affording Central another chance to score. In addition, the referees penalized the Eagles after they appeared to recovered a botched Central snap. The Knights later scored and flipped the score, 13-10 in their favor.

The Barrington High School coaches appealed the game’s outcome to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, but Gorham said the appeal was later denied. That cost Barrington a key victory. 

“That cost us the playoffs,” Gorham said during an interview on Nov. 2. 

Despite the bad news, Barrington rebounded with one of its best games of the season and improved its record to 3-4. The Eagles traveled to Pawtucket on Friday night and upset the fifth-seeded Saints, 24-21. Meanwhile, the 2-5 Central team was granted a spot in the Division I playoffs.

Zach Borges scored three touchdowns for Barrington against St. Raphael’s. The junior running back scored on a 23-yard touchdown run and on a 15-yard TD run. He also caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Griffin Ingram. 

The Barrington defense played one of its best games of the season, said Gorham.

“The defensive line,” Gorham said. “We played really well defensively, and that’s a talented team.

“We played really tough. We played our best physical game against a tough physical team.”

Gorham said Gunner Haas started the game on the defensive line, along with mainstays Ryan Wilmarth and Tucker Paup. Gorham said the Saints’ line was one of the biggest the Eagles have faced all season. “They played very physical,” he said. 

Gorham added that Owen DiOrio and Miles Dolan played well at linebacker, keeping the Saints’ running attack in check for all four quarters. In fact, St. Raphael’s was only able to muster one lengthy drive all game. Its other scores came off a Barrington fumble that was scooped up and carried back for a touchdown, and on a near interception by Barrington that the Saints receiver managed to haul in. 

With the game tied at 21-21 and 4:47 left to play, Barrington forced St. Raphael’s to punt. The Eagles’ Jibrill Ortiz had a nice return and Barrington’s offense went to work moving the ball down the field. The Eagles reached the 15 yard line with time running down. Gorham said he told the referee he wanted to call a timeout with three seconds remaining. As the clock ticked down, he hollered for a timeout. The Eagles’ field goal team went onto the field. 

Gorham said snapper Charlie Lucas provided a perfect snap, holder Jackson Lenz provided a perfect hold, and kicker Tyler Gavolopoulos provided a perfect kick. The ball sailed through the uprights and gave Barrington a 24-21 victory. 

“It was great seeing all the kids running on the field,” Gorham said. “We deserved it.”

Next game

Barrington will play an additional regular season game on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Eagles will host South Kingstown in a rematch of a game earlier this season. The game will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Victory Field.