How La Salle handled Massachusetts power Catholic Memorial in football
PROVIDENCE — Interscholastic League opposition gave Catholic Memorial two of its toughest tests during an undefeated 2021 season.
La Salle and Bishop Hendricken both pushed the Knights on their way to a Division 2 Super Bowl title in Massachusetts. A host of future FBS talent had an easier time with King Philip at Gillette Stadium as the Knights rolled to their first championship in more than four decades.
Friday night’s opening crack from Rhode Island’s twin powers came up short at Cimini Stadium. The Rams trailed after the opening two minutes and never found a rhythm in a 47-7 defeat.
Jared Gibbons broke a 9-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to help La Salle avoid a shutout. It was running clock throughout the second half with Catholic Memorial enjoying a 41-0 lead at the break.
“They could be the best team in New England,” La Salle coach Geoff Marcone said. “They’ve got some very, very talented football players.”
Recruiters have certainly taken notice. Boston College has secured commitments from running back/slot receiver Datrell Jones and wide receiver/defensive back Jaedn Skeete. Defensive end/tight end Boubacar Traore — younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Badara Traore — has pledged to Notre Dame.
Those three players are the cream of the school’s 2023 class. The following graduation year in 2024 could bring even wider exposure thanks to offensive tackle Guerby Lambert, a national top-60 recruit per 247Sports. Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, LSU, Auburn, the Fighting Irish, the Eagles and others are already vying for his services.
This is the long way of saying the Rams were overmatched on this night, but it was the type of test they seek in a nonleague game. La Salle battled to a 35-22 victory over Staten Island Curtis last week, a top-15 team in the year-ending New York state rankings in 2021. That’s the level of performance Marcone is looking to put on film for his own players hoping to attract college attention.
“For us, sometimes, colleges don’t come down — we're Rhode Island,” Marcone said. “We’re small. But if we go play these other schools and we hold our own, maybe we open some doors for our kids and we open some eyes for the state of Rhode Island.
“To be quite honest, the state has some very good football players. We’re trying to get more people to come down to this state and get guys to take a look at the people we have here.”
The Rams were missing some of those potential targets in this one. Running back Jamezell Lassiter, wide receiver Justin Denson and wide receiver/defensive back Chase Gouvin all didn’t dress while nursing undisclosed minor injuries. Tight end/linebacker Brady Fisher took a heavy hit on a kickoff return in the first quarter and didn’t return.
Catholic Memorial’s stars were all on the field and making a difference in its season opener. Jones notched a pair of touchdown runs and FBS recruit Carson Harwood found the end zone rushing and receiving. JC Petrongolo threw a pair of touchdown passes as he settled into a second year under center.
“Big picture, I think this helps us a little bit,” Marcone said. “It’s a humbling experience. We find out what we’re truly made of coming back.
“We can do one of two things — we can feel bad for ourselves and not come ready to play against a good Central team, or we can get ready to go and get refocused and understand we’re better than how we played.”
The Knights are one of just three Division I games the Rams will play in 2022 — realignment has left an exclusive four-team group atop the state pyramid. La Salle faces three opponents from Division II (South Kingstown, Shea, East Providence) and three others from out of state — St. John's Prep in Massachusetts on Sept. 30 is the last of those games. That schedule flexibility has its pluses and minuses, and this was the more challenging side of the coin.
“We’ve been doing this for 15 years now — playing different people — and we’re going to continue to do it,” Marcone said. “Continue to compete and try to get better.”
Catholic Memorial vs. La Salle football scores, stats
Catholic Memorial 21 20 7 0 — 47
La Salle 0 0 7 0 — 7
CM — Carson Harwood 6 run (Garoid Stones kick)
CM — Mervens Amazan 20 pass from JC Petrongolo (Stones kick)
CM — Datrell Jones 5 run (Stones kick)
CM — Jones 9 run (kick failed)
CM — Harwood 60 pass from Petrongolo (Stones kick)
CM — David Timson 1 run (Aidan Rowley kick)
CM — Mekhi Dodd 75 run (rush failed)
LS — Jared Gibbons 9 run (Max Wallace kick)
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: La Salle plays MA power Catholic Memorial in high school football
