BRISTOL — Home is certainly where the heart is for the Mt. Hope High School football team at the moment as the Huskies won their third consecutive game while serving as hosts, a 33-7 decision over Chariho Thursday night, Oct. 10, at the Vendituoli Complex.

In the midst of a rare four-game home-stand, Mt. Hope followed up victories over East Greenwich and Pilgrim with the dominant performance over the Chargers. The Huskies improved to 3-2 in the Division III ranks with the win. Chariho slumped to 0-5.

Of note as well, the three-game winning streak is Mt. Hope's best since 2018 when the Huskies finished with a 5-2 mark while in the formerly configured 14-team Division II ranks. Since, the Huskies have not had more than two league victories in a season, sandwiched by a pair of winless falls in 2019, while still in D-II, and 2023, when they had moved down to D-III.

Last Thursday, playing before the weekend as each team around the state is asked to do at least once due to a shortage of football referees, the locals never trailed after reaching the endzone twice in the first period, including on their opening possession when Nick Rogers caught a pass earlier in the drive to set up the score and later capped it with a touchdown run.

At the conclusion of the Chargers' ensuing possession and holding the visitors to a three-and-out, a poor snap and a failed pass by the Chariho punter led to an interception by the Huskies' Riley Gagner. Colin Maloney, usually a lineman, soon after plowed his way in from a couple of yards out as a fullback and part of Mt. Hope's "heavy" running package.

Chariho clawed seven back early in the second quarter, but Mt. Hope added another touchdown, a swing pass behind the line of scrimmage by quarterback Ethan Martel to back Zach Borges, before the break to take a 20-7 lead to intermission.

The Huskies accounted for the lone score of the third period, a 25-yard throw-and-catch between Martel and wideout Tyler Rhynard. JJ Pimental's third point-after kick made it 27-7. Mt. Hope scored early in the third period on a short keeper by Martel to increase its margin to 26.

The Huskies' four-game stay at home comes to a close when they welcome Stafford (Conn.) High to Bristol Friday night, Oct. 18. The contest is the first Mt. Hope plays under the Interscholastic League's new scheduling system, allowing schools to face opponents from out of state that count in the regular season standings. It's also the Homecoming Game for the Huskies.

— East Bay Media Group and eastbayri.com contributing photographer Julie Furtado shot the accompanying gallery of photos.