2008 -- S 2782

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LC02404

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2008

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE SAINT RAPHAEL ACADEMY FOOTBALL TEAM ON

WINNING THE 2007 RHODE ISLAND DIVISION ONE STATE FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Senator John F. McBurney

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2008

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, When the football season began in September, The "Saints" from Saint

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Raphael Academy had high expectations given their highly talented roster and veteran coaching

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staff; and

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     WHEREAS, The Saints, led by a hard hitting defense and an offense that scored 291

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points, went undefeated in the regular season. They defeated the Rams of La Salle Academy in a

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"nail biting game" by the score of 22-19, and in their biggest win of the regular season, they upset

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the Hawks of Bishop Hendricken in "David versus Goliath" fashion by the score of 20-17; and

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     WHEREAS, The undefeated Saints faced Cranston West in the Rhode Island State

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Football Playoffs Semi-Finals and defeated a very tough opponent by the score 6-0 and gained a

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berth in the Division One Super Bowl to meet perennial football powerhouse Bishop Hendricken;

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and

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     WHEREAS, On Saturday December 1, 2007, in freezing conditions, Saint Raphael

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Academy, defeated Bishop Hendricken in the Division One Super Bowl by a score of 8-6 to win

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the first Division One State Football Championship in their school history and broke the school

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record for most victories in a season; and

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     WHEREAS, Saint Raphael Academy, a parochial school from Pawtucket was led by the

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superb coaching and leadership of Head Coach Michael Sassi, and his excellent group of assistant

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coaches. The hard work and devotion to the team by all of the Saint Raphael players and coaches

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was a vital component to their success on the gridiron; now; therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby congratulates the Saint Raphael Academy Football Team for winning the 2007 Rhode

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Island Division One State Football Championship, and wishes all of the players and coaches

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continued success and good fortune in all future endeavors; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Head Coach Michael Sassi and Saint Raphael

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Academy President Brother Daniel Aubin.

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LC02404

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