Bulldogs run past Panthers

The Johnston High School Panthers celebrated their 50th homecoming last Saturday afternoon on a warm, summer-like day, but it would be the Westerly Bulldogs who would be the ones celebrating with a 41-21 victory at Polisena Stadium in a game the Bulldogs broke open in the second quarter. The Panthers, who slip to 2-3 in Division II-A, were coming off a thrilling last-second win at Pilgrim the previous week, while Westerly, which boosted its division record to 4-2, was coming off a shutout win over West Warwick.

“Speed kills and size matters,” said Johnston head coach Joe Acciardo. “Today we really had trouble with them (Westerly) for four quarters. They were the better team today no doubt.” 

The Panthers got off to a great start in this game, scoring on the second play from scrimmage 49 seconds into the contest. Elijah Burgess sprinted 56 yards on a direct snap and Bianca Robbins’ extra point put the home team on top, 7-0.

The Bulldogs responded two and a half minutes later when Tristan Turano scored from 32 yards out to tie the game at 7.

Johnston ‘s Brandon Phav would recover a Westerly fumble on a James Cardenas punt at the Bulldog 32-yard line. Burgess and the Panthers would capitalize as the Johnston senior running back would cover those 32 yards for his second touchdown of the game and his 11th of the season and a 13-7 JHS lead.

Turano would give the Bulldogs their first lead, which they would not relinquish, on a sweep to the left from 40 yards out.

A turning point in the game came late in the first quarter when Panther quarterback Evin Califano’s screen pass was completed to Ty Harriel, who would fumble the ball in his own end zone. The Bulldogs’ Joshua Lacerte recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and a 21-13 Westerly lead after one quarter of play.

Turano scored from five yards out at the 7:38 mark of the second quarter to increase Westerly’s lead to 28-13.

Califano was intercepted by Jon Brutcher, which set up a 45-yard touchdown run by Turano, his fourth of the game, and a 35-13 lead for the Bulldogs.

Califano was shaken up on the play but remained in the game.

Turano ran for 200 yards in the first half and 227 yards in the game. He would sit out most of the second half.

The Panthers had a chance to cut into the lead before the half ended when Burgess, on a busted play, appeared to run 66 yards for a touchdown, but the officials said he stepped out at the Bulldogs’ 27-yard line for a 39-yard run. Burgess ran for 136 yards in the first half and 186 yards in the game. The Panthers could not find the end zone as Califano was sacked to end the first half.

The Bulldogs scored as the second half opened on a Junard Rios 44-

yard rush to make it a 41-13 game. Johnston would not give up as Burgess scampered 38 yards to the Westerly 18. Califano called his own number and plunged in for a touchdown from two yards out to close the gap to 41-21, which was as close as the Panthers could get to this bigger Westerly team.

“Our guys gave it 100 percent today, it just was not enough,” Acciardo said. “They (Westerly) pound you and wear you down. You can’t make mistakes against a team like this. They handled us up front and we tried to go every which way, left and right and we went through a whole gambit of plays. You have to stay ahead of the eight ball when playing a team like this.” 

The Panthers will look to regroup tomorrow night and keep their playoff hopes alive when they travel for the first time to Carcieri Turf Stadium in East Greenwich to face a tough Avenger team, which beat Mount Pleasant, 14-8, last week. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Panthers return home next week to wrap up their Division II regular season against West Warwick.