Rhode Island
Eric Rueb comes up with an easy fix for football realignment in his Week 7 football picks column
Blitz Breakdown: Who could go to RI high school football super bowl?
RI Blitz Breakdown, a Providence Journal WPRI partnership, takes a look at the big plays, games and all things high school football.
Someone call the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. Reach out to all the football-playing schools in Rhode Island.
I’ve figured out the perfect fix for the upcoming realignment and there won’t have to be 20 unnecessary meetings to rule on it.
There’s been plenty wrong with the last few realignments, but in the advent of the RPI era – something that’s not going away – it seems easier than ever to fix. Doing that requires more common sense and less formulas based on bad math (and tears from big schools that carry weight in these meetings) and ideas from someone who actually cares about high school football.
While the math is confusing, the RPI has changed how the regular season runs for the better while making absolutely no sense as far as the playoff goes.
With the Rueb Plan – patent pending – we’re going to fix that and have a realignment that forces teams to play exactly where they should.
First, we’re ditching the divisional playoffs and having actual State Championships. Since every state that uses RPI also uses a classified postseason, that’s what we’ll do. The four categories are obvious – Private, Large, Medium and Small. You’ll compete for titles against like competition. Now the onus is on you to win.
We’re not going to use a formula to figure out the divisions. We’re going to use this thing called common sense.
That means in Division I we’ll let Barrington and Burrillville drop, replaced by schools that are twice as big (if not more) than both – East Providence and Pawtucket. Don’t like it? Then fix the culture in your communities.
Division II will see a few new faces – Johnston is trending up and needs to be here; Classical is forever a D-II.5 team, so it’s up; and Cranston East is moving to D-II because a school that size should be embarrassed to be in D-III.
Who are the newcomers in D-III? Toll Gate is moving up because it’s too big to be in D-IV and hopefully it passes on this and does what the community wants – joining forces with Pilgrim to form a Warwick co-op.
Lincoln is moving down only because Sean Cavanagh deserves a regular season where he doesn’t have to try to win games just by out-coaching people. Middletown’s also moving down strictly on school size. We’ll move Davies up because it’s becoming an elite program and Smithfield is moving up because it should have done so two years ago.
Division IV will be reserved for small schools and programs that can’t get off the ground. The small schools will get to play like competition while still getting a chance to play in the postseason. Larger schools in the division will get a chance to win some games, but making the playoffs will prove to be difficult because of how the RPI works.
Why will this plan work? Because it gives teams a chance to win titles that actually matter. If you go undefeated and win a title below Division I, did you really win a championship? Or were you just placed in the wrong division in the right year?
Trust the plan. It will work – and I should know because I’ve never been wrong.
Speaking of that, let’s get on to the picks.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23
South Kingstown vs. Pawtucket, 6 p.m.
I’ve been in Pawtucket the last two Thursdays, decided to not go for the hat trick this week. I’ll handle tennis playoffs and soccer and will let Jake Rousseau handle this low-scoring affair.
THE PICK: Rebels
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24
Hope at North Smithfield, 5 p.m.
Ready for the easiest advertising partnership of all time? Every time the Northmen put a 40-burger up on the scoreboard, Beef Barn gives away a burger to fans at the game. I swear I need one of these school districts to hire me as a marketing director.
THE PICK: Northmen
Moses Brown at East Providence, 6 p.m.
Plenty of public school coaches worry about playing games at private schools and losings kids after they see their campuses and facilities. This might be the only case where it’s the opposite.
THE PICK: Townies
Central Falls vs. Middletown, 6 p.m.
You want to get crazy? If the Middletown concession stand is going to have fried turkey on Thanksgiving, I’m there. No questions ask (don’t tell my wife, she’ll be angry).
THE PICK: Warriors
Pilgrim at Johnston, 6 p.m.
The fact not a single breakfast joint in Johnston town limits has offered Nate Della Morte and Nick Testa an NIL deal is insane. They might be the most popular 1-2 punch in all of high school football and the O-linmen are more than deserving of a “pancake deal” somewhere.
THE PICK: Panthers
Lincoln at North Providence, 6 p.m.
Michael Tuorto has quietly become one of the state’s great coaches. It’s not always about Xs and Os. He understands how to market his program – last week’s Gold Rush uniforms were insane – and it has made football as popular as its ever been.
THE PICK: Panthers
North Kingstown at Barrington, 6:15 p.m.
Maybe not the game I would have chosen to open up my brand new field to the community, but sometimes the schedule takes decisions like that out of people’s hands.
THE PICK: Skippers
Davies vs. Toll Gate, 6:30 p.m.
I can already see Henry Cabral telling his team that nobody’s thinking about Davies, everybody’s in on North Smithfield and Narragansett and in a month we’re going to be wondering how the Patriots went back-to-back.
THE PICK: Patriots
St. Raphael at Cumberland, 7 p.m.
Everything that could have gone wrong for the Clippers has and while coach Matt LaRoche is doing a great job in his rookie season, it’s also clear that replacing Josh Lima isn’t going to be as easy as some of the people in the town thought it would be.
THE PICK: Saints
Rogers at East Greenwich, 7 p.m.
If this game was at 6 p.m. I would have been there only because my daughter swears up and down that the cinnamon sugar pretzels at EG’s concession stand are the best thing she’s ever eaten.
THE PICK: Avengers
Coventry at Woonsocket, 7 p.m.
Parents, if your kid does something that draws a flag because it’s against the rules and your instinct is to DM The Journal reporter and say “well this kid from another school did it and he didn’t get a penalty” then I’ve got bad, bad news for you – you’re not doing your job as a parent. Accountability matters in sports and in life.
THE PICK: Villa Novans
Barnstable (MA) at La Salle, 7 p.m.
I just need everyone to remember that Jake Rousseau is beating me in The Journal picks competition because he picks against Rhode Island schools because he doesn’t like them while I’ve been picking every RI team when they play out-of-state opponents out of sheer loyalty to the Ocean State.
THE PICK: Rams
Exeter-West Greenwich at Smithfield, 7 p.m.
Thing to keep an eye out for – had one coach tell me “if there’s a team nobody wants to see in the playoffs, it’s Exeter-West Greenwich.” I’m not leaning on the Scarlet Knights this week, but don’t be shocked if they catch someone lacking.
THE PICK: Sentinels
Mount Pleasant at West Warwick, 7 p.m.
After this week the Wizards will be 0-3 against teams with a winning record and 4-0 against teams with a losing record and I’m still struggling to figure out what that means but we’ll find out in the season finale on Halloween.
THE PICK: Wizards
Burrillville at Westerly, 7 p.m.
This is my favorite game on the calendar. Two communities that love high school football and have no business playing in the divisions they’re in while much larger schools falter in lower divisions. Every community should strive to be this.
THE PICK: Bulldogs
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25
Narragansett at Scituate, 11 a.m.
Somehow the Mariners lost to North Smithfield but remained ahead of them in the standings, which means Narragansett will be going up against North Smithfield or Davies in the Super Bowl.
THE PICK: Mariners
Cranston East vs. Mt. Hope, 12 p.m.
The grass at Kickemuit Middle School looked OK in Week 1 but I can’t imagine what it’s like now – and I’m guessing that’s OK for the team that’s playing on it.
THE PICK: Huskies
Central at Cranston West, 1 p.m.
How this game goes down depends on the Knights. If Central shows up trying to build momentum for the Consolation Playoffs that will help the team get some steam heading into 2026, it wins big. If the Knights are mentally checked out, the Falcons will roll.
THE PICK: Knights
Chariho at Portsmouth, 1:30 p.m.
This is the game that could ultimately cost the Patriots a chance to host a playoff game. Portsmouth would almost be better off letting the Chargers win in order to help their win percentage.
THE PICK: Patriots
Classical at Ponaganset, 6:30 p.m.
I’m covering six cross country meets on Saturday but I’ll be damned if that’s going to stop me from covering a Super Bowl rematch between two undefeated teams. French fries at concessions better be ready to go.
THE PICK: Purple
WATCH: Jake Bauer wins the Rhode Island Amateur over Tyler Cooke
WATCH: Jake Bauer wins the Rhode Island Amateur over Tyler Cooke on Friday, July 10, at Ledgemont Country Club.
SEEKONK, MA – If given a choice, Jake Bauer would have traveled a different road.
Friday felt like nothing but potholes and lane closures until the afternoon conclusion at Ledgemont Country Club. It was far from an uneventful ride.
The destination was something he’s chased for nearly a decade – a second crown at the 121st Amateur Championship – one that came thanks to a sensational rally past Tyler Cooke.
Bauer’s three straight birdies to start what proved to be his final five holes of the week allowed him to catch and pass Cooke. A sizeable morning deficit was gone in the 36-hole match play title round, and Bauer was suddenly on his way to a 2 and 1 triumph.
“For any golfers out there – cash games, junior golfers – don’t do it,” Bauer said. “It’s not fun. But if you do pull through, it’s a really, really cool story to say you did it.”
Cooke was 6 up after the opening morning nine and looked at times like he would cruise to his first championship. Bauer started applying pressure with an immaculate second nine holes and continued to push until finally breaking through. His curling uphill birdie putt at the par-3 15th – the 33rd hole of the match – found the cup to give Bauer a lead he never relinquished.
“I don’t even know what just happened on the last six or seven holes,” Bauer said. “You sort of just black out. I’m speechless.”
Bauer added a par at the 16th to go 2 up and only needed to halve either of the remaining two holes with Cooke to get the job done. Each made bogey at the uphill par-4 17th, with Bauer lagging his par putt to within inches. Cooke conceded the final stroke, and Bauer was able to take a deep breath while hugging his father and caddie, Jim.
“My dad was really good,” Bauer said. “He doesn’t really get too technical with me. He’s a very calm soul to have on the bag.”
Bauer needed every bit of that even temperament to survive the early stages. Cooke collected seven birdies through his first 23 holes, the last coming at the par-4 fifth. That gave him a 3-up lead, and he was able to remain in front until Bauer buried clutch putts at the par-4 13th, the par-4 14th and the 187-yard downhill tester.
“[The birdie putt] definitely had some speed,” Bauer said. “I think if that didn’t go in we would have probably been on 18 or in extra holes.”
Bauer carded five bogeys on his opening nine before a solid birdie at the par-4 10th gave him a first taste of momentum. He racked up seven pars and another birdie at the par-4 18th before entering the lunch break just 2 down. It was a similar charge to the one Bauer made in the quarterfinals, as he won five of the last six holes to edge Jason Kalin, 1 up.
“I performed really well this whole week in stroke play and other matches,” Bauer said. “I said if I just stick to that same game plan I will end up on top.”
Cooke battled his way into the match play bracket after an opening 76 in Monday’s steady rain. He rebounded with a 73 under more precipitation Tuesday and immediately produced an upset by knocking out No. 4 seed Sam Powell. Cooke has been a steady winner since an All-State career at Toll Gate and college tenure at Connecticut, including a record five titles at the Four-Ball Championship with brother-in-law Bobby Leopold.
Bauer had just graduated from Johnson & Wales when he won for the first time here, an impressive victory over Matt Broome. He fell in last year’s final to Mike Calef, surrendering a late lead in a 1 up loss at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington. Bauer wasted no time booking a third appearance in the title match and did so with some extra support – his wife, McKenna, was in the gallery less than a month after they exchanged vows in June.
“We didn’t even know each other back in 2018,” Bauer said. “For her to experience this – I don’t even know what emotions she was going through. I’m really happy to share it with her.”
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On X: @BillKoch25
Rhode Island
Our Favorite Write-Ins From the 2026 Best of Rhode Island Readers’ Poll – Rhode Island Monthly
If you haven’t heard, our upcoming Best of Rhode Island party has many exciting additions and surprises this year, and we at Rhode Island Monthly cannot wait to celebrate with all of you at the WaterFire Arts Center on July 23 (get your tickets here if you haven’t already!). But to tide us all over in the meantime, we decided to continue the tradition of sharing some of the silliest write-in entries we came across while tallying the Best of Rhode Island Readers’ Poll.
But first, let me provide a quick refresher of the process. As many know, the ballot is made up entirely of write-in entries, meaning you can submit whatever you like for Best Restaurant, Best Influencer, Best Wedding Venue, etc. And believe me when I tell you that people do truly submit whatever they like. This year we had the task of combing through more than 100,000 (!) votes and once again (see examples from 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) found ourselves chuckling at quite a few along the way. Below you’ll find a roundup of some of our favorites, as well as what was going through my mind as I noted and compiled them. (And as always, I’d like to throw in the disclaimer that I am just as much a victim of my own typing skills, so these are all in good fun!). Enjoy!
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE RESTAURANT
“Daddychill” and “Daddychillllll”
— If I had a nickel for every time someone said this, I’d have two nickels — which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
“Blinked to Beauty”
via GIPHY
“Christina Erne” and “TJ Delsanto”
— Christina and TJ are meteorologists, not meat.
“All Four Paws” and “Mind Your Dog”
— “Hello, is this PETA?”
“Altered images tattoo” and “Massage envy”
— I think you’ll satisfy different kinds of cravings and needs here.
“Boozy book club”
— Yo Reilley, you got snacks?
“Buns and bites”
— Sorry to have to disappoint, but Laura serves looks and recs, not meals.
“Comedy bus”
— It’s taking everything in me not to recycle my (terrible) joke from last year.
“Same day content Reel Candid”
— I guess the camera always eats first.
“Vampire (hallie)”
— Are you trying to be the main course?
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE NEW RESTAURANT
“Applebees”
via GIPHY
“Timmtuffknuckles”
— How are his knuckle sandwiches?
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LATIN RESTAURANT
“Lklk”
— Not me trying to see if this is a latin root.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE ASIAN RESTAURANT
“Quads n. Attleboro”
— Geography class really isn’t what it used to be, huh.
(My clearly grumpy, not-so-gentle reminder that we’re looking for the best of Rhode Island).
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE INDIAN RESTAURANT
“Ho HoHOHO”
— Why did I read this like Santa tried a spicy curry for the first time and had a rough go of it.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE BREAKFAST SANDWICHES
“Duncan donuts” and “Dunking donts”
— I don’t know what I’m judging more: the voting for a national chain or the misspelling of said very, very popular chain.
“Bacon egg and cheese on a croissant.”
“Women & Infants Hospital – No, I’m not kidding! IYKYK”
— Well, now we know. Still hope I don’t have reason to find out for myself any time soon 😅
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE BRUNCH
“Cry cafe”
— You know, after a few mimosas, sometimes brunch is the best time to have a good cry. Not that I’m speaking from experience.
*Typo translation: Cru Cafe
“Karies (used to be jiggers south)”
— We found a real Rhode Islander, folks.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE CHEAP EATS
“They don’t exist in ri”
Not in this economy.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE COCKTAIL BAR
“Jefferson speakeasy??”
— Wanna think about it for a sec?
“Bar Lizzo”
— I mean, she is 100% that b*tch.
*Typo Translation: Bar’Lino
“Justine’s RIP”
— Yeah, this one hurts. Pour one out for the homie.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE WINERY
“Kingdom of the hawk”
— Sick name. Wrong state.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE DIVE BAR
“Oooogie’s”
via GIPHY
“(Against my better judgement) scurvy dog”
— Woof.
“BRADLEY CAFFEEEEEEEE”
— Love the enthusiasm.
“Irish Spring Soap”
— Alright smartass. There’s only room for one us here.
“O’roughs”
— Looks like someone had one too many at O’Rourke‘s the night prior.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE OYSTER BAR
You’d think after all the fire and the new location headlines, people would remember how to spell Matunuck. Alas, we still got:
“Matonk,” “Matoonik,” “Mahtunuck,” “Mattunuack,” “Mettunic,” “Matunickk,” “Metacunack” and many, many, many more.
*Typo Translation: Matunuck Oyster Bar
“THE OYSTER BAR”
— THANKS JANET BUT WHICH ONE?
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE BARBER SHOP
“City hall”
— Is that what they do there?
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
“Barnes and Noble”
— You and I have different definitions of independent.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE TV METEOROLOGIST FEMALE
“Dylan Drier, SORRY she’s the BEST”
— SORRY but not in RHODE ISLAND.
“Kathy bates”
— Yes, and I’m the one in Misery.
*Typo translation: Kelly Bates
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE SPORTSCASTER
“[redacted], new and upcoming”
— When I Googled this name I could only find criminal court cases (and no Rhode Island sportscasters) so, yea, I’m gonna go ahead and agree that this person has a lot more coming up to do.
“Channel 10 reporter”
— You can Google too, ya know.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE TELEVISION NEWS REPORTER
“Jamie coelho”
— She is always ready for her closeup!
“jean value cent”
— I really thought I had seen all the spellings at this point, but someone always proves me wrong.
*Typo translation: Gene Valicenti
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE MORNING SHOW
“Drew Barrymore”
via GIPHY
“Road show”
— C’mon. Have some respect for the pun.
*Typo translation: The Rhode Show
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LOCAL NEWS SHOWS
“r/Providence (Providence reddit page)”
— I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t also gotten my news from this thread some days…
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LOCAL MUSICIAN/BAND
“No exit 5”
— You’re right, there is none.
*Typo translation: No Exit 4
“Dropkick Murphy’s”
— Does owning Yellow Door make them local? I’ll take it.
“Taylor Swift”
— Well, maybe if she had tied the knot here… (No we aren’t bitter).
“I am a god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
— I know this is an actual band name, but this was still a jump scare.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LOCAL FASHION DESIGNER
“DADDDDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYYY I want you badddddd”
— Okay someone’s gotta be effing with me.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LOCAL ARTISAN
“Fankiemademedoit”
— I don’t think that will hold up in court.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE FOODIE INFLUENCER
“Jamie Coelho”
— No arguments here.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE DATE NIGHT
“catching rats with butterfly nets in kennedy plaza.”
— Jotting that one down.
“Eating out and a movie”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE CANNABIS DISPENSARY
“All suck tbh”
— Daddy chill. (This might be my new favorite term).
“Northeastern”
— You know you don’t have to buy from your college roommate any more, right?
*Typo translation: Northeast Alternatives in Fall River and Seekonk 😮💨
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE RESTAURANT
“Ed the barber”
— I see the Sweeney Todd fan has returned.
“Permission.”
Granted, you may proceed.
*Typo translation: Persimmon
“Seeking tailor”
— Did you think we were ChatGPT?
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE VEGAN/VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
“Pianta pianta pianta!”
— Is this how the kids play Bloody Mary nowadays? Does a Veggie Tales character show up? (Honestly that would terrify me more.)
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE OUTDOOR DINING
“Federal hill”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE DINER
“1st one I wrote is actually in Blackstone valley”
— Thank you for your candor.
“Haven’t bros”
— I think they have.
*Typo translation: Haven Brothers
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE SANDWICH SHOP
“Wise guys in Cumberland”
— Not very wise of you.
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
“Heartless”
— I think Penny would beg to differ!
*Typo translation: Heartleaf Books
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE LOCALLY OWNED CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
“Locally owned clothing boutique”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE CONSIGNMENT SHOP
“The one on brook near wickenden”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE MUSIC VENUE
“Lupo’s heartbreak hotel”
— Who knew they’d still be breaking hearts all these years later.
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE LOCAL EVENT
“Best of RI”
— Eeeyyyyy
“BEYBLADE X TOURNAMENTS”
— I didn’t know this was a thing and now I am intrigued.
“TJ Delsanto Facebook Photos of RI and stories of beaches in RI”
— TJ is that you?
FOUND UNDER SOUTH COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
“Cheers!”
— I’ll be sure to call up Sam and Diane.
FOUND UNDER SOUTH COUNTY INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
“Waldens in Wakefield”
— What a throwback.
FOUND UNDER NEWPORT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
“Bahaha Cat Cafe”
via GIPHY
*Typo translation: Bajah’s Cat Cafe
FOUND UNDER NEWPORT COUNTY DELI
“Garlic Clove”
— So close.
*Typo translation: The Roasted Clove
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY RESTAURANT
“Chello is great family restaurant to take your family the waitress and waiter are great”
— Shout out to that waitress and waiter.
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY ITALIAN RESTAURANT
“Olive Garden, south Attleboro”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY BREAKFAST
“Green eggs and ham”
— Okay sam I am.
*Typo translation: Green Eggs
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY BURGER
“Chimp”
— … Has anyone checked in on Punch lately?
Typo translation: Chomp Kitchen and Drinks
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY SPECIALTY FOOD STORE
“Johnson’s Toadside Market”
— That’s sure is a specialty food.
*Typo translation: Johnson’s Roadside Farm Market in Swansea 😮💨😮💨😮💨
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY LOCAL MUSIC VENUE
“Bring back Bold Point!”
— I’d sign this petition.
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY LOCAL EVENT
“Oops”
— I am concerned.
FOUND UNDER WEST BAY BREAKFAST
“Dante’s inferno”
— That would certainly wake me up.
*Typo translation: Dante’s Kitchen
FOUND UNDER WEST BAY BURGER
“Vegan. Don’t Eat.”
— PETA thanks you for your service.
FOUND UNDER BLACKSTONE VALLEY RESTAURANT
“Hotel for Homeless Dogs.”
— …But really do I need to call PETA?
For those who made it this far, I hope you enjoyed the ride! Don’t forget if you want to learn who the actual winners are before the rest of the state (and party with them) you can still pick up tickets to the event here.
“Temporary water use advisories will be posted where applicable and nearby residents and visitors should keep pets from drinking from these waters for at least three days,” the release said
The herbicide treatments target specific invasive aquatic plants, including variable water milfoil, fanwort, water chestnut, sacred lotus, and various algae species, according to the release.
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