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In fact, during one major snowstorm that forced the weight room to close for the day, several players came up to Coach Gorham to express their disappointment they would not be able to lift.<br>Another factor that helps motivate the Townies is the desire to please their fans.  We have terrific fan support. I think people would say without question that Friday night at Pierce Field, which is where we play, is an outstanding evening. We have 150 kids in the band, we have between the cheerleaders and flag choir another 50 kids it s a big following. In addition to packing the home stands, on away games they usually outdraw the team they re playing.<br><br>The Payoff<br><br>Despite the shortage of experienced players this year, East Providence finished the regular season with an 8-2 record, which earned them a place in the playoffs. Gorham describes the semifinal game as a  good ol fashioned mud fest against St. Raphael Academy. The game was highlighted by senior fullback Jamie Silva s 173 yards and three touchdowns on the slippery turf and a 26-21 victory. Finally, they found themselves in the championship game against the number-one seed, La Salle. <br>La Salle was riding a 24-game winning streak that included two state championships. When the game began, the more than 8,000 fans in attendance saw La Salle pick apart East Providence s five-man line until the Townies found themselves facing a 21-point deficit. But the Townies conditioning came through and the defense stopped La Salle from scoring again. Likewise, the offense did its part as their spread-option attack shocked La Salle with 35 unanswered points, winning East Providence the state title, 35-21. <br>On the bus ride home, the atmosphere was electric.  On any bus ride anywhere after that kind of achievement, kids sing and chant a lot of different things, says Coach Gorham.  This yeae of the season was against conference rival Hastings High School who was also 7-0 entering the game. The game, to be played on Woodbury's home field for the St. Paul Suburban Conference Championship, was host to nearly 6,000 fans, as well as every television station and newspaper in the Twin Cities area. The Royals opened the game confidently focused on their goal of winning the schools first ever outright conference championship and claiming the number one seed as they headed into sectional play. The Royals defense held Hastings to a single first down in the first half of play, while the offense scored on three prolonged drives, to take a 21-0 lead into half time. The Royals locker room was filled with excited, confident players. On their first three possessions of the second half, the Hastings Raiders scored every time and tied the game at 21-21. The Royals had temporarily lost their focus, but managed to put together what seemed to be the game winning drive, scoring a touchdown with just under two minutes remaining. After missing the extra point, the Royals promptly squashed all of the Raiders pass attempts. However, with 7.6 seconds remaining in the game, the Royals saw their conference championship dreams dashed to pieces as a hail mary pass landed in the hands of the Hastings receiver. The extra point put the Raiders up by a single point, a margin good enough to give them the conference championship. Royal players and coaches were stunned by the loss, but what could have been the pin that popped the Royals championship balloon proved to be the enzyme to further the championship dream. <br>Some called the loss a reality check, but the Woodbury Royal players and coaches decided to use what is now referred to as the  first Hastings game as a point of refocusing. 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