By Christopher Shaban And Brenda Cox
Staff Writers
CASTLETON, Vt. — All week our area coaches have been talking about how their players would have an impact in the 68th Shrine Bowl on Saturday. And, well, they couldn’t have been more right as all 10 local players had huge games and impacted the outcome.
“I think our kids will open some eyes,” said Fall Mountain head coach Orion Binney earlier in the week and boy was he right as Wolk Staduim at Castleton University was packed to capacity.
Newport’s PJ Lovely received the opening kickoff and that’s where the local talent show began. With Bellows Falls Jack Harrington anchoring the Vermont defensive line, his play all day was dominant as New Hampshire looked to run away from him as the day went on.
“What a great day and to be here to watch so many or our local players is just fantastic,” said Bellows Falls head coach Bob Lockerby prior to kickoff.
The Cardinals Owen Taylor was tasked with roaming the defensive secondary and the Green Mountain state wanted no part of him while Lovely continued his day at an inside linebacker position when Vermont had the ball. Even with Newport’s Josh Orlowski forced to the sidelines with an injury during camp, he made an impact and knew exactly what this game was about.
“There is nothing like being here and doing what I can to help my team,” Orlowski said. “This is for the kids and I couldn’t be more proud to be here and represent my school and community.”
On the second series of plays for New Hampshire, the Granite State backfield was full of Newport orange with Lovely and Josh ”Oshi” Sharon in their familiar three point stance as Lovely had four carries early.
With their head coach along the fence taking in all the action, the Wildcat’s Alex Flynn, Izaak Westover and Tyler Swain all saw action with defense their called upon positions. At one time there were 5 of our local players on New Hampshire defense at the same time with Lovely and Sharron at linebacker, Flynn and Swain on the outside and Taylor at safety as they just beat Vermont with their speed to break up plays.
“This is such a great feeling to be here today representing my school” Swain said.
With the half coming to a close, New Hampshire broke a run outside the numbers in what looked like a sure score. Windsor’s Owen Abrahamsen just turned on the burners to make a touchdown saving tackle to keep things 0-0 at the half on one of his many great plays on the day while playing the entire contest on defense.
“It’s amazing to be here and play one last time for my school,” Abrahamsen said. “What is so special about this is that the children it will benefit and help will be something I will always remember, it’s for them.”
New Hampshire would score a scoreboard in the third quarter to grab a 7-0 lead as their running game began to kick into high gear while they would gain 262 yards on 56 carries on the day. With Vermont looking to answer right back, the turning point of the game came from Newport’s Sharron. The future Wheeling University student read the play perfectly from his linebacker position and his interception and return for a 20 yard touchdown made it 14-0 as he was mobbed by his defensive teammates.
“Man was that fun,” said Sharron after the game. “It was just like everything I’ve been taught, those long days of practice in Newport was the reason for today.”
The Terriers’ Jack Burke saw some time on the field which included a punt return as the incredible athlete was a target for the New Hampshire linebackers.
Abrahamsen would add to his spectacular day with a pass breakup that led to an interception and hard tackles as he crept up to help stop the run from his defensive back position and seemed to be in on every play.
With time melting away from the scoreboard and black clouds rolling in, Vermont was marching downfield and looking to find the end zone with plenty of CVL players on the field. It was Lovely and Swain to make the final tackle of the game as lightning made an appearance to end things a few seconds early for a 21-0 NH win.
“It feels so great to play in this game,” said Taylor who closes out a fantastic athletic 12-sport career before heading to Southern New Hampshire University. “I was super excited but it was nerve wracking with such a big crowd.”
“Not too may players get to experience this, it’s hard to explain but it feels so good” said Swain after the game.
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