By Charlie Adams
NEFJ Correspondent

CRANSTON – When RIIL reshuffled divisions entering this season, it meant the return of the D-I Championship for the first time since 2021.

On Saturday, the reigning champion North Kingstown defended its title with a decisive 31-7 victory over Burrillville. NK had plenty of motivation after just missing out on the state tournament as the fifth-place team in the division.

“I feel like we are the best team in the state,” receiver Gian Iacuele said. “We got shorted from going to the state final, but I feel if we made it we could have competed with anyone there.”

It was an emotional win for the North Kingstown community, which had tragically lost its former coach Joe Gilmartin earlier in the season.

“I dedicate this game to Coach Gilmartin,” Giorgi said. “He always told us to trust the process, and the day that he passed away is when we came together as a team and started playing as one.”

Burrillville scored first with a toss to Leland Kelleher for a three-yard rushing touchdown. Jack Belluzi added the PAT.

NK tied the action with a 57-yard touchdown from Jack Diano to Gian Iacuele.

The pair connected again on a red zone fourth-down conversion, setting up Chris Ciarniello for a four-yard rushing touchdown.

Diano and Iacuele closed out the first half with a one-yard touchdown pass. Three scores worth of unanswered points brought the Skippers ahead 21-7.

After receiving the kickoff out of halftime, North Kingstown added to their lead. Kennett delivered a 42-yard field goal against the wind on fourth down.

Everything continued to go NK’s way, and again, the ball went Iacuele’s way on fourth down. Diano unloaded a 31-yard touchdown for both players’ third score of the game.

Nothing continued to go Burrillville’s way as Gelinas found Jack DiChiaro on third down. DiChiaro reached out for the line to gain with one hand, fumbling the football as he went down. David Carreiro recovered the loose ball near the sideline for NK.

The Broncos suffered another turnover as Gelinas was picked off by freshman Ethan Machado.

“We have about four freshmen that are playing right now,” Giorgi said. “In our past, we’ve never really had any freshman that has played, but these kids they’re good enough.”

North Kingstown was able to run down the rest of the clock to finish the championship win.

“It means a lot,” Iacuele said. “Losing last year in the State Championship, we wanted to come back here and do what we could.”

Iacuele was named the game’s MVP during the postgame ceremonies on the back of his three-touchdown day.

“Gian is the best receiver in the state,” Giorgi said. “I hope there’s some big colleges that get a chance to pick him up because he’s great. Offensively and defensively, he’s one of the top players in the state.”

North Kingstown earned its fourth D-I title since first winning in 2018. The Skippers will have a vast majority of its team returning for next season, including Diano under center as the team hopes to compete for another state title.

“You want the big one,” Giorgi said. “I know this is not a state championship but this is still good for our program.”

Burrillville ends its season at 8-3, while North Kingstown moves to 6-3. NK wraps up its season with a fifth straight win after starting the year at 1-3.