CRANSTON – Johnny Germain had one thing on his mind when he broke into the open field, and it wasn't going down to kill the remainder of the clock.
This cameo at running back after focusing largely on the defensive side of the ball this season was going to end in a clinching touchdown. Germain was not to be denied Friday night, Oct. 23, at Orabone Sports Complex, silencing Cranston West in a potential Division I quarterfinal preview.
Germain's 74-yard touchdown run with 1:32 to play sent what was a vibrant home student section to the exits. Jaden Young recovered an onside kick to ice it after a late Falcons score, and the Saints left with a 23-20 triumph.
It was the second time Germain crossed the goal line in this one, as he added to a 1-yard touchdown run late in the opening half. Jordan Morgan was hobbled in the fourth quarter with a minor injury, and St. Raphael turned to a physical presence with the ball at its own 20 inside the last two minutes.
"This season I've been taking pride in playing linebacker," Germain said. "But if I need to run that ball for the team, I'm going to run that ball."
Cranston West missed what could have been the tying field goal and had two timeouts left when St. Raphael took over. Germain got the call twice between the tackles to set up a third down and ripped through the right side on his next carry. He had nothing but green turf in front while storming toward the right corner of the end zone, a play that gave the Saints some breathing room at 23-13.
"My brother always tells me in big games a big player needs to make a big play," Germain said. "I was just thinking, 'Go make a big play.' I wasn't going down for anything."
Jonathan Leroux's 1-yard touchdown scramble to the left with 32.8 seconds left gave the Falcons a slim chance at a miracle, but Joseph Manzi's bounding kick to the left hopped into Young's arms at midfield. Christian Bielawski took a knee to run out the clock and the Saints earned what should be a chance to host a quarterfinal date in the upcoming playoffs.
"It's always a good mentality over here," St. Raphael senior Onassis Soriano said. "They've got a great crowd, great band. It's a great atmosphere. We came to compete."
Soriano gave St. Raphael the lead for good midway through the fourth quarter, as St. Raphael answered a 92-yard scoring drive by Cranston West with a quick strike. Bielawski found him all alone on the right side along the numbers, and Soriano pivoted upfield to complete a 40-yard touchdown reception. The Saints owned a 16-13 edge with 4:57 left and were able to protect it to the finish.
"We just had to score," Soriano said. "We know it's a great team. We had to go score on them."
Kamryn Larracuente glanced home a 33-yard field goal off the left upright to give St. Raphael a 9-7 advantage midway through the third quarter, but an interception by Daniel Mojica Jr. on a miscommunication by the Saints set up what turned out to be 13-play march. Leroux found Jake Anzivino for completions of 31 and 30 yards to bring the Falcons within striking distance, and Mojica took a jet sweep 3 yards around left end to make it a 13-9 game with 6:19 to play.
"We came into this game thinking it was a playoff game," Germain said. "The way they were talking on the internet, we were ready for this. We were ready to come in here and take over."
Mehkhai Taylor and Germain traded short touchdown runs in the first half to give Cranston West a 7-6 lead into the locker room. The action picked up over the final two quarters and St. Raphael (5-2) found a way to prevail against its likely opponent in two weeks. The Falcons (4-3) could face a trip to Max Read Field this time, with the Saints potentially starting their November on home turf.
"They're coming to The Bucket," Germain said. "And in The Bucket, we play dirty. We play strong. We play fast.
"We're anticipating that game."
St. Raphael 0 6 3 14 – 23
Cranston West 0 7 0 13 – 20
CW – Mehkhai Taylor 2 run (Joseph Manzi kick)
SR – Johnny Germain 1 run (kick failed)
SR – Kamryn Larracuente 33 field goal
CW – Daniel Mojica Jr. 3 run (pass failed)
SR – Onassis Soriano 40 pass from Christian Bielawski (Larracuente kick)
SR – Germain 74 run (Larracuente kick)
CW – Jonathan Leroux 1 run (Manzi kick)
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Johnny Germain's 74-yard TD lifts St. Raphael in playoff preview