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Tigers Win Div I Quarter Final Matchup Over CVU 54-6

photo by Pam Quinn Lucas Plouffe opening up the hole for Ritter

photo by Pam Quinn Matt Dutton making a tackle

Tuesday October 28, 2014

By Bill Hinman

CVU travelled to Middlebury in hoping for a first ever playoff victory.  After a rout in week five with Middlebury beating the Red Hawks on their own turf it would take a herculean effort, lucky breaks and some Halloween tricks for the Champlain Valley team to even have a chance.  In the first quarter of play a very lack luster Middlebury performance appeared to give CVU the fire it needed to upset the Tigers.  For only the second time this season CVU would capitalize on a flat Tiger defense and be up by six first.  With the Middlebury turf finally giving into the weather the game was bound to be a muddy mess.  CVU was able to drive the ball off the right side consistently with the help of halfback Richard Lowery.  Three good runs by Lowery set up a fake by quarterback Andrew Bortnick running up the left side for a humbling 54 yard run to the Middlebury one.  On the next play the Red Hawks were able to score leaving a stunned Middlebury crowd and CVU up by six.  On the kickoff to Middlebury CVU tried to ride the momentum with an onside kick that was almost given up. Middlebury, starting with good field position still looked lack luster and punted to CVU after just three plays from scrimmage.  CVU’s next play showed how the muddy play would affect the game and Matt Dutton was able to drop on a Red Hawk fumble to get the ball back into the Tigers hands.  Once again the Tigers could not find any traction and were forced to try and push the Red Hawks deep into their own territory with a punt from the 39.  A good kick by Justin Stone putting CVU on their own 24 appeared to do the trick.  Two plays into the second series and CVU fell on their own fumble setting up a 2nd and 14 from the 20.  On the very next play CVU again coughed up the ball leaving them with a 3rd and 20.  A false start by CVU left them looking at a 4th and 25 from the 15 forcing the Red Hawks’ to punt.  A bad snap from the center caused the Red Hawk punter to shank the ball giving Middlebury a 1st and ten on the CVU 21.  The Red Hawks again appeared well prepared to handle the running game and the Tigers were looking at a 4th down and 4 from the 14.  Looking for an up the gut run by the Tigers, the Red Hawks allowed Sam Holmes to slip into the secondary uncovered and Robinson threw a strike for Middlebury’s first points of the night.  The point after was good and the Tigers were back in familiar territory with a 7-6 lead closing in on the end of the first quarter.  Middlebury’s Nate Lalonde hit a kick to CVU and the Tigers stopped them on the 30.   In the next series the defensive line finally started to click on all cylinders and CVU was forced to punt from the 38.  An exact opposite of the previous punt found the Tigers deep in their own territory on the two.  Robinson first play was a give to full back Cortland Fisher who was able to pick up two.  The next play Robinson tried to get to the left corner but was met by the defensive secondary for only one yard. On the first counter of the game, Robinson handed the ball off to Bobby Ritter and all the linebackers went play action leaving the left side wide open for Ritter to capitalize.  Ninety yards later another 6 on the board for Middlebury.   Point after was good Score 14-6.  Muddy field conditions limited the running game and on the next set of series neither Middlebury or CVU could move the ball.  On CVU’s next possession they punted and Ritter found an opening on the right side.  Saddled with a leading with the helmet penalty and CVU was in tough shape with Middlebury starting a drive on the 45.  On the first play from scrimmage Cortland Fisher found a huge hole created by the offensive line and he was able to get the ball to the 21.  On a second and ten Robinson gave the ball to Hathaway and he was able to capitalize on an excellent pulling block by Bruce Wright and go for 10 yards  Capping off the series, Robinson found an open Cullen Hathaway for the score.  At this point Middlebury was rolling, score 21-6 with 6:55 left in the half.   The next series started with a good tackle on the kickoff from Beauchamp and Hounchell giving CVU the ball on their own 30.  A quick three and out followed by a short kick gave the Tigers a chance to capitalize one last time in the first half.  The Ritter counter again proved to be too much for CVU and he advanced the ball to the Red Hawk 28, a pass to Holmes followed by an option give to Fisher and Middlebury was comfortable 28-6 at the half.  In the second half Middlebury continued to roll with Ritter piling up the yards and two more touchdowns before Coach Smith had seen enough and sent in the second teams for some valuable experience.  Two more touchdowns, one on a pass to Ryan and the other on a 50 yard run from Jerry Niemo left no doubt with the final score 54-6.  Next Friday night at seven Middlebury will play host to Colchester at Doc Collins Field.  In other area action both Otter Valley and Mt. Abraham found success in the quarter finals.  An upset win by Mt Abe winning 20-15 against number three ranked Mill River showed the Eagles are not ready to watch from the sidelines.  Number one ranked Otter Valley had a slow start until Carson Nealy started the scoring, and the Otters easily beat Windsor 41-21.  

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