EAST PROVIDENCE — An extremely skilled East Providence High School football team begins the 2024 season with the chance to be quite competitive this fall, but knowing much of what the Townies can accomplish will likely rest in the performance of their players in the trenches, how well they open and close holes on both sides of the ball.

East Providence is coming off a 2-4 record in Division II in 2023, which included a pair of gut-wrenching, late losses to Mt. Pleasant and Cranston West that assuredly cost the Townies a spot in the league playoffs.

Though the locals return most of their key skill positioned players from last fall, including second-year starting quarterback junior Jacob Duarte, four/fifths of their offensive line are first-time starters. And the aforementioned line of scrimmage will certainly be a focal point for the Townies and their opponents this fall.

Only senior Jordan Carl, who moves to left guard from center, has any meaningful varsity experience. The rest of the O-Line includes senior Lorenzo Laurens at left tackle, senior Ty Messier at center with juniors Joel Rivera and Antonio Clark at right guard and tackle, respectively. Senior Tyler Dicecco returns as the starting tight end with classmate Colin Roche spelling him from time to time.

The line contingent is also missing senior Machar Francis, a starter a year ago who was injured while wrestling for the EPHS squad last winter and remains sidelined rehabilitating. EPHS head coach Jon Stringfellow said he does not know if Francis will contribute at any point this fall.

"Those guys were behind the group that started for us the last three years," Stringfellow said of the linemen he does have. "They're basically a brand-new line that's going to have to learn on the fly. It's not the biggest group, so I'm just hoping they're quick off the ball, put themselves into position to block so our running backs can be successful.

"We can't be concerned with our lack of size. We need them to be consistent in what they do. We played Portsmouth and Barrington in the preseason, two Division I teams, and we were able to move the ball, but at times we've shot ourselves in the proverbial foot. We just need them to be consistent, to block how they're supposed to so the backs are comfortable the holes will be there."

Duarte is back for a second fall directing East Providence's “flex-bone” offense. Of his starting QB, Stringfellow said, "Jacob comes into the season building off what he did at the end of last year. He was much more comfortable, had more rhythm with what we do well at the end of the season. Hopefully he continues that into this year."

Senior Shadean Lovett, a transfer from Central Falls who started at QB for the Warriors last fall, will serve as Duarte's back-up while also seeing time at halfback because Stringfellow said, "We have to get him on the field." The coach continued, "Shadean has been a wonderful addition to the team. He's a great kid to work with."

Stringfellow did not disregard the notion of putting both of his quarterbacks on the field at the same time, allowing for the coaches to get a bit creative with some of their formations and plays.

"Shadean adds a new dimension to us, so it's going to be what we can do to get him involved without disrupting the base, but hopefully we can utilize his skill set," Stringfellow added.

Duarte and Lovett are part of an extremely quick, speedy group of backs and receivers. Junior Justin Jardine opens at split end with seniors and returning starters Lucas Santa Cruz and Isaac Fox at halfback and classmate David Vieira at fullback. Junior Aithan Vasquez will sub in for Vieira when warranted. Junior Daviean Orefice and senior Darius Davis are expected to see some time at halfback as well.

"They're a very talented group," Stringfellow said of his skill players. "I'm just hoping they can keep spirits up with learning curve offensive line is going to go through because if they find seam every one of them have a chance to break free down the field."

Jardine, this fall, doubles as East Providence's full-time place kicker and punter. His improvement year-over-year has the coach extremely excited.

"Justin has added a lot of strength in his leg. He's been kicking really well," said Stringfellow, saying his kicker has increased his range to around 40 yards. "He is going to be a huge weapon for us in the kicking game."

The Townies have six returning starters on defense to their 4-4 formation, but again none with their hands in the dirt. Juniors Antonio Crank and Wisin Menendez open at the two tackle spots. Senior Justin Amado Jr. will also see ample action.

The stand-up defensive ends in some form include Lovett, Dicecco and senior Mark Walrond Jr., who didn't begin the 2023 season playing much, but saw his time increase dramatically when starter and graduated senior Cam Evora was lost to injury just a few games into the fall.

Roche and Carl return as the starting inside backers with Vasquez and Santa Cruz on the outside. Junior X'Avian Hopper and Dicecco are also in the middle four mix.

The starting defensive backs include returners Fox and senior Jaidin Orefice along with Daviean Orefice. Seniors Nolan Travassos and Franklin Carela Lopez as well as sophomore Aydan Sousa are also likely to see action in those spots.

"The nice thing is we have a lot of experience on defense, especially at linebacker and DB. The down tackle positions are where we need the most growth to occur," said Stringfellow. "But I think defense addition of Shadean and with Mark a year older, a year more experienced, we can be good up front."

Again how good the Townies will be likely depends on the development of their linemen and how clutch they can be when the outcome is on the line. Last fall, East Providence made too many mistakes in crunch time.

It will also depend on how the locals manage the new Interscholastic League scheduling and postseason qualification systems. Teams won't just earn playoff berths anymore based on win-loss records, but based on the points they accrue against the competition they face. Teams can play counting games up or down divisions in-state as well as against out-of-state opponents.

The league also went through a realignment, sticking with four divisions and making the top tier a 10-team league rather the four of recent vintage. East Providence remains in what is now a 12-team D-II, down from 14, the ranks of which also includes Coventry, Lincoln, Middletown, Moses Brown, Mt. Pleasant, Shea, South Kingstown, Tolman, Westerly, West Warwick and Woonsocket. Eight teams from the league make the playoffs.

The Townies play eight counting games all against fellow D-II sides beginning Saturday, Sept. 14, in West Warwick at noon. They remain on the road the next two weeks as well: Friday night, Sept. 20, in Westerly at 7 and Friday night, Sept. 27, in Providence at Mt. Pleasant at 6. EP's first home game is its annual military appreciation night, October 4, against Coventry with a 6 o'clock kickoff.

"I would love to get a first round home playoff game, which I don't think is far-fetched," Stringfellow said of his team's prospects for the fall. "I expect we'll execute better, get better all around each week.

"We play three tough games on the road to start the year. Hopefully we can pull a couple out and be in a good position for when we come back home. And hopefully we can learn to finish games, keep moving forward, learn how to win. They're a great group of kids to be around. I'm looking forward to seeing what they can achieve."