By Dan Barile
Eagle Times Correspondent
WINDSOR, VT — In a weekend that featured several close semifinal matchups throughout the state, the Windsor Yellow Jackets dominated from start to finish to advance to their third consecutive state finals with a 45-15 victory over Springfield on Saturday, Sept. 4.
Windsor reached the endzone on each of its first-half possessions to go into the break with a commanding 42-7 lead. Springfield had no answers for the Yellow Jackets rushing attack as Windsor ran the ball 25 times in the first half for 264 yards.
“We’ve got a lot of good backs on this team. Week-to-week we’re trying to spread carries around,” said Windsor Head Coach Greg Balch. “I thought they all did a great job today.”
The Yellow Jackets displayed their stable of skilled running backs on the opening possession as they used five different ball carriers to march 50 yards in 9 plays. Justin Draper, a converted offensive lineman, scored on a 2-yard run, and Olivia MacLeay added the extra point to give Windsor a 7-0 lead.
Following a short punt by the Cosmos, Daniel Haugaard-Steffensen gave Windsor excellent field position after his return brought the Yellow Jackets to the Springfield 24-yard line. Draper found the endzone again when he ran 24 yards on the opening play of the drive.
Windsor found itself with another short field on the next possession as they began their drive at the Springfield 35-yard line. Three plays later, the Yellow Jackets scored again following a 7-yard touchdown run by Brady Olmstead. Haugaard-Steffensen added the 2-point conversion on a double reverse to give Windsor a 21-0 lead with 2:28 remaining in the first quarter.
The Yellow Jackets added another touchdown early in the second quarter on a 4-play, 60-yard drive. Brody Osgood set up his own 1-yard touchdown run with a 29-yard run on the previous play. MacLeay booted another extra point to give the Yellow Jackets a 28-0 advantage.
Windsor extended its lead to 35-0 following a 3-yard touchdown run by Draper and another extra point by MacLeay.
After punting on its first four possessions, Springfield finally got on the board. A 47-yard pass from Luke Stocker to Dylan Priestley moved the Cosmos all the way to the Windsor 15-yard line. Cameron Williams capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown reception from Stocker. Nicolas Villamayor added the extra point to cut the lead to 35-7 with 2:01 left until halftime.
Windsor quickly moved the ball down the field on its final possession of the half as they traveled 60 yards in just 50 seconds. Draper recorded his fourth touchdown of the half on a 14-yard run, and MacLeay added her fourth extra point to give the Yellow Jackets a 42-7 lead.
“Justin only ran the ball for the first time for us last week and we saw something. We got a little nicked up in the backfield, so I moved him back there and he’s been phenomenal,” Balch said.
Draper was excited by it all.
“I think you could see my excitement on the sidelines. It was definitely a feeling I never thought I was going to get when I started playing running back two weeks ago,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without the line. They were a huge part of it.
Each team scored once in the second half as Windsor began to unload the bench. Haugaard-Steffensen blasted a 35-yard field goal through the uprights to give Windsor a 45-7 lead. Springfield added a touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 55-yard run from Josiah Martinez. His touchdown was followed by a 2-point conversion from Williams, which ended up being the final score of the afternoon.
Windsor ended the game with 344 yards on the ground. Draper led the way with 123 yards, Osgood was next with 85 yards, Olmstead followed with 76 yards and Brooks Ruderman added 45 yards. Springfield was led by 76 yards rushing from Martinez and 76 yards receiving from Priestley.
“They seemed to be really dialed in on this game knowing full-well Springfield played us tough the first time and if we lost, we’re not going [to the championship],” Balch said.
Windsor (8-1) will be looking for its third straight Division 3 state championship when they face Woodstock on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Rutland High School. Woodstock ended Windsor’s 28-game winning streak earlier this season with a 36-15 victory over the Yellow Jackets.
Springfield finishes its season at 5-5, but with only five seniors on the roster, Cosmos fans should feel optimistic about next season.
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