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Tigers Scuttle Laker Play-Off Hopes 39-6 Are Now 8-0

Tuesday October 26, 2010

By Mike Cameron

It was a perfect send-off for Tiger seniors who would be playing in their last regularly scheduled varsity football game at Doctor Ray Collins Field in Middlebury.  

    For senior captain Patric Fifield and teammates: Brendan Burell, Alex Bowdish, Jerry Hoffman, Mitchell Delancey, Bryan-Ashley-Selleck, Kayle Kerr, Jarrod Ashley, Kalob Gagnon, Nick Masterson, Will McCartley, Tony Doria, Carl Leduc, and Ben Cook the game will be long remembered.  As each was introduced before a big home-town crowd,  the memories of this night will last a lifetime.

    With dozens of jackolanterns smiling a tribute to the Tiger seniors in the north end zone, the game against the defending Division 2 State Champion Colchester Lakers got underway.  The Lakers ended the Tigers season last year and Middlebury was about to return the “favor”.

    The wheels started coming off early for Colchester when a high snap  out of the shot gun got away from Laker quarterback Jack Leclerc and was immediately pounced upon by the Tigers inside the 40.

    Colchester's defensive unit was sharp and forced a punt then took over on their 20.  

    The Lakers began to move the ball with there two top running stars Devon Grammo and Jared Vetters.  Both veteran Laker ball luggers have logged plenty of mileage in 4-years.  With his team moving towards mid-field Leclerk decided to roll out and throw on 3rd and short.  Dillon Robinson made a nice read, stepped in front of Isaac Delabruere who was running a deep sideline pattern, picked off the pass and was off to the races.  He was finally caught up with at the Laker 2 yard line.  Bryan-Ashley-Selleck ran it in and the point was wide right.  The Tigers had taken advantage of the second Laker turnover and now led 6-0.  There was still 4:41 left in the first quarter.

    In the second quarter Burell led a solid Tiger drive to the Laker 5 yard line.  A Robinson catch and an Ashley-Selleck set up run gave Burrell a chance to use some mis-direction and slash in for a touchdown.  The p.a.t. was nullified.  Middlebury was in familiar territory.  Middlebury led 12-0 at the half and the Tiger defense was on top of their game big time.  Big Joey Zeno was a key to closing the middle and played one of his best games ever at nose-tackle.  With Fifield, Gagnon, Malloy, and others  making nice plays at the corners to stop sweeps the Lakers were starting to feel the pressure from the Tigers trademark on defense; pursuit.

    The third quarter would be devastating for Colchester.  Operating like a well oiled machine, the Tigers began to dismantle the defending champions with workman like precision.  In a span of 3 minutes and  58 seconds the Tigers scored 27 unanswered points.  It must have been a “jaw-dropper” for the visiting scouts on hand.  Ashley-Selleck scored at the goal-line, Burrell ran a spectacular cut back and field reverse for a score, Hastings picked off a pass and raced 31 yards for a score and Alex Bowdish made his contribution with a heads up dive recovery on another Colchester high snap in the end-zone to make the score 39-0 complete with Bowdish finding the range on his extra points.  The Tiger fans were going wild and the Colchester fans were reeling.  It was a third quarter for the record books.

    In the 4th quarter every one in attendance had a chance to see Colchester's Devon Grammo do what he does best.  Grammo went 61 yards over, around and through the Tigers on an spectacular offensive effort to avert a shutout.  He was stopped at the 3 by a host of Tigers.  Alex Kozlowski wedged in for the score, the point after was wide and the Tigers led 39-6.  It would be the final score and it would prevent the Lakers from playing in the post season this year.

    Next for Middlebury will be Otter Valley on Saturday October 30th at Markowski Field in Brandon.  The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.  The Tigers are 8-0 and playing team football with an eye on the prize.

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