2019 -- S 0184

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE CENTRAL FALLS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM ON

WINNING THE 2018 RHODE ISLAND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Ruggerio, Lombardi, Metts, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, The 2018 Central Falls Football Team, led by an experienced squad

consisting of sixteen seniors, compiled an outstanding 9-3 record, with a first place finish in the

Division III regular season standings, and victory in the Rhode Island Division III Super Bowl;

and

     WHEREAS, The Central Falls Warriors Football Team began the 2018 playoffs as the

one seed and got off to an excellent start when they thrashed fourth seeded North Providence by

the score of 34-6 to advance to the title game. In the Super Bowl for the State Championship,

played at Cranston Stadium, the Warriors faced their rivals, Pilgrim High School; and

     WHEREAS, In one of the greatest State Title games in Rhode Island High School

football history, Central Falls won an exhilarating 14-10 victory to become State Champions.

After the Warriors defense came up big early in the game and stopped a Pilgrim drive at their

own 22 yard line, Central Falls put the first points on the scoreboard early in the second period

when Dutchie Arroyo, a versatile athlete with breakaway speed, took a handoff and broke through

on the left side and blazed away untouched for a seventy-two yard touchdown. Later in the

second half, Warriors quarterback Luis Gonzalez snaked a pass through tight quarters to hit wide

receiver Leonardo DaVeiga who raced away for a 71 yard touchdown. Central Falls entered

halftime with a 14-0 lead. They would be forced to lean on their veteran defense to save their title

hopes in the second half; and

     WHEREAS, The Pilgrim Patriots made a furious rally in the second half, shutting down

the Central Falls offense and closing the deficit to four points, 14-10, but were stymied in their

attempts to take the lead by a tenacious Central Falls defense, led by seniors Jordan Alvarado, the

Frank Morey Memorial Most Valuable Player of the game, Dutchie Arroyo, Warren Smith,

William Severino, Jonathan Acosta, and Omar Soto, along with standout juniors Darryl

Fleurantin and Justin Cruz, a unit that made big plays throughout the game, including two vital

goal-line stands, one at the one-yard line, to preserve the lead and securing the title for the Central

Falls Warriors; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a state Title in a team sport is an exceedingly difficult task, one

requiring that every player on the team give his all and put team needs and goals ahead of

personal desires and aspirations. The Central Falls Football Team had those qualities in

abundance in 2018 as they were led all season by the key contributions provided by Jordan

Alvarado, Dutchie Arroyo, Jason DePina, Luis Gonzalez, Leonardo DaVeiga, Erickson DaVeiga,

Tyreese Gomes, Darryl Fleurantin, Nikolas Gibbons, Hericson Guelen, Eliud Vega Bonilla,

Tyrique DaSilva, Stephawn Lockley, Erik Rivera, Omar Soto, Geremy Hernandez, Kenneth

Carpenter, Danzel Diaz, Warren Smith, Jonathan Acosta, Justin Cruz, William Gonzalez

Severino, Cristian Valdez, Axel Valdez, Levar Mathis, Calvin Romero, Jovan Masse, Jalan Ruiz,

Lionel Bridgett, and Jaquell Christal. Central Falls also benefited all season by the outstanding

coaching provided by Head Coach Jeff Lapierre, Assistant Coaches Anthony Ficocelli, Noel

Grant, and Volunteer Coaches Luis Melendez and Brandon Canuto; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates the Central Falls Football Team on winning the 2018 Rhode Island Division

III Championship; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Jeff Lapierre, Central Falls Head Football

Coach.

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