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Tigers End Season at BFA…Bobwhites Prevail 23-20

Tuesday October 28, 2008

By Mike Cameron

    It was the last game of their football playing careers for some of the seniors on the MUHS Varsity Football roster and the end of another regular season for the Tigers.  There would be no post season play this year for the team although some players will appear in the annual North South Senior Bowl in November and the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Game in August of 2009.

    Seniors suiting-up for their final regular season, high school varsity contest for Middlebury according to rosters available at game-time were; Co Capt Sean Harrison, Cooper Quenneville, Seth Delorme, Keegan Sullivan, Dane Lilgestrand, Ross Lengyel, Tommy Ryan, Asa Sargent, Co Capt Dylan Newton, Tim MacLachlan, Matt Scaramucci Cornwall, Troy Audet, and Jon Wright.

    The Tigers visited the Collins Perley Sports Complex in Saint Albans to take on the BFA Bobwhites, a team that has had their ups and downs this year but were riding the momentum of a big win the last time out.  Middlebury was looking to go out on a winning note and set the table for their underclassmen teammates in 2009. Last year even though they prevailed at home over the Bobwhites, it was a game that BFA was in and threatening to win it right down to the wire featuring a passing attack that was something to see.  

    Defensive heroics saved the day for Middlebury the last time these two met in 2007.  It continued the tone for Middlebury’s 2007 perfect regular season and propelled them into the playoffs and a fateful contest at home against the Rebels of South Burlington.

Bobwhites Prevail in Come From Behind Win

    On a blustery and chilly night in Franklin County, BFA was in a position to win the right to play in the post-season, but they would need help from outside sources.  The Bobwhites were ready to rumble.

    Middlebury answered that challenge right from the get-go.  Cooper Quenneville’s three TD performance, was the centerpiece of the Tigers offense.  Hard working Sean Harrison also had a great final regular season game with 20 carries and some big stops on defense.

    The Tigers scored first with their punishing ground game.  Cooper Quenneville capped the drive with his first TD of the night and the point-after was booted perfect by Ross Lengyel.

    The Bobwhites came racing back behind rugged running back Ben Roberts and the quick feet of BFA quarterback Kris Sabourin to fashion their own scoring drive but they missed the extra point kick after Robert’s TD and the Tigers led 7-6.

    Middlebury went right back to work and notched another score by Quenneville only to have Sabourin show some nice moves and notch another BFA score on a keeper.  The BFA two point conversion made it 13-each at the half.

    The third quarter featured some aggressive defense from both teams with big hits on both sides of the ball.  The Tigers went on a time consuming, length of the field drive, midway through the third quarter and Quenneville notched his third TD of the night to make it 20 to 13 with Lengyel again splitting the uprights with the point after.  The Bobwhites would not go away.

    Playing in front of a big hometown crowd, they battled the Tigers nip and tuck as the fourth quarter began to tick off.  BFA drove deep into Tiger territory but Middlebury held.  Key penalties also hurt the Bobwhites.  With 2:30 left in the game, the Tigers with the lead and unable to move from deep in their own end, decided to take a safety, giving the Bobwhites 2-points but allowing MUHS a free kick from near midfield.  

    Leading 20-15 with time running out the Bobwhites got a nice runback on the free kick and marched to the Tiger one yard line helped by two big runs by Roberts.  Will Bartlett went wide after the Tigers put up an heroic goal line stand and the BFA scat back scored from the one.  Sabourin added two more points on a keeper and the score was 23-20.   BFA recovered a squib kickoff after the referees ruled that it hit a Tiger player then bounced free and the Bobwhites ran out the remaining seconds by taking a knee.  It was BFA 23 the Tigers 20.

    BFA ends their regular season 6-3 and the Tigers finish the season at 3-6.

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