2020 -- H 7454

========

LC004254

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE PILGRIM HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM ON WINNING

THE 2019 RHODE ISLAND DIVISION III STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Jackson, Solomon, Vella-Wilkinson, and
Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Pilgrim Patriots put together a season for the ages as they compiled a

perfect 13-0 record and won the Division III State Championship, their first Football

Championship in 44 years. This accomplishment by the Pilgrim Football Team is all the more

remarkable given that just two years ago they went winless; and

     WHEREAS, Pilgrim dominated their opposition during the regular season, winning most

of their games by two touchdowns or more. The Patriots entered the playoffs as the one-seed and

in the semi-finals, they dispatched Narragansett by the score of 30-12, to set up a Rhode Island

Super Bowl Championship game match at Cranston Stadium against two-seeded Tolman; and

     WHEREAS, In a thrilling and hard-hitting Championship game, Pilgrim and Tolman

were tied at 14 apiece with the Patriots facing a crucial third and fifteen from the Tolman thirty-

two-yard line. In the biggest play of the season, Pilgrim Quarterback Mike Borges, the Frank

Morley MVP of the Championship game, completed a clutch pass to wide receiver Ethan

Laramee to secure a vital first down at the Tolman fifteen yard line. After hitting running back

Demitri Ayres with another completion at the one-yard line, Mike Borges ran the ball into the end

zone to put the Patriots ahead for good with 36 seconds left in the game. Borges would also rush

for a successful two-point conversion to secure a 22-14 victory over Tolman and victory in the

Super Bowl; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a State Championship requires that every member of the team give

their all and put their personal aspirations aside in support of team needs and goals. The Pilgrim

High School Football Team had these qualities in abundance as they were led all season by the

outstanding play provided by Mike Borges, Demitri Ayres, Ethan Laramee, Ethan Asadorian,

Max Brown, Zach Diffley, Connor Fallon, Adam Ferrara, Dylan Gallagher, Nick Kirejczyk, Will

Kneebone, Dikran Krikorian, DJ Lawson, Jacob Longtin, Lucas Modestil, Owen O’Sullivan,

Cesar Pascual, Quincy Randall, Joe Rapa, TJ Xayapanya, Kobi Almeida, Nick Brewer, Gabe

Haley, Troy Masse, Damian Branca, Brady Burke, Richard Cole, Zech Dimezza, Alexander

Filippou, Elijah Germain, Danny Halliwell, Nikolai Hulkow, Xavier Johnson, Austin Kilduff,

Jakob Mathieu, Jaydyn Moniz, Andrew O’Leary, Marcus Pascual, Matt Simpson, Josh Wahl,

Connor Widmer, John Cotugno, Jarek Haley, Kenneth Irizarry, Lucas Pirraglia, Lawrence

Robinson, Matthew Santos, and Joe Taber. The Pilgrim Football Team also benefitted all season

from the outstanding leadership and sterling coaching provided by Head Coach, Blake Simpson,

and Assistant Coaches, Owen Kelly, Shane Kelly, William King and Joshua Ginaitt; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates the Pilgrim High School Football Team on winning

the 2019 Rhode Island Division III State 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 Mr. Blake Simpson, Head Football Coach,

Pilgrim High School.

========

LC004254

========

LC004254 - Page 2 of 2