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Rebels End Tigers Football Season With 27-23 Semifinal Win

photo by Mike Cameron Tiger quarterback Sam Jones scores a T.D. in Middlebury’s semifinal loss to South Burlington on Friday night, November 2nd, 2007. The final score was 27-23 Rebels.

Tuesday November 6, 2007

By Mike Cameron

    They meet once before and the Tigers did the Rebels in.  Would it prove to be a different story in the post season?

    A big crowd was on hand at Middlebury’s Doctor Ray Collins Field on Friday night November 2nd 2007 to see which team would punch their ticket to the big dance and a shot at the Vermont Division 1 State Championship in High School Football.

    A similar situation was developing in Hartford. The Hurricanes of Hartford High and the visiting Red Raiders of Rutland were doing battle to see which one of them would face the Tigers or the Rebels for the final game of the year.

    After a season of play it would come down to these four.  Middlebury, Hartford, Rutland and South Burlington.  The  Tigers had beaten all three and they were the number one seed in the playoffs.   

    Records mean nothing at this point only the desire to win one more and the ability to do so.  In Middlebury , both had the desire to win but it would be the visitors who would leave with the win, their second road victory in two weeks against difficult opponents

    South Burlington power back Taylor De Varney just would not be broken.  He would bend under some punishing Tiger tackles but he would post a career night with 348 yards rushing and four touchdowns leading his team to victory.  De Varney lugged the ball an amazing 48 times.

    Even with De Varney’s remarkable night under the lights the Tigers were equal to the task. right up until the final whistle they continued to claw for the win,

    Ben Almquist hit a picture perfect 31-yard field goal with 3:42 left in the contest giving the Tigers the lead 23-21.

    On the ensuing kickoff the Tigers covered well.  South Burlington quarterback Ernie Bragg moved his team to the Rebel 35 yard line on a quick hitter to Will Guillen.  He was contained.  On the next play Da Varney got the call and the Tigers stacked him up at the line of scrimmage, however, the ref’s whistle did not blow indicating that the runners forward progress had been stopped.Da Varney rolled off the stack and stepped to the outside right.  

    As Tiger fans looked on horrified Da Varney ran away from the Tiger defense that had assumed that he was stopped.  The whistle never blew and the South Burlington runner sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown.  The point after attempt via the run was stopped but the damage had been done.  It was 27 to 23 Rebels and time was running out on Middlelbury.

    The Tigers moved the ball into Rebel territory but turned it over and the game ended with the Rebels taking a knee and the game27-23.
The loss was the Tigers first of the 2007 season and what a season it was.

   Middlelbury had the lead early in this one on a 29 yard run by Sam Jones behind some great blocking up front. The kick for the point was hooked through.

   The Rebels came right back and Da Varney notched one of his 4 touchdowns next from the 6 yard-line.  The kick was good and the score was tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

   Lance Robinson knifed in from the three on the Tigers next drive and the point after was true.  The Tigers were up 14-7  Da Varney burst off tackle on a pitch and ran 32 yards to tie the score after the Rebel p.a.t. was on the mark.  It was tied 14-14 at that point, but the Tigers playing true to their form, never gave up, set up a beautiful return lane for Robinson who lugged the ball 85 yards for a touchdown aided by a monster block by Almquist.  The kick was sour and squibed to the left missing the left upright.  The score was 20-14 Tigers as the clock ticked towards the intermission.

    So. Burlington Head Coach  Joe Mc Donald had about 40 seconds left in the half to make his play and he went with what was working.  Da Varney the workhorse was able to notch one more touchdown  to make it 21-20 Rebels on Joe Abate’s point-after kick.

    Both teams battled to a stand off through the third quarter and that set up the dramatic and controversial finish in the infamous 4th. This one will be talked about for a long , long time.

    So. Burlington will represent the North in the State Championship Game against Hartford, a team that disposed of Rutland High School 33-12 at Hartford settling the matters in the South.

    It was a great run for the Tigers of Middlebury.    Every member of the team deserves credit for a remarkable two year run in Division 1.

    They may not have won them all but they won more than any one else in the league and in the end, head to head, they beat every one they played.  

    Beating a good team twice in one season is a tall order and the Tigers came within five points of  pulling that off.  They have much to remember that is good and  much to be proud of.

    We at The Valley Voice salute them on aseason well played.

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