After an impressive Injury Fund game victory over last year's Division IV Super Bowl runner-up Burrillville the previous week, the Johnston High football team was looking to knock off Division I Woonsocket on Friday night at Polisena Stadium in Johnston. However, the Villa Novans would overcome an early 6-0 deficit and defeat the Panthers, 20-6, in what was a non-league tilt. The Villa Novans, who moved up to Division I this year after going 1-6 in Division II last season, were led by the trio of Justin Mojica, Ke'Vaughn Davis and Emmanel Gomes, as they provided the majority of the Woonsocket offense.
“Luckily, this game does not count against our record,” said Johnston head coach Joe Acciardo. “We made mistakes at the worst possible times and Woonsocket has talent and is a tough team.”
The Panthers looked good on their initial drive as they traveled the length of the field, consuming the first six minutes, 10 seconds of the first quarter, resulting in a touchdown. On that scoring drive, Panther senior quarterback Kyle Nelson completed five passes for 60 yards and he also had a 30-yard run. Nelson would connect with Evan Pennacchia and Nassir Vasquez, with his favorite target, Vasquez, catching four passes for 38 yards. Nelson and Vasquez would give the home team a 6-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown pass.
Woonsocket would tie the game a minute and a half later with a 40-yard touchdown from Mojica to Davis.
As the second quarter began, Johnston was driving, but Nelson’s pass intended for Vasquez was intercepted by Davis at the Panthers’ 10-yard line. Gomes got off a 42-yard run and Mojica converted a third-down pass for a first down. The Villa Novans would take a 14-6 lead with 1:53 remaining in the first half on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Mojica to Gomes on a tipped ball from a Johnston defender that fell right into Gomes' hands. Gomes would then run in the 2-point conversion.
The Panthers still had time to get something going before the half ended, but Nelson's 50-yard touchdown scramble was nullified by a block in the back.
Woonsocket made it a two-score game on a 2-yard touchdown run by Gomes on its opening offensive possession of the second half.
Vasquez took over at quarterback for the Panthers and he quickly made things happen by running for a first down and getting his team into Woonsocket territory. He would, however, fumble at the visitor's 35-yard line a few plays later.
“The wheels fell off the wagon towards the end of the game,” Acciardo said. “When you put your best outside threat in the backfield, Vasquez, you knew Woonsocket was going to blitz the house and they did.”
The Panthers would get the ball right back when Nathan Mendoza forced a Villa Novan fumble, which was recovered by Emanuel Lourenco at his own 13. Johnston's offense could not get anything going and had to punt, but its defense came up with another big play when Angel Flores recovered a loose ball on a fourth-and-3 play at the Woonsocket 27-yard line. Once again, though, the Panthers could not capitalize on the Villa Novan miscue.
“The mistakes I think were because some of the guys were out of position a little bit,” Acciardo said. “We were not at full-strength, but we are not using that as an excuse. We had a few guys like Ceasar Mendez and Juan Arias who did a good job even though they had not played much. The hole was there for them, but they went the wrong way at times. The best thing that we can take from this game is that we learn from it. This game does not count against our record. I think we did fine during our summer scrimmages, but we rested on our laurels. You have to practice to perfection and you have to be ready at all times. We have to grow up a little bit.”
The Panthers begin their Division II-A schedule tomorrow night at 7 p.m. when they visit Maznicki Field to take on the West Warwick Wizards.
“It will be a hard-fought game, that's for sure,” Acciardo said. “Whenever Johnston and West Warwick play, it usually is a tough game.”
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