EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence High School welcomed neighboring Barrington to Townie Stadium Friday night, Sept. 6, for the teams' annual Injury Fund football scrimmage, the host Townies outlasting the visiting Eagles in a contest played under modified rules as each side prepped for their regular season openers the following week.

The outing was contested using a so-called "speed-up" format: four 10-minute quarters instead of the usual 12, just a five-minute intermission rather than 15 and a running clock throughout except for injuries.  The latter put a crimp in the plans of both teams.

And since the contest had no impact on the season ahead, except for the respectice staffs to evaluate their players, head coaches Jon Stringfellow, of EPHS, and Sandy Gorham, of Barrington, agreed after the 40 minutes of regulation time was completed to allow the second-string players on both sides of the ball one more series.

And the Townies took advantage as its back-ups on offense drove for a touchdown against the back-ups on the Eagles' D, a short burst by running back X'Avian Hopper to make it 9-7. EP did not attempt a point-after try.

The TD was set up by a long completion on a rollout pass by Townies' second-string quarterback Shadean Lovett to end Elijah Bento, who stretched out to make a leaping catch over an Eagle defender to put the hosts at the Barrington 12-yard line. Two plays later, Hopper followed his blockers up the middle for the score.

The Eagles' first-stringers accounted for the only touchdown in regulation. Both teams drove deep into the other's territory early on setting up goal-to-go situations.

The Barrington starting defense held EP's first-string O out of the endzone on three plays. EP opted to attempt a short field goal, which junior kicker Justin Jardine drilled through the uprights to put the Townies on top 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Eagles' front-line offensive, likewise, matriculated the ball down inside the East Providence 10 for a first-and-goal. The Townies' defenders, in turn, also held stern for three downs. Barrington, though, went for it on fourth-and-short with quarterback Blake Dolan calling his own number and reaching the endzone for six. The kick for point was good, putting the guests on top 7-3.

The fast-moving game included two key turnovers by the Townie starters with the actual game clock still keeping time.

In the third quarter, QB Jacob Duarte led another substantial East Providence drive inside the Barrington 10, including two completions for considerable yardage to Isaac Fox and Lucas Santa Cruz. However, a poor exchange between the quarterback and center Ty Messier led to a fumble recovered Barrington's Henry Stockwell and Cal Adams.

Early in the fourth quarter, the EP first-string D stuffed the Eagles deep in their own end, forcing a three-and-out punt. But the Townies muffed the kick, which was smothered by the Barrington coverage group led by Hunter Ferrucci to give the visitors the ball back at their own 45.

The Eagles then put in their back-up offensive unit led by Dolan's understudy Zack Carrara with East Providence doing the same on defense. Barrington moved the ball over midfield into the Townies' end, but eventually turned the ball over on downs with about a minute of the initial 40 remaining. East Providence's drive ending with Hopper's TD began at that point.

Next up, Barrington begins its Division I regular season schedule in Cumberland Friday night, Sept. 13, at 7. East Providence travels to West Warwick for its Division II opener Saturday, Sept. 14, with a noontime kickoff.