JYF 12U Panthers finish strong

PROUD PANTHERS: Members of the Johnston U-12 Panthers who posted a creditable 5-3 record this season, are in front from left: Lorenzo Giaccanini, Jonathan Burgos, Nathan Hall, Matthew Clements, David Roland, Brody Maguire, Mike Allard, Preston Marchesseault and Gabriel Zanni. Top: Kaden Johnson, Adymilson DePina, Thaden Leomensah, Carlos Gutierrez, Ethan Placella, Alias Santiago, Noah Jemery, Michael Abbruzzi and Jayden Allard.

Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine

COACH’S CORNER: The U-12 Panthers were coached by Anthony Abbruzzi, Mike Allard, Ben LaFlamme, Emelio Placella, Matt Clements, Nerson Santiago and Billy Simmons.

Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine

SPIRIT SQUAD: Among the young girls who cheered the U-12 Panthers on during the recently-completed football season are, in front from left: Fallon Davis, Isabella Senno, Isabella DeVecchis, Sianna Molina and Chantelle Lacasse. Top: Head Coach Sherri Lyons, Alexa Delmonaco, Arianna Perron, Dakota Tomlin, I’Daizha Brown, Angelia Allard and Coach Penny Lewis.

Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine

Posted Thursday, November 7, 2019 2:06 pm

By PETE FONTAINE

There’s an old adage in sports that states: “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” That’s rather appropriate for the Johnston Panthers U-12 football
team.

In the previous two seasons, the Panthers only won one game in the American Youth Football leagues Blackstone Valley Division but Sunday were inside sun-covered artificially-turfed Cranston Stadium about to do battle for a berth in the youth gridiron group’s U-12 Division Super Bowl.

Johnston was armed with an impressive 5-3 record as compared to CLCF (Cranston’s League for Cranston’s Future) Chiefs that sported an undefeated mark of 8-0.

“Yes, we’ve got some heavy odds,” a Panthers coach concurred while watching his team during pregame drills. “But our kids are excited and will give it everything they have.”
The proud Panthers did, in fact, turn in an exhausting effort only to have the seemingly bigger and more experienced Chiefs post a 26-0 victory that ended Johnston’s chances for that Super Bowl berth.

However, as that old adage above goes, Johnston played the game with pride and gave it everything they had and more importantly men like Matt Clements – who this year succeeded Gary Salzillo as the Johnston Youth Football & Cheers program president - will attest had the opportunity to play football in a well-organized program that teaches more than how to win.

The Johnston Panthers, in fact, may have one of the best uniformed youth football and cheerleading programs in the entire AYF Blackstone Valley Division as well as having top-flight helmets and equipment.

Moreover, as Clements and other JYF officials will attest: “Our kids had the opportunities that some youngsters will never – ever – have. This program teaches teamwork, sportsmanship and provides a valuable lesson in life for each and every youth football player and cheerleader.”

So, the U-12 Panthers season ended on a so-called sour note but Sunday’s game will long be forgotten in the coming weeks when the Johnston Youth Football & Cheers young boys and girls will be honored at the annual year-end awards dinner that’s always filled with fun, food and prizes.