Change is in the air for the East Greenwich football Program.  For the 2010 Avengers everything is new, the coaches, the playbook, and even their home field will be different from last season.

The Avengers first game on that new field, with that new coach, running those new plays came Saturday night, where they drew a 6-6 draw with Chariho in the annual Injury Fund game.

Both teams mixed extra point attempts after touchdowns.

The Avengers had their chance to take the lead with under two minutes to play, but literally fumbled it away on a third down conversion attempt. However, they successfully staved off a Chariho drive in the final minute of the game. On third and long, Avenger defensive lineman Chris Pogue sacked Chariho's quarterback on the final play of the game. The clock ran out and the tie was preserved.

The Avenger offense started slow, but was able to put together a successful scoring drive in the second quarter, capped by a 20-yard, over the should touchdown reception from quarterback Dan Minor to receiver Dan Caron.

Chariho already had six points on the board, after a 12-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. But those were the only six points the Avenger defense would surrender all evening.

"I was proud of our defense," said Coach John George. "After the early touchdown we were able to make stops, which kept us in the game."

The game was played as part of an evening of three contests to inaugurate the new Nick Carcieri Field.  The games do not count in the standings, but are for a good cause.  All admission proceeds go toward the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Injury Fund, which is there to assist with the medical expenses for injured Rhode Island Student-athletes.  In the first game of the evening Narragansett beat Westerly 14 to 0, and in the second game South Kingstown was able to top North Kingstown 6 to 0.

The event was originally scheduled for Friday night but was postponed due to Hurricane Earl – yet another instance of water affecting the opening of the new turf field.  The new field complex was scheduled to open last year, but was delayed due to drainage and irrigation issues with the turf field.

All those concerns about the turf field being delayed seemed to be forgotten on Saturday night, as the bleachers were substantially full of both Avenger and Chariho fans, alike, and many who had help bring the new athletic complex to fruition were on hand celebrating the achievement.

Count Coach George as a fan of the new home field: "Great field, great crowd, fun atmosphere," he said of the Carcieri Field's opening night.

The Avengers open their regular season next week in another non-league game against Exeter/West Greenwich.  That game will be played on Saturday, September 11 at 2:00 at Exeter/West Greenwich High School.