Portsmouth takes over over in 2nd half, overwhelms Avengers

Quarterback Ben Hurd dazzles on both sides of the ball in Homecoming win

Posted 10/10/21

PORTSMOUTH — Was it the annual Homecoming football game, or the Benny Hurd Show?

It almost seemed like the senior quarterback and safety was in on every play — offense and …

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Portsmouth takes over over in 2nd half, overwhelms Avengers

Quarterback Ben Hurd dazzles on both sides of the ball in Homecoming win

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Was it the annual Homecoming football game, or the Benny Hurd Show?

It almost seemed like the senior quarterback and safety was in on every play — offense and defense — as the Portsmouth High varsity football team shellacked East Greenwich, 47-13, on the turf field Saturday.

Hurd threw two touchdown passes in the first half, both to junior Luke Brennan — the first a strike to the left corner of the end zone with 2:24 left in the first quarter, the second a 40-yard reception with 4:39 left in the second.

In the third quarter, Hurd returned a punt and broke a tackle on the way into the end zone, making it 27-13 Patriots. Just 16 seconds later, he picked up a fumbled Avengers’ ball and ran it in for another touchdown, making it 34-13. 

Things went wrong again for East Greenwich on the team’s next possession, when Hurd intercepted a pass and on a subsequent play ran the ball to the Avengers’ 19 to end the third quarter. 

Hurd finished the game passing for 107 yards, plus another 82 yards rushing.

While Hurd was the biggest difference-maker, he didn’t do it alone.

Senior Jack Cianciolo also had a big game, running for a touchdown with 6:19 left in the third and rushing for another six points with 11:02 left in the fourth quarter.

Junior Carson Conheeny ran straight up the middletown for a touchdown with 4:06 left in the fourth quarter.

Junior Henry Rodrigues had a huge defensive effort, making key stops including a big sack in the second half. Henry Dutra also had a great game, recovering two fumbles in the fourth quarter, one of which led to the Patriots’ final TD.

Besides his two TD receptions, Brennan also intercepted an Avengers’ pass in the second quarter.

The Patriots fell behind twice in the first half — first 7-0 and then 13-7 — and the score was tied at 13 at halftime. After that, Portsmouth’s defense woke up and held the Avengers scoreless for the rest of the game and made several key turnovers that turned into points for the home team.

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