Super Bowl weekend is almost here.
Cranston Stadium will be the capitol of the Rhode Island high school football world as the Rhode Island Interscholastic League gets ready to host its five championship games.
Friday sees No. 1 Hendricken take on No. 2 La Salle in the State Championship. On Saturday, No. 1 Narragansett plays No. 3 Davies for the Division IV title followed by No. 1 North Kingstown playing No. 3 Burrillville for the D-I crown. Things wrap up Sunday with No. 1 Classical playing No. 2 Ponaganset in the D-III Super Bowl with No. 1 South Kingstown taking on Westerly in the last real game of the 2024 high school football season.
To get you ready for the big games, The Providence Journal will put out daily preview coverage all week long. We’ll bring readers names to know for the game, important matchups and break down each matchup as the week goes on.
There’s only one way to get things started off and that’s with a list of the 10 Players You Need To Know for Super Bowl Weekend.
James Branch, West Warwick, Running Back
Knowing you have to stop Branch is much different than actually doing it. The senior added size and strength this year, has rushed for over 1,400 yards and has done so with every defensive game plan focused on not letting him succeed. Westerly limited him for three quarters last week before he went off in the fourth quarter and if the Wizards have success against South Kingstown, expect Branch to be at the center of it.
Terrence Campbell, La Salle, Running Back/Linebacker
Nobody in the state runs harder than Campbell, who recently committed to the University of Rhode Island. Last week the Rams made an effort to get the ball in Campbell’s hands as often as possible and the senior made it work. He turned short passes into long gains – and a 59-yard score – and was a monster inside the 10-yard line. La Salle will look to Campbell to carry them to an upset over rival Hendricken – and the senior will be ready for the challenge.
Jordan Chaloux, South Kingstown, Running Back/Linebacker
Chaloux is the face of the Rebels and his style of play represents who they are as a group – tough. Chaloux, a senior, is a brutal north-south runner who fits the SK system as perfectly as the last piece of a puzzle. He runs hard, looked for contact and helps set a tone for an offense that wants to keep opposing defenses on the field. On defense, Chaloux is a hard-hitting middle linebacker and it’s not hard to find him on the field – because he’s usually around the ball.
Chris Ciarniello, North Kingstown, Linebacker/Running Back
With two older brothers who were All-Staters, it shouldn’t be a shock to see Ciarniello following in their footsteps. The junior has become a second coach on the field, making calls from his linebacker position and leading a defense that has turned into one of the state’s best at the right time of the season. Ciarniello will see some carries on offense and will get the tough yards in big spots when the Skippers ask.
Ziahair Gibau, Davies, Running Back/Defensive Back
Last season Gibau was a complimentary piece to All-Stater Daniel Rose. This season, Gibau stepped into the spotlight and has become the offensive weapon the Patriots needed. His speed and athleticism is evident and Gibau’s understanding of the offense hasn’t been hard to see. Gibau will see the ball a lot, but his larger contribution may come on defense as Davies tries to figure out how to slow the rapid-fire Narragansett attack.
Jordan Duke, Classical, Running Back/Linebacker
There isn’t a player more important to his team’s success this weekend than Duke. If he goes off against Ponaganset, the Purple will win. If the Chieftains do what no team has done this week and stops him, the Purple will lose. Saying it and doing it are two different things. Duke is bigger and stronger than everyone on the field and, oh yeah, he’s faster too. The senior is a special player and in his final game for Classical, expect a special performance.
Logan Gelinas, Burrillville, Quarterback/Defensive Back
Gelinas epitomizes what the Broncos’ program is all about. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Jake, Gelinas has taken this team to a level no team in Burrillville history has seen. He’s a terrific quarterback and when things break down, Gelinas is at his best. Whether it’s pass or run, Gelinas can do it all. He’s also one of the state’s few elite QBs who plays on the other side of the ball and he’ll make an impact on defense as the Broncos try to upset North Kingstown.
Dylan Lynch, Hendricken, Quarterback
It would be easy to pick out any of the Hawks’ stars for this, but make no mistake about it – Lynch will be the most important part of their success. His understanding of their RPOs makes the offense work and if La Salle has the audacity to jump out ahead, Lynch has more than enough talent to let his arm bring Hendricken back. On top of all of this, he’s a Lynch – and doing whatever it takes to win is something that’s in the bloodline.
Trevor Lytle, Ponaganset, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
It might be unusual to feature a wide receiver on a team with the best offensive line in Division III and a run game that’s been a force, but with what Lytle has done it makes sense. The senior has become a dynamic weapon for Ponaganset and when he’s had big games, so have the Chieftains. If Ponaganset beats Classical, it’s going to need points, points and more points and Lytle has been their best option in getting those in a hurry.
Matt Timpson, Narragansett, Quarterback
There isn’t a more exciting offense in the state to watch and with Timpson’s play this fall, it shouldn’t be a surprise. He’s run the Mariners’ Air Raid to perfection, showing off his accuracy and impressive deep touch in the passing game while being a smart runner who can make big plays. When Timpson – who also plays on the defensive side at linebacker – is on his game, so is Narragansett, and if he’s on there might not be much Davies can do to stop him.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The 10 most important players for the 2024 RIIL Super Bowl weekend
