Jacks Eye Back-to-Back Titles: Windsor Dominated Mount Abraham 45-6 in Semis

By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
WINDSOR, Vt. — The Yellow Jackets played their best game of the year and will take next week to “get better” after rolling over Mount Abraham 45-6 in semi-final action.

“We are still climbing, and we have another level to go,” said Windsor’s Head Coach Greg Balch after the Yellow Jackets dominating performance on Saturday that had Travis McAllister make his final game on Windsor turf a memorable one. “” I was the most focused ever today, this was my final game on this field and there are so many great memories. I wanted today to be the best,” said McAllister. Today was certainly one of his best as he scored four times with runs of four yards, 29 yards, plus pass catches from Maison Fortin for 14 yards and a huge play right before the half.

Mount Abraham was sky high for this one after beating Rice 43-40 last week and was hoping for the biggest upset in Vermont this year on Saturday. Trailing 7-0 after Windsor’s Gavin Martin recovered the opening kickoff and the first McAllister score, Jamison Couture plowed down the sidelines for a 58-yard run setting up his one-yard touchdown, giving the visitors some hope. But it was all Windsor after the 7-6 score.

Logan Worrall would reach pay-dirt on a blast up the middle then a one-handed grab by Roger Pertermann for the two-point conversion had the Jacks up 15-6. “I’ve been playing football since the third grade, we had a great week of practice leading up to today, we were ready,” said Worall who will be in Rutland next weekend for the championship game on Saturday then for the North/South game on Sunday.

Windsor would extend their lead with a Fortin run up the gut for a score then Olivia MacLeay added her second of three extra points as Windsor was looking to head into the break with a comfortable 22-6 lead, but not so fast.

The Windsor defense got really nasty with Vance Martin crushing Couture for a loss then McAllister broke up a long pass attempt. Joey Gaudette sacked Zeke Dubois before Mount Abraham turned it over on downs with 13 seconds remaining and the ball sitting on the Windsor 37-yard line.

After a Windsor timeout and everyone expecting the Jacks to take a knee, Fortin dropped back and fired a strike to McAllister for a 63-yard touchdown to end the half with Windsor in control 30-6. “We drew up the play in the dirt, Maison wanted to try one bad, I wasn’t going to stop him,” said Balch.

With only three seconds left in the half, the kickoff was a statement from Windsor as Tanner Crane’s hit echoed across the valley. “I wanted to get a good hit and let them know we aren’t going to let up,” said the sophomore.

Windsor would put the game out of reach to start the second half with an eight minute, 55-yard drive, capped off with a pass from Fortin to McAllister. “We played our game today, mistake free and angry, we will work like never before this week to get ready for BFA,” said the senior.

As the huge line of Mount Abraham began to tire, the Jacks lineman were licking their chops. “We were solid today, but we’re not done yet, we need to have our best week of practice starting Monday,” said Charles Palmer, as fellow defenders Dante Roy, Petermann and Bradley Bowers were gang tackling the big 230-pound Couture.

Corey Lockwood spent some time under center as Windsor trainer Stephanie Curtis was busy treating everything from dehydration to injuries in the 75-degree heat to keep the Jacks healthy. ‘We need to button things up, next week will be the most important week of your football lives,” said assistant coach Jamie Richardson.

“It’s playoffs,” said Fortin, as #1 Windsor will head to Rutland on Saturday looking to defend their state title as they face #2 BFA/Fairfax, who downed Mill River 35-14 in the other semi-final game. Kickoff is set for 2pm.

Windsor (10-0) and BFA (8-1) met in the first game of the year with Windsor getting a tough comeback win on the road 40-33.

Note: the 50/50 jackpot was $422.