The East Providence football team rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns as they ran over Lincoln 19-6 in the Division 2 quarterfinals in a home game on Friday night. The fourth-seeded Townies face first-seeded South Kingstown at Curtis Corner Middle School on Friday at 6 p.m. The winner will head to the championship on 11/24 against the winner of West Warwick or Westerly at Cranston Stadium at noon.

“It's been a group this year, offensively,” said Townies head coach Jon Stringfelow. “We use multiple players, quarterback Jacob Duarte, Aithan Vasquez and Jordan Heistand at fullback and Isaac Fox and Lucas Santa Cruz and Shadean Lovett at running back. Different games, each has been strong for us.”

It was Vasquez against Lincoln. The junior fullback rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Townies in the victory.

He ran it in from the ten-yard line in the first quarter to give East Providence a 6-0 lead and from the 12-yard line for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Townies an 18-6 lead. Isaac Fox kicked an extra point to make it 19-6.

Quarterback Jacob Duarte scored on a 1-yard keeper in the third quarter.

Townies defense sealing the deal

The Townies have been strong, defensively, posting five shutouts and holding opponents to just 71 points in their 9 games this season.

“The defense has been playing with a lot more emotion and a lot bigger up front,” Coach Stringfelow said. “They have hit their groove, have been taking care of business and have been playing as a unit.”

The win improved the Townies overall record to 6-3.