Tiverton High School
2005 Football
FOOTBALL 2005
Head Coach: Bob Murray
Manager(s): Scott Peixinho
Assistant Coaches: Bill Phillips, Andy Gacioch, Chip McGrady, Dennis Soares, Sheldon Thibodeau
With the graduation of 11 seniors from the 2004 squad there were many questions to be answered. On the offensive line we only had 2 returning starters. In the backfield we were returning 1 starter and on defense it was better with six returning starters. But that changed quickly with a car accident and a health related illness that removed 2 of those returning 6 early on in our season.
We had big questions at the quarterback position, at wide receiver and on the offensive line. We felt comfortable with Sam Borguetta taking over at the running back position with Coleman but the offensive line was a major concern. We had Collin Fournier and Jake Cabral returning at center and tackle respectively and Alex Walsh at tight end returning after splitting time in that position the year before. The big concern was who would play the guard positions and the left tackle. It eventually washed itself out and we found a quality football player in Kenny Proulx. Cory Viverios came in to play at guard about mid season and did a good job for us and Jon Bouchard was starting for us for the first time at the offensive tackle to round out our offensive line. Over the course of the season Josh Yousif began to play a lot of football due to an ankle injury that really hurt us after the first league game of the season.
Coach Gacioch had his hands full preparing the guys for all the adjustments and recognition schemes that were required of very young and in-experienced linemen. Along with that was the strength factor that we lacked. Many didn’t commit to the weight room and as a result we were, as usual, smaller than our opponents but now we were also weaker then them as well. The kids had their hands full and little time in which to prepare for what was to come.
In the backfield Devin Beck was taking over the reins of an offense that required not only good decision making skills but good football sense and skill to go with it. As a sophomore, Devin had to play in a varsity game due to injuries to the first two quarterbacks and did a great job but in the process got pounded. That experience did not help him and as a junior he was not sure if he really wanted to play the position again. But, over the course of the junior year he came around, felt more comfortable and began to play well. I expected him to stumble early but I believed we would be ok with Devin’s outstanding character and good decision making skills.
Coleman was a given, he was one of the best football players on the team and as I said to him as a junior, he could play college football at the division 3 level and small division 2 then. He didn’t disappoint us, he was someone we could lean on in times of need and make something happen and he did.
Alex Walsh was coming in at tight end and defensive end and we had a good idea that he was well prepared and would perform for us and give us the outside the field on offense and take the outside away from are opponents of defense.
So we open the season with lots of unknowns. Two new wide receivers, a slew of new, young, weak lineman and a quarterback that had little experience at the position at the varsity level.
Our outlook, we were gong to be ok because we knew we had good kids and we knew that they would work hard. We would struggle on offense early and be ok on defense. We knew we would have to attack on the defensive side of the ball to compensate for our lack of size and strength and on offense we just had to be methodical. Execute our offense, take what they were giving us and don’t make any silly mistakes. If we could do that we would be a decent football team.
First game of the year was against a very good Shea team that was returning most of its starters. It was a hot morning and we played a great first half. We went up to the locker room at the half and it was 14 – 7 but in the second half the lack of experience, the heat and silly mistakes let the score run away from us and we got beat 33 – 7.
Our next opponent, Central, was our first league game and I knew from last years experience we had our hands full. They were returning a full compliment of starters and they would be big, very big. The game started with us making mistakes and them running out to a 6 – 0 lead early in the game. The first quarter looked a little like what I thought I was going to see with size and speed running all over us but we hung in and Devin hit Ryan Goyette on a slant pass for a 64 yard TD strike and with the kick we were in the ball game 7 - 6. Central score late in the half and we went in at the half down 13 – 7. The third quarter was back and forth and then late in the fourth quarter we capitalized on a Central mistake and scored to make it 13 – 13 and with the extra point we would have been up 14 – 13 but we didn’t have enough players on the field and the kick was blocked and the score stayed 13 – 13 until the end of the game. In overtime Central scored in two plays and kicked the extra point to go up 20 – 13. We scored in two plays and kicked the extra point to tie the game but there was a penalty on Central. So we had a choice accepted the penalty got half the distance to the goal or keep the point and play on? Central was much bigger, faster and stronger. I knew over time if we just went toe to toe with them their size would eventually wear us down in the overtime so this was our break and I took the penalty and gambled on the try for the two point conversion. Coleman score and that had to be the biggest, most exciting win we have had in a long time. Big time underdogs, inexperienced and weak and we still found a way to win. Super job by the kids.
The next week it was North Smithfield and as we have in the past we handled them with a 28 – 8 win. We didn’t play great but confidence was growing and the kids were gaining valuable experience.
The following week we were home to Smithfield we lead going into the last 5 minutes of the game made a silly mistake and gave the ball back to them late in the game and they went on a long run up the sidelines and scored making it 21 – 14. On the ensuing kick-off David Salibi returned the kick for a touchdown and we proceeded to miss the extra point losing the game 21 – 20. From an exhilarating with over Central to a crushing lost to Smithfield.
The following week was a good win over Hope 45 – 0 and the next week at Narragansett another crushing lost to Narragansett giving up 14 points via a fumble with less then 3:00 minutes left in the game to tie the score and then with under a minute a 45 yard run for a touchdown for a numbing 14 – 7 lost.
Moses Brown the next week was a great game. Mo Brown came out and scored right away and it looked like we might be over matched and then the defense dug in and kept us in the game. At the half it was 6 – 0. To start the third quarter we lost Coleman with a head injury and still drove the ball down the length of the field putting the ball on the Moses Brown 4 yard line first and goal. We dropped two passes in the end zone and then on a fourth and 4 we got the play we wanted but instead of cutting up the field to score we bounced out and that was the ball game. Final score was 13 – 0 but it very easily it could have been 7 – 6.
North Kingstown was a non league game and we played poorly in the first half. We allowed a bigger and faster team to jump out to a big lead and we never could get back and lost 29 – 8. North Providence was a great game. We fell behind 14 – 0 to start the game. We were flat, the kids were late arriving from their SAT’s so it took us to the last drive of the have to cut the deficit in half before the intermission. We tied it up late in the 3rd quarter and they matched it in the next two plays. But as good Tiverton teams do we fought our way to a win late in the fourth quarter playing very physical football and clawed our way to a tough 23 – 20 win.
Exeter West Greenwich wasn’t even a contest. With 3 minutes gone in the first quarter it was 19 – 0. Coleman and Sam had great days running the ball leading us to a final score of 40 – 7 and it easily could have been in the 60’s.
Thanksgiving, our rival Central Falls. They were loaded. One of the best teams that they have fielded in 20 years. Talent and speed all over the place. They came in with a record of 9 – 1. Central Falls scored the opening touchdown and after that it was the Coleman Lehoullier show. He was sick as a dog yet in the water covered field Coleman rushed for over 165 yards that day with one a 72 yard run while he was vomiting from the flu. It capped off what I consider an outstanding year. We finished 6 – 3 in our league. The one point lost to Smithfield, the break down at Narragansett in the last 3 minutes of the game are the difference between finishing in 5th place, out of the playoffs and a co – championship and possible 8 – 1 season.
Congratulations to our team and to the seniors on the quality character and leadership that they displayed this season and a huge thank you to Andy Gacioch, Chip McGrady, Dennis Soares and Sheldon Thibodeau on jobs well done.
SENIOR PROFILES
#3 Devin Beck – Quarterback – Defensive Back
Devin was a quality performer. Consistent at what he did and made very few mistakes. Devin was a quality leader demonstrating quality character and the coaching staff held him in the highest regard.
#6 Coleman Lehoullier – Running back – Defensive Back
Coleman by far is the best defensive back to play for us in 20 years. Tough, hard hitting and driven to accomplish his goal. Coach McGrady described him as he came down to the field late from the locker room to start the second half of the Central Falls game as follows, “here comes Coleman breaking out of his phone booth as the caped crusader with the big S on his chest.” Coleman was our best athlete and one of our best running backs since Rick Messier.
#24 David Salibi – Wide Receiver – Defensive Back – Kick Returner
David was as talented as anyone we had. David had great hands, tough, agile, and awareness on the field. He could make a play out of nothing. He had returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns early in the season and then after the Smithfield game he was hit in a car accident and was unable to play the rest of the season. Was a tough lost for both the team and David but was a pleasure having him.
#32 Dan Salibi – Defensive Back
Dan was a very talented boy who did a lot of good things for us. But early on in his senior year he developed and abnormal heart beat and as a result was forced to miss the majority of our season. The lost of the Salibi brothers hurt the overall success of our team. It forced younger kids to step in and play and in the long run has helped our team for the future.
#55 Collin Fournier – Center – Linebacker
Collin was a starter on our team for 3 years at center. He offered to us the stability that we needed in the middle of our offensive line and offered great support to the younger linemen that were force to play the game sooner then what was expected of them. As a linebacker he was a quality hitter making great stops all over the field.
#57 Jake Cabral - Offensive and Defensive Tackle
Jake was a two year starter for us in the offensive line. This year we moved him over to the right tackle and he did an admirable job for us. We was force to help tutor younger linemen as the season went along and deal with the difficult task of making decisions about blocking schemes and executing them. As a defensive tackle he occupied space and made it hard for opponents to run on his side of the field.
#58 J.R. Dowty – Offensive Guard/Fullback – Linebacker
JR will always be known as the linebacker that delivered vicious hits on his opponents on defense and on offense with 4 games remaining becoming a blocking fullback delivering bone shaking hits on defensive ends and linebackers to allow Coleman to run free. JR’s season was a great one and it was pleasure to have coached him.
#66 Randy (Gappy) Normand – Offensive Guard and Defensive line – Long Snapper
I will always remember Randy for his desire to play the game. In the summer of his freshmen year how he ran to weight lifting for State Line to get to life. His sophomore year, he graduated to the bike to get here and as a junior and senior he never missing weight lifting. Randy became our best offensive lineman this year and I was extremely proud of him. In some ways as Randy started I believe his peers didn’t think he had it in him to do it but Randy Normand represents to me the epitome of what a Tiverton football player is: hard working, loyal and driven to the goal of being the best you can be and I believe Gappy has done that this year.
#78 Jon Bouchard – Offensive Tackle and Defensive Tackle
Jon had a great year. He was aggressive off the ball and usually held his block for the majority of each challenge. When I needed something I knew that we needed to run over his side. Jon played most to the season worrying about his mom who had had a heart attack earlier in the year. Jon did a great job and I can’t thank him enough for what he did for the team as well as the younger kids that played in our program.
#82 Alex Walsh
I believe Alex took advantage of someone else’s mistake and turned it into his gold. As a junior, due to disciplinary reasons, Alex got his chance and with it he proved over and over again that he deserved t o be on the field. Alex became a good offensive tight end but and even better defensive end. At the end of the season he was recognize as a first team all league player and I was so proud of him for that. It shows that hard work and perseverance pays off.
#87 Paul Lebreux – Wide Receiver – Defense back
Paul was a first year player starting early on in his football career. Paul had great size, good hands and a willing to work hard and learn so he could help us in any position we needed him. It was fun to watch an athletic kid like Paul experience football as he played in his first few games of the year and watch his reaction. I believe he enjoyed the company of his team mates and they his and he helped them to become better football player with each passing day. It was a great opportunity for Paul and just as great to have him in our program.
The coaching staff would like to thank each and every one of the seniors for a very enjoyable season and the return of the traditional work ethic of Tiverton Football. All of you in some way shape or form contributed to a very successful season and I thank you for all your efforts. The coaching staff wants to wish you all the success in the world in your college or work endeavors and know we are always here for you if you need something.
I look forward to seeing all of you next year at Thanksgiving.