By Bill Murphy
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
Bob Lockerby’s Bellows Falls Terriers are thought of as championship favorites, while John Proper’s Newport Tigers are considered possible title underdogs, but, both teams and their championship contenders know you can take nothing for granted, as both teams exploded on the field last weekend capturing one sided win as they prepare themselves for 2022 play-off action.
Both teams have one regular season game left after BF trod on Springfield 49-15 and Newport shutdown Franklin 57-0.
Lockerby’s team fumbled away the football for the fourth time on an opening drive this season, but that’s probably the one and only chance Springfield had. The Purple and White would grab a 35-0 advantage by the half and let the reserves take over from there.
Once the Falls got the ball back for a second try, there was no luck stopping their offense. What did one expect when Vermont’s Division II’s favorites were meeting a Division III team fighting to just get into the play-offs?
Lockerby said about the contest, “it was kind of what was expected. I am very concerned about the slow starts. I have told them it could come back to hurt us some week.”
Caden Haskell started the point putting on the board with a 15-yard touchdown run. Walker James doubled the score with a 41-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter. Jamison Nystrom converted the extra point kick after all seven Terriers touchdowns.
BF’s starters played throughout the second twelve-minute period and upped the count to 35-0. Nystrom tallied a six-pointer of his own on a 2-yard run and then later in the stanza James scored on scampers of 10 and 9 yards.
The final two scores for the winning team came on a Jesse Darrrell 84-yard kick-off return and then Connor Perry completed the point parade on a 6-yard run. Lockerby was singing the praises of the two ways play of center/outside linebacker Jake Moore in this game. The coach said, “had a really strong game on both sides of the ball and he even blocked a punt.”
James Gultekin was the recipient of two scoring passes for the Green and White touchdowns both from Carson Clark. Nathan Dennard booted the extra point following the first score and then a poor snap didn’t allow the second conversion kick, but a quick acting holder Cam Williams tossed a two-point conversion to Luke Stocker on the play.
Todd Aiken’s Cosmos head to Milton Friday night for the season finale at 6:30 and the Fallsmen host a winless Mount Mansfield team Friday night at 7.
Rumors have circled in recent years questioning the future of the BF-Springfield series with the teams in different divisions and the Falls having won twelve straight games in the series, but Cosmo Coach Aiken wasn’t buying anything like that telling us, “This is a game that needs to be played. It is important historically and for each of the communities. It is the second oldest rivalry in Vermont. The guys know the meaning of the game and they wanted to play.”
Newport placed 30 points on the scoreboard in the opening quarter and was out in front 49-0 at the half and Coach John Proper was more than satisfied with the 57-0 victory.
“We played a great game all around,” he told us, going on to say, “It was a vintage Newport game, where we pounded the football through the running game. The emphasis this week was to start fast and be the more physical team and the kids certainly responded to the task.”
Kyle Ashley started the full day of scoring for the Black and Orange with a 2-yard run and Tyler Gobin ran in the extra points for the early 8-0 lead. Before the first quarter was over Gobin, (37-yard run), Darren Janicke (14-yard run) and then Gobin again (16-yard run) had added scores with Kayden LaClair catching two two point conversion passes from Ashley.
In the second quarter, Eric Wilkinson (66-yard run), Timmy Fratzel (1 yard run) and Amilio Urista (10-yard run) added touchdowns with Wilkinson adding one extra point kicking conversion to the score. The final scoring play came in the fourth quarter when Kobie Curtis lugged the ball 40 yards for a touchdown and Cameryn Simpson ran in the two-point conversion.
Newport has an important game with Raymond Saturday at home at 2 pm. Raymond is just behind Newport in the Division IIII standings.
When Fall Mountain was moved up to Division III for this season, the majority of those in the know expected the Wildcats to finish way down the standings. Orion Binney’s team had been hurt hard by graduation after having advanced to last year’s Division IV title game. before falling. Most thought the higher ranks would not turn out kindly for the lads from Langdon.
THINK AGAIN………….
The Cats started the season 4-1 and then were soundly defeated by Stevens a week ago. The Cardinals are a strong team, and the Wildcats had a rough day. That loss likely erased the Binneymen’s postseason chances, but they were still driving towards a winning season. Unfortunately, injuries and illnesses helped rob the team of their competitiveness last weekend versus Inter-Lakes in a 15-0 defeat.
“Zach is our most dynamic player and a strong leader and without him our offense just couldn’t get going,” Binney stated concerning his team being shut out. FM was missing Zack (Patch) with a knee injury and illness claimed the services of both Brandon Bator and Finn Brodeur. Binney went on to say, “the good news was some young guys stepped up, but it was nowhere near enough.”
Inter-Lakes scored their first touchdown early in the first quarter and by the time it jumped to 15-0 it was clear Fall Mountain wasn’t going to compete. Binney related, “We have definitely had a good season. I know that not alot of people believed in us going in but we competed as well as we could.”
The coach felt against Inter-Lakes that Foster Willette stood out on both sides of the ball and Owen Riendeau ran the ball well. He also again noted that Vince Rende and Max Vogel played their consistently good game.
Fall Mountain still stands at 4-3 but ahead of them on the schedule are the division’s top two teams Campbell and Trinity. They host Trinity Friday night at 7 p.m. on Senior Night.
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