Nick Stafford runs wild as North Kingstown advances in D-I playoffs

NORTH KINGSTOWN – Nick Stafford found a way to walk on water Friday night. Not to suggest North Kingstown's senior running back is some sort of deity, but he handled the torrential rain at Perry Athletic Complex better than just about anyone else in uniform. Stafford rushed for four touchdowns as the Skippers navigated both the puddles and Central to post an abbreviated 34-7 victory in this Division I quarterfinal. The game was called by the officiating crew with 7:55 left due to a raft of personal fouls, and that early finish was just about all that could stop Stafford on this occasion. He rushed for 257 yards on a mere 11 carries, with North Kingstown flashing some wildcat formation in the second half due to the difficult conditions. Stafford's 80-yard score on the opening play after the break just about wrapped this one. He slipped in the backfield but regained his footing in time to race around left end and go the distance. That made it a 20-7 game, and the Skippers were in the end zone again after forcing a punt on the ensuing possession. Ethan Machado took a jet sweep right and made a sharp cut up the hash for a 35-yard touchdown with 5:33 left in the third. North Kingstown's unanswered response came after the Knights took the lead on the game's opening possession. Waldemar Lopez Febres broke multiple tackles up the middle on a 58-yard rumble to the Skippers 1, and Jayden Gilreath did the rest on a quarterback sneak to make it a 7-0 game with 7:51 left in the first. It was Stafford's show from there, as he made a couple defenders miss while breaking a 44-yard touchdown run to the left less than two minutes later. Central was stuffed trying a fake field goal on its ensuing possession and Stafford needed just one play to snap a 7-7 tie, zipping 68 yards up the left sideline with 57.2 seconds left in the first. North Kingstown (7-2) was sharper in this one than during a 13-6 road win over the Knights in early September. That came after an opening 34-7 defeat at La Salle, a game in which starting quarterback Matt Auclair was ruled out early due to injury and Satfford actually threw a touchdown pass in the third quarter. Central (2-6) won its last two games in the regular season to reach the playoffs but came up short here. The Rams (5-2) await the Skippers next Friday night at a time to be determined, a semifinal battle at Cimini Stadium. North Kingstown rolled to a 45-12 win over La Salle in a 2023 at the same venue before falling to Bishop Hendricken in the Super Bowl. Rams quarterback Sam Perry saw some snaps in that meeting as a freshman, with former La Salle coach Geoff Marcone trying a bit of everything in an attempt to stem the tide. There was an edge to this one from the outset after the Knights arrived late and forced a 15-minute delay ahead of kickoff. Central's players massed on the midfield logo after stretch lines and were waiting in anticipation for the Skippers to complete their customary run out of their locker room. The officiating crew separated both sides before anything could escalate prior to the coin toss. North Kingstown was called for a personal foul on the opening play from scrimmage and two more by the end of the first quarter. The Skippers closed with five in all while Central was flagged for eight – six of those came between Stafford's 23-yard touchdown run with 2:29 left in the third quarter and the end of the game. North Kingstown head coach Dave Giorgi and Knights head coach Mike Washington met with referee Mike McParlin prior to a second down at the Central 8 in the fourth quarter. The Skippers seemed headed in for another score when the three men brought a stop to this one. North Kingstown's players went straight to the locker room, with both teams forgoing the traditional postgame handshake line.Central 7 0 0 0 – 7 North Kingstown 14 0 20 0 – 34 C – Jayden Gilreath 1 run (Waldemar Lopez Febres kick) NK – Nick Stafford 44 run (Nick Silvia kick) NK – Stafford 68 run (Silvia kick) NK – Stafford 80 run (rush failed) NK – Ethan Machado 35 run (Michael Petrangelo rush) NK – Stafford 23 run (rush failed) bkoch@providencejournal.com On X: @BillKoch25This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Nick Stafford runs wild as North Kingstown advances in D-I playoffs