JV head coach Jake Beaudreault talks with two Clippers while walking the Tucker Field sideline Monday night.
On a clear Monday night under the lights at Tucker Field, head coach Jake Beaudreault and the Cumberland JV Clippers delivered a complete team performance, earning a hard-fought 8–6 victory over the North Kingstown Skippers.
The two-point margin did not fully reflect Cumberland’s control of the game. The Clippers played disciplined defense, sustained several productive offensive drives and received contributions throughout the roster. Against a massive North Kingstown defensive front, the offensive line provided solid pass blocking all night and a dependable foundation for the run game. Most importantly, every Cumberland player saw the field, underscoring the depth developing throughout the program.
After North Kingstown opened with a squib kick and Cumberland produced a solid return, the Clippers began their first possession near their own 45-yard line. Running back No. 3 Bentley Macedo immediately displayed his combination of speed and physicality, gaining five yards off right tackle. The offensive line opened the lane for Macedo, then gave quarterback No. 1 David Huftalen a clean pocket. Huftalen followed with an accurate throw into the flow of the defense, connecting with No. 53 Devan Capraro for a 10-yard gain.
The Clippers continued moving into Skippers territory. Strong pass protection gave Huftalen time to complete another well-placed throw toward the right sideline. On fourth down, he used his mobility to escape to the left. He was stopped just short of the marker, but Cumberland had established its ability to move the football.
Tucker Field provided the setting for Monday night’s JV matchup between Cumberland and North Kingstown.
The Clippers’ defense responded with a quick stop. After stuffing a first-down run, Cumberland limited North Kingstown’s short passing game and forced a punt. Macedo returned it 13 yards, giving the offense favorable field position.
North Kingstown later intercepted an intermediate pass and returned it deep into Cumberland territory, appearing poised to take the early lead. The Clippers’ defense responded immediately. On a run off left tackle, the Skippers’ ball carrier fought toward the goal line but lost control of the football while extending just before crossing the plane. The loose ball traveled into the end zone, where Cumberland recovered it for a touchback.
It was a significant early-game momentum swing.
Starting from its own 20, Cumberland went back to work behind an offensive line that kept creating room for the run game and time for the passing attack. No. 4 Kenny Brown gained three yards on a jet sweep and then broke down the right sideline after finding space within a well-designed flood concept, moving the ball to the North Kingstown 44.
Huftalen kept the drive alive by finding Brown on a drag route before scrambling for another first down when a pass play broke down. Capraro also contributed with a six-yard reception underneath the coverage. When pressure closed in later in the drive, Huftalen escaped and gained 10 yards on the ground.
Facing fourth-and-five, Cumberland produced the game’s biggest offensive play. Macedo threw a halfback pass to No. 6 Brady Nolet near the five-yard line, and Nolet completed the play in the end zone for a touchdown. The play reflected Beaudreault’s effective play-calling throughout the game. No. 33 Liam Goulding converted the two-point attempt, giving Cumberland an 8–0 lead.
The defense immediately built on that momentum. Goulding delivered a strong special-teams tackle on the ensuing kickoff and continued to pressure the quarterback defensively. No. 17 Ethan Cosgrove broke through for an eight-yard sack, backing North Kingstown up near its own goal line.
The Skippers managed an 18-yard quarterback run on second-and-long, but Goulding delivered another physical hit near the sideline, with No. 12 Tristan Chiparro arriving to finish the play. Goulding then applied pressure on the next passing attempt, forcing an errant throw.
Moments later, No. 7 Finn Hayden intercepted a pass by jumping the route and returning the ball up the left sideline. Cumberland carried its 8–0 advantage into halftime.
The score did not fully reflect Cumberland’s control of the opening half. The defense had limited North Kingstown’s opportunities, while the offense consistently moved the football and created scoring chances.
A clear evening and dramatic sunset gave way to football under the Tucker Field lights.The JV Clippers gather and get ready to take the field for the second half.
North Kingstown opened the second half with a more effective drive. After Brown quickly brought down the returner on the kickoff, the Skippers converted a pair of first downs and eventually broke a long run to the Cumberland seven-yard line. North Kingstown scored shortly afterward, but a penalty backed up the two-point attempt, and the Clippers’ defense kept the Skippers out of the end zone, preserving an 8–6 lead.
Cumberland’s defense continued to make key plays. A quick throw to the left flat was stopped for a two-yard loss, and the secondary defended a deep pass down the right sideline to force an incompletion.
On third-and-12, the North Kingstown quarterback rolled right and attempted to force the ball downfield. Goulding read the play well, stepped in front of the pass and recorded Cumberland’s second interception of the night.
The Clippers turned that takeaway into another extended drive into North Kingstown territory. A horse-collar penalty advanced the ball before Capraro made an important third-down reception to move the chains. Huftalen later showed strong vision and determination on fourth down, racing around the left side and reaching the four-yard line before being stopped just short of a new set of downs.
The JV Clippers gather on the sideline during their 8–6 victory over North Kingstown.
North Kingstown took over deep in its own territory, and Cumberland’s defense again held firm. No. 59 Travis Lachut stopped a second-down run in the backfield for a four-yard loss. A false start and another short run forced the Skippers to punt from the back of their own end zone, giving Cumberland possession at the North Kingstown 22.
Huftalen immediately ran for 12 yards to reach the 10, but a mishandled pitch allowed North Kingstown to recover and mount one final drive.
The Skippers crossed midfield and faced fourth-and-three with the game on the line. Cumberland’s defense closed in, sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble to secure the 8–6 victory.
It was a hard-fought, fundamentally sound performance. Beaudreault and the JV Clippers executed complementary football from start to finish. The offense moved the ball, the defense created turnovers and pressure, and special teams repeatedly provided favorable field position.
The final score did not fully capture Cumberland’s overall performance. The line’s steady protection kept the passing game on schedule, while its run blocking helped power the offense’s production. The JV Clippers played with discipline and composure, and the opportunity for every player to contribute made the victory especially meaningful.
Monday’s game highlighted the level of talent developing throughout Cumberland’s football program and gave the JV team a strong foundation as it moves deeper into the season.
