By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
WINDSOR, Vt. — The Jacks came out on fire and with only five minutes gone in the game, led 28-0 and coasted to a 50-14 win in their home opener. Greg Balch’s football machine put up 40 points last weekend and scored all of Saturday’s points by half before the JV team took over for the rest of the game.
Logan Warrall punched it into the end-zone for Windsor’s first score after Travis McAllister had two big runs of eight and 25 yards before he was gang tackled just short of pay-dirt. On the ensuing kickoff, Gavin Martin recovered a Missisquoi fumble, then Jacks quarterback Maison Fortin outran the defense for a 35-yard run to make it 14-0 in the blink of an eye.
On the visitors next offensive play, the pass was intercepted by McAllister for a pick six and then he recovered a Missisquoi fumble to set up Windsor’s next score when Fortin connected with Brody Osgood to make it 28-0. Cory Lockwood scampered 12 yards for Windsor’s 5th touchdown to make it 35-0 as the first quarter came to an end, but the biggest story of the game came off the foot of Olivia MacLeay.
MacLeay is a standout striker for Jeff Bachey’s women’s soccer team at Windsor, and on Saturday she suited up in pads and a helmet as the first woman ever to score points for the storied Yellow Jacket program. “I’ve wanted to do this since the 8th grade. I talked to my soccer coach, and he was 100% behind me,” said MacLeay. “When I went to coach Balch, he accepted me with open arms, he was very inclusive, now I had to prove myself,” she told the Eagle Times.
Not only did MacLeay prove herself, but she went six for six on extra point attempts, her kicks were solid and true, there was no doubt she had a great foot as her kicks split the uprights right down the middle each time.
Under a hot day, the game was moved up to 11am, but the team was more than prepared for the elements. The McAllister family donated a misting machine that sprays a cool mist over the players and of course the cooler was full of all kinds of things like water, Gatorade and pickle juice. “I prefer the pickle juice, it really does help,” said Fortin, while McAllister said he prefers the good old mustard preferably on chips to keep the cramps to a minimum.
Jonah Meadows and Osgood would hit the endzone for the Jacks before halftime and to take a 50-0 lead into the break. With the JV team set to play Brattleboro this week, that game was postponed as the younger Jacks saw plenty of action over the final two quarters against the Missisquoi group that doesn’t have the numbers for a JV program.
“We executed well in all aspects of the game today. We ran the ball, passed, our special teams did a great job, and we forced a few turnovers that got us going early and the kicking game was great,” said Balch.
A couple of undefeated Yellow Jacket teams will square off on Friday when Windsor (2-0) travels to Milton (2-0) in the game of the week in Vermont.
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