Football: Islanders Capitalize on Mariner Mistakes

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Underneath the lights at Curtis Corner Middle School on Tuesday night, the Middletown Islanders took advantage of repeated Narragansett fumbles and penalties to advance to the Division III Super Bowl with a 38-22 win.

Although the two teams were almost equivalent in rushing yards – about 227 for Middletown vs. 217 for Narragansett – the Islanders scored two defensive touchdowns, which proved to be the difference in the game.

Middletown jumped all over the Mariners from their opening possession.

Narragansett had to kickoff four times, as their first three attempts went out of bounds, resulting in 15 total penalty yards. On the fourth kickoff, Narragansett was whistled for another 15 yards, for a personal foul.

Middletown only had to go 34 yards for a touchdown as a result, and did so with a combination of rushes by Kevin Nash and Randolph Butler. Nash punched the ball in from about three yards out for the touchdown, and a lead Middletown would never relinquish.

Narragansett did score a touchdown on their next possession, and chewed up yardage on the ground throughout the night with quarterback Mark Griffith, and running backs Willie Perkins and Francis Castrovillari. Perkins finished with 101 yards, and Castrovillari had two touchdowns and 78 yards.

However, like several previous games, the Mariners were hurt by turnovers. Narragansett had six fumbles, three of which were recovered by Middletown.

Worse for the Mariners, two fumbles were returned for Middletown touchdowns by Camden Murphy and Mitchell Sullivan.

Murphy also picked off Griffith, who finished 0-for-3 and had four fumbles, two of which were lost to Middletown. The senior struggled at quarterback, and late in the game, he was switched to halfback, with sophomore Kullen McGill playing under center. Griffith finished with 46 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown.

Middletown quarterback Justin Sellar mostly served as a facilitator, throwing one incomplete pass and rushing just three times for -4 yards. The Islanders spread the ball around on offense, with Butler (20 carries for 138 yards) and Nash (9 carries for 64 yards) getting the bulk of the work. Six different players had a carry for Middletown.

Despite trailing for all of the game, Narragansett was within eight after a late touchdown in the third quarter. The Mariners then got the football back, after Greg Hamilton recovered a fumble by Butler, one of Middletown’s few miscues on the day.

However, on the ensuing Narragansett possession, the Mariners couldn’t gain a first down. After three plays, they punted.

Middletown ate up about five minutes on the game clock, and Narragansett prolonged the drive by committing a personal foul. Butler plunged into the end zone from three yards out with 7:38 remaining to put the Islanders up 38-22.

With the win, Middletown will play in the Division III Super Bowl 3 p.m. Saturday at Cranston Stadium against Rogers. The Vikings beat Classical 20-14 on Tuesday night.

NARRAGANSETT STATS

MIDDLETOWN STATS