Ponaganset’s Josh Morgan, above left, and Larry Colaluca celebrate the team’s victory over Moses Brown yesterday at Bryant University. At right, Moses Brown quarterback Bill Cosmopulos tries to get by Ponaganset’s Vinnie Gordon during first-half action in their bowl clash. Click here to see a gallery of game photos.

The Providence Journal / Bob Thayer

SMITHFIELD — It was only four seasons ago when the Ponaganset and Moses Brown football teams did not win a game.

Yesterday, at Bryant College, both teams were playing in the Division III Super Bowl.

When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, Ponaganset emerged with a 13-6 victory as the Chieftains captured their fourth football state title in school history.

“These kids know where they came from, 0-11… when we came on,” Ponaganset coach Thomas Marcello said. “We gave them a little bit of hope and the kids started to believe. There was a huge attitude swing that started to take place and the kids did a wonderful job over the last three years. They took baby steps, learned what we wanted them to…These kids, we can’t give them enough credit. They really have made all of the difference. We would be nowhere without the dedication of them and their families.”

Marcello’s players credit the coach for the turnaround.

“To come from 0-10 my freshman year and then go 3-7 the next year, all the credit in the world goes to coach Marcello to bring this program back,” Ponaganset senior quarterback Caleb Gelsomino said. “It’s all good coaching because the players were here. The talent was here. It was all about putting it into action and that’s what coach Marcello did.”

The victory was Ponaganset’s first state title since 1997.

“To have this happen to this community, to this school, and to these kids is a dream come true,” Marcello said.

The strong winds and the frigid temperatures affected both teams early in the game. Ponaganset turned the ball over four times in the first half and only managed 107 first-half yards, 45 of which came on Moses Brown penalties. Moses Brown had three first-half turnovers.

“That’s a great football team we beat,” Marcello said. “To go 15-1 in two years in Division III after moving up from Division IV. They are always perfectly coached and we want to give them the utmost respect. They are a great football team and they’ll be back here next year.”

Trailing 6-0 at halftime, Ponaganset decided to go to the air on its first drive of the second half with the wind at its backs. Gelsomino went 3-for-3 on the drive for 53 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Russell Morin (5 catches, 63 yards, TD) to cap off the drive that gave the Chieftains a 7-6 lead.

“My job is just to get my playmakers the ball and Russ Morin is a playmaker,” Gelsomino said. “He will go up and get the ball if I put it up there for him and that’s what I was trying to do — just get Russ the ball.”

Moses Brown got as close to the Chieftains eight-yard line on its ensuing drive, but Ponaganset’s defense forced a turnover on downs, keeping the Quakers out of the end zone. Ponaganset defensive back Jordan Ferretti came up with a big sack in the red zone to help stall the drive. Moses Brown did not get a first down after that.

Because leading rusher Nicholas Keeling (14 carries, 40 yards) went to the sidelines with an injury midway through the second half, the Chieftains turned to the game’s most valuable player, junior fullback Larry Colaluca, who amassed 104 of his game-high 118 yards in the second half, which included a 30-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run that sealed the victory.

“He came in and just started gaining chunks of yards at a time,” Marcello said. “…The offensive line was just phenomenal. You could have run trucks through some of those holes… Nick did a great job in the first half and Larry did a great job blocking. The run game is what really sustained us.”

Moses Brown quarterback Bill Cosmopulos gave the Quakers a 6-0 lead with 4:40 remaining in the second quarter on a 16-yard run.

“Moses Brown is a great team and one thing they are really great at is taking advantage of your mistakes,” Gelsomino said. “The whole thing was to try to cut down on our mistakes because we knew if we had cut down on our mistakes, we had a chance to win. In the first half we made mistakes but they made mistakes, too. In the second half, we didn’t make any mistakes and that’s how we got it done today.”

“They displayed the will to win today and just wouldn’t let Moses Brown beat them,” Marcello.

Ponaganset

0 0 7 6 — 13

Moses Brown

0 6 0 0 — 6

 Ponaganset scoring: touchdowns Russell Martin (15 pass from Caleb Gelsomino), Larry Colaluca (30 rush); conversions – Sushil Trivedi 1 (kick).

 Moses Brown scoring: touchdowns – William Cosmopulos (16 run); conversions – none.

roblee@projo.com