Jared Province scored four touchdowns for the Eagles against McDonald.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

WARREN — Warren JFK senior tailback Jared Province was a one-man wrecking crew as he led the Eagles to a 46-8 victory over McDonald in a Division VI regional quarterfinal game at Mollenkopf Stadium Saturday night.

Province rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles (8-3) advanced to next Saturday’s regional semifinal, where they’ll meet Norwalk St. Paul at a site to be determined today.

The Eagles, who were making their 17th appearance in the playoffs, also presented coach Tony Napolet with his 200th career victory.

“When you get to that number all it means is that you’ve been coaching a long time,” said Napolet who’s career mark stands at 200-86-3. He is 164-62-2 at JFK.

“I don’t think the final score was any indication of tonight’s game,” said Napolet. “We had to battle for everything in the first half and only came away with a 19-0 lead. We played much better in the second half.

“Jared Province is an outstanding football player and he showed it tonight, but I thought our defense really set the tempo for the game by shutting down a pretty good offensive team,” he added.

The Eagles held the Blue Devils to just 93 yards rushing, while holding McDonald’s talented quarterback Matt Krumpak to just 113 yards passing on 13-of-30 and intercepted him twice.

McDonald coach Dan Williams praised his team, but knew the big challenge his players had.

“We were the big underdog and we tried some things early that just didn’t work, but the kids played hard and right to the end,” Williams said.

The Eagles never had a problem moving the football all game as they scored on six of their first seven possessions.

While Krumpak was running all over, junior quarterback Dom LaPolla was complimenting him with some key runs and several passes, including one for a 39-yard touchdown to wide receiver James Howard. LaPolla finished the game with 91 yards rushing on 11 carries and passed for 78 more and the touchdown.

Province and LaPolla took turns rolling to the first Eagles score which came on a nine yard scamper by Province. After the Eagles were stopped on the next series punter Mike Perisa put the Blue Devils in a hole at their own 1-yard line and after stopping them took over and marched 77 yards for the second score which also came on a 5-yard Province run.

The Eagles went up 19-0 right before the half as Province ripped off a 46 yard run and then LaPolla and Howard connected on a 28-yard pass before Province raced over from the one.

The Eagles blew the game open in the third quarter scoring three times the first on a 3-yard run by Province, who left the game midway in the period and gave way to the reserves. LaPolla and Howard then connected on the 39-yard TD pass in which Howard went up and over a McDonald defender to haul in the pass and fell into the end zone.

The final score of the quarter came on a 1-yard run by reserve Eric McBride, who helped set up the score with a 35 yard run.

The Eagles added a final touchdown in the fourth quarter when freshman Nate Marsico scooped up a McDonald fumble at the Blue Devils 21 and raced untouched to the end zone.

McDonald finally got on the board in the final seconds of the contest when Nick Cupan capped a 61-yard drive with a five yard run and sophomore quarterback Nick Accordino ran for the two point conversion.

mollica@vindy.com