TIVERTON FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Experienced Tigers return to R.I. Division IV

TIVERTON — Tiverton is back down where, by the numbers, it belongs.

After a decade of playing in Rhode Island Division III football — a run which included one Super Bowl and four playoff appearances — a Rhode Island Interscholastic League realignment has landed the Tigers back in Division IV, where their old resume included six Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl championships.

Veteran head coach Bob Murray said the Tigers welcomed the challenge of the promotion to Division III but now also welcomes the return to IV.

"I think it's where we should be placed based on male population," Murray said after Wednesday's practice. "I think we're the third smallest school in the state, third or fourth."

It would be no shock to see the Tigers compete for one of the top spots in the division, where, Murray said, there seems to be no preseason consensus to win it all.

Tiverton will give it a shot.

"We're almost all juniors," Murray said. "We have a handful of seniors who are very good ball players. Last year we were basically a jayvee team playing a varsity schedule."

Challenged in terms of line size a year ago, the Tigers developed a strong passing game, and back from that air attack are 6-foot-2  junior quarterback Matthew Gacioch and senior wide receivers Daniel Garde and Logan Beattie. 

Junior Adam Aamral, coming off a broken leg suffered during the 2017 season, is back and gives the Tigers yet another very serious pass-catching threat. Senior Matt Potvin, kicker and defensive back the last three years, is expected to play some slot receiver this season.

Speedy junior Nate Upchurch returns at running back.

"We've got some skills in the standup positions," Murray said.

And in the trenches, too.

Tackles Nick Ekstrom and Jon Camara, center Morgan Raposa and guards Will Kizer and Lance Nelson are all back. "That's what encourages us," Murray said. "Last year they kept getting better and better and better."

Cabral and Potvin will be joined at linebacker by Tony DeJesus and Ekstrom. Defensive backs Kyle Vermette and Cam Phillips are returning starters.

"We have pretty experienced kids. I think we'll be okay," Murray said.

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Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.