Main Sections

Tigers and Lakers Battle For Title Ticket…Lakers Prevail 12-7

photo by Mike Cameron Middlebury halfback Ryan Foley finds some running room off a big block from teammate Riley Billings during Division II play-off game at Colchester on Friday night November 6th 2009. The Tigers spotted the Lakers 12-0 in the first half and were unable to close the gap in the second half. The Lakers via the win over Middlebury moved on to the D-II State Championship after holding off the Tigers strong second half come-back-bid 12-7.

Tuesday November 10, 2009

By Mike Cameron

It does not get any better than this.  There was one team going into the contest undefeated with 9 wins in a row and the other at 7-2 had all the momentum of a freight train.  It was Middlebury and Colchester for the right to advance to the VPA State Championship football game in Division II.  Colchester was the #1 Seed and Middlebury #4.  One team would not be playing football the following week.  Colchester and Middlebury had met in the first game of the season and the Lakers had won handily against the younger and less experienced Tigers. They went on to win all the rest.  The Tigers had matured and had been tested on the muddy fields around the league in mostly rain swept Friday nights under the lights.

    The Tigers had become an opponent’s nightmare, with strong, physical, aggressive team-players who had developed their work in progress to a keen edge.  They would need to be bringing their A-game.  Colchester had put together a powerful running game and a solid defense.  The Lakers had the ability to dominate a team that made mistakes.  But Tiger mistakes had been few and far between.  The Tigers were the ones who were forcing the turnovers of late.  If they played in this one like they played against Otter Valley in week 9 their chances were excellent for a win and a return to the Division II Title Game in Essex the following Saturday against Mt. Mansfield or Champlain Valley Union a team that beat Middlebury in Hinesberg earlier in the season.  Those two were trying to punch their own D-II Title Game ticket just up the road at Burlington High’s Buck Hard Field on the artificial turf.

Lakers Strike First and Hang On   

    The Tigers went on defense first after winning the toss and Colchester scat back Devon Grammo picked up where he left off the last time the two teams met in the early fall.  Grammo’s quick feet and uncanny ability to shed tacklers helped propel the host Lakers to their first touchdown as quarterback Jack Leclerc found wide out Tyler Combs 16-yards away in the corner of the end zone for 6 points.  The kick failed.  

    The Tigers came right back with hard running Bryan Ashley-Selleck and Ryan Foley as well versatile Jerry Hoffman taking hand offs and running inside and outside the big Laker defensive unit.  Kaden Odell was also a big factor in the Tigers keeping the game close…Paytton Hobbs was another.  Quarterback Bendan Burrell remained cool at the controls.  The Laker Defense however had other ideas and were able to make big plays when they had to in spite of over 85-yards in penalties.  The refs blew their whistles so many times in the game one Colchester fan told this reporter, “boy these guys are going to be out of wind before long.”

    The Lakers got another 6 late in the first half when Grammo used his considerable speed to sweep around the end for a 1-yard touchdown run.  Colchester led 12-0 at intermission.

    The Tigers as they have all year came back in the second half.  At the 4:18 mark Burrell launched a pretty pass to a wide open Devin Bradford and the fleet footed Tiger took it all the way 52-yards for a TD.  The Lakers would give up their only touchdown of the game.  Final score 12-7.  Middlebury threatened several times in the second half but the Lakers defensive unit led by middle line backer Jared Vetters made the big stops when they had to.  The Tiger defense contained Colchester in the second half but could not make the key plays on offense that would have given them the equalizer or go-ahead score.  Colchester now 10-0, will play CVU for the DII Championship.  The Tigers end their year at 7-3.  Both teams have a host of talent back next year.  

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives