Pierce Stadium and Stringfellows Honored on Thanksgiving Day

The crowd was slightly smaller than the usual Thanksgiving Day crowd at Pierce Stadium this year. A fact that may be attributed to a stormy winter forecast, a predicted blowout by an undefeated LaSalle football team against a struggling East Providence Townie team and the fact that this year is the first time that the game didn't count as a league game. Last January the RI Interscholastic League Principal’s Committee on Athletics voted to change the state football playoff format. "Beginning in the fall (2014) all Thanksgiving Day “League games” must be played during the regular season. As a result, all semifinal games will be played on the Friday before Thanksgiving. The traditional Thanksgiving Day games will be played as in the past as “non- league” games. Divisional championship games will be played a minimum of seven days after Thanksgiving," said the league's full time director Tom Mezzanotte. The 2014 EP-LaSalle game was the 86th contest between the two rivals.

The state's longest standing rivalry on Thanksgiving officially began in 1929. Although the two schools started turkey day play in 1927 (EP won 6-0), there was no game in 1928 and the league “started” in 1929 with a LaSalle 19-6 win. 8-0 LaSalle is taking on Hendricken in this year's Super Bowl game. This led people to believe that LaSalle would not play many of their regulars on Thanksgiving against EP to avoid injury, etc.

Well, quite a different outcome occurred. The weather was great, with a decent period of warm sunshine, LaSalle played their starters for most, if not all of the game and the Townies played a good hard football game, losing by just three points in an exciting contest. "Our kids played well. They were determined and I couldn't ask much more from them, it was a great effort against a great LaSalle team heading to the super bowl game," said first year Townie coach Jay Monteiro. The Townies scored first on an Aron Amaral interception of a Jace Pena pass for an eighteen yard touchdown return in the first period. The game was hard fought and evenly played as Townie QB Ryan Ellinwood hit Jayden Chase with a 31 yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14. LaSalle connected on an Andrew Salzillo 30 yard field goal to take a 17-14 lead into halftime. The teams continued to play hard in the second half and on a Corey Resendes kick for EP, LaSalle fumbled and East Providence's Paulo Pereira recovered the ball and ran 80 yards for the Townie touchdown. LaSalle's scores came on the Salzillo field goal, a one yard Jace Pena run and a 5 yard Kyron Lopes run. "These Townies played a tough game, showing lots of determination," said veteran observer and EPHS Hall of Famer Clarence "Junior" Butler. LaSalle hung on for the 24-21 win over East Providence.

But the story of the day was the half time ceremony celebrating Pierce Stadium's 75th anniversary. A half time extravaganza honoring players from both schools from the 1940's through the 2000's. Townie athletic director Bob Duarte and Pierce Field Manager Joe Medeiros organized the gala presentation. A Player from each decade was brought out to the field, culminating with the introduction of the Townies Bill Stringfellow and LaSalle's Jim Deffley. Strinfellow has been a Townie legend of course and Deffley coached East Providence and then LaSalle. The two former nemeses embraced and exchanged memories as the crowd loved it. Townie great Junior Butler brought along a couple of letters that he received in 1967 from his former coach, Jim Deffley. At that time Deffley coached the Townies. They were letters of support sent to Butler when he was serving combat time in Vietnam. "I've saved these all these years," said an appreciative Butler. "Wow, I can't believe that you still have those letters after all this time," Jim Deffley told Butler. "Amazing." State Representatives Helio Melo and Gregg Amore were there with citations as was EP Assistant Mayor, Tom Rose.

The city then unveiled the new sign naming the stadium press box as the "Bill and Sheila Stringfellow Press Box" to the further delight of the crowd. "What can I say," said a choked up Stringfellow. "I am thankful for this and for my great family..." as his voice trailed off a bit. Sheila Stringfellow was remembered for her love and support of Townie football and especially for the dozens of Thanksgiving pies she baked every year for players. Until a couple of years ago, former players still visited the Stringfellow home to say Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy a slice of pie. Once again, on Thanksgiving, former, now aging Townie players, greeted Sheila Stringfellow and remembered "those wonderful pies." "This was very rewarding," said former Townie great QB Jim Rose. "One of the best Thanksgiving games I've attended," he added. Rose like many others have attended more turkey day games than they care to add up. Regardless of the scoreboard, most Townies went home with a warm feeling and a good appetite for turkey and next year's game.