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HARTFORD LOOKING TO REPEAT/MIDDLEBURY, BURR + BURTON, FAIR HAVEN, WINDSOR AND WOODSTOCK ALSO SEEK TITLES
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- Created on Friday, 11 November 2011 15:37
- Written by Bill Murphy
The second Vermont State Football Title Day is upon us this Saturday and Castleton State is looking to be the perfect host again. Three strong match-ups highlight the day with Hartford, the only defending champion, poised to repeat. Middlebury returns to the site for the second year in a row, but they have moved up a division (they bowed to Rice in the Division II clash a year ago) and Windsor returns to Castleton as well, they fell to Bellows Falls in the Division III title contest last year. Hartford is most everyones pick in Division I, due to their undefeated status and most persons consider Fair Haven and Woodstock small favorites as a result of regular season victories over their opponent. All the fun commences at 11 a.m. and Vermont football fans can take in all the action of the tripleheader at a cost of $7 for adults, $5 for those either 60 or older or a student through college and a $20 family pass is available. This is some kind of bargain.
In the Division III opener at 11, Woodstock knows they have a little more depth than their Windsor counterparts, but the Yellow Jackets have appeared in five straight title games, so that should bring things back close to even. Windsor Coach Jim Taft said it best when he offerred "the kids think the play-offs are on our schedule." Since the post season games began in Vermont in 1970, Woodstock has captured seven state titles (7-5) while Windsor has grabbed three (3-6). They have not met in a title game since 2002 and Woodstock Head man Jim McLaughlin stood in the winners circle with an undefeated team in that encounter. McLaughlin also stood in the same circle two weeks ago when the Wasps prevailed 35-18 over the Jackets.
Windsor coach Jim Taft looks back at that game two weeks ago as "a learning experience. There is no way we can simulate the angles of the Wing-T in practice so that game gave us a chance to see what we are dealing with. It is a big thing just to get to play each other again. This group of players worked really hard to get here and now we have another chance," Taft concluded looking at both the possibility of avenging the earlier loss to the Wasps and a chance to claim a title they fell short of one year ago. During the middle of the season, Windsor met Bellows Falls, now a Division II team, whom they lost to in the title game a year ago. The Terriers caught Windsor at a horrible time, when they were beseiged with sickness and injury and beat them soundly 46-0. Taft looks at that encounter as the seasons turning point. "We were certainly down at that time, but we have used the BF experience to get better and to become what we are. That moment served as kind of a rallying point and now we will see how far we have come," Taft acknowledged. The Jacks last captured a title when they beat Springfield in a deluge of rain in Brattleboro in 2009.
McLaughlin is not sure at all if the win earlier this fall "is a confidence builder or a curse. We seem to have handled it well this week, so I think we are okay," he told the Northeast Sports Network on Thursday morning. "The important thing is for us to keep our feet on the ground, McLaughlin added, continuing to say "once the game starts you try to make sure everyone stays in check. No one can predict the emotion of kids. If someone makes a big play early you wait and see how everyone reacts. Your rhytymn can be affected the whole game if you don't get off to a good start." He went on to say that both teams will have made adjustments since the first game when "defensively we took some chances. We will have to see if what they give us this time is any different.'
The Division I Hartford-Middlebury game kicks off at 2:30. Both of these teams are in the top six for total titles on the playing field in Vermont all time. Hartford is third and has won nine (9-8) while Middlebury has captured eight (8-9). They both have garnered three Division I crowns. The Hurrricanes stand 19-12 all-time in postseason action and are an incredible 0-6 against Middlebury, including four title game losses. In other words, half of the Tigers eight titles have come through Hartford and half of the Hurricanes play-off losses have been at the expense of Middlebury. Hartford is 19-6 in play-off games against anyone not named Middlebury. This years' numbers certainly favor Hartford, so how much of history keeps Middlebury on the field?
Hartford Coach Mike Stone always deals with the present, preferring to focus on the task at hand. Despite the fact most pundits strongly favor the Hurricanes, Stone sees a challenge. "This team is pretty good up front," Stone mentions of the Tigers continuing "on offense they are very good at controlling the ball and that is something that could give us some trouble." The last time these teams met in the 2002 Division I title game a wide open game was expected. Such was not the case as the Tigers prevailed 3-0. When Stone was asked if such a defensive struggle could materialize again, his response was "I really don't know what to expect."
Middlebury coach Dennis Smith agrees with Stone that ball control will be important. "On offense that will be important to us," he predicted while letting on that "our defense cannot give up the big play." Smith is proud of what his team has accomplished to this point and highly respects his opponent. "They have earned everything they have accomplished this year," he remarked of Hartford, adding "this is a very good football team and we are pleased to be able to face them." Smith pointed out his charges have come along way both on and off the field. "Our kids have faced alot of adversity this fall, from accidents, injuries and assorted other things, but they keep recharging and always are ready to play," Smith reflected. This game may prove to be even better than advertised.
Fair Haven coach Ryan Audet and Burr + Burton coach Jason Thomas are usually good friends. They have agreed to put that relationship aside this week. They agree on one thing big time: both teams can score points in a hurry. Audet said "you can't ever be comfortable when you are playing them", while Thomas counters "no lead between us is insurrmountable." In this Division II tilt at 5:00, Fair Haven is looking for its' fifth (4-7) state title, while the Bulldogs are the spanking new kid on the block, having never been in a title game before. A Burr + Burton win would place them in select waters with Mill River (1-0) as the only two Vermont schools perfect in title game match-ups.
"This should be a really exciting game," Audet forecasts, "the offensive power is explosive. You have one team which put up 26 points in a half against North Country and another who had 37 in a half. Both of us can tend to get out of sync at times, but the capabilities are explosive. The key may turn into whoever makes the stops." Thomas sees that "we have to limit turnovers and limit big plays. The tempo is going to be quick and you have to take it one play at a time."
When Burr + Burton plays one always has to be aware of the onside kick. They have incredible success with the weapon. "This is a total weapon," Audet says, "you don't want their offense on the field." Thomas counters with "we usually get at least one a game. It is a tone setter and we don't give up long returns.
Ten hours of football and three fantastic games with Castleton the site. What a day for football at an unbeatable cost. To steal once again that line which has been put to rest on Monday Nights, "Are you ready for some football?"
