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Vermont Topped by New Hampshire 27-12 Green Mt. Boys Battle to Final Gun

photo by Mike Cameron

photo by Mike Cameron

photo by Mike Cameron

photo by Mike Cameron

Tuesday August 4, 2015

By Mike Cameron

When it was over, everyone in Castelton University's Spartan Stadium knew that they had just witnessed a remarkable high school football all star game. Strong legs ran that weak ones could walk once again.  
   The Granite State was able to notch a W, but even more importantly for Vermont players, coaches, parents, friends and fans; Vermont made New Hampshire earn every single point, with every single yard, on every single play.  The game will go far in perpetuating this long-time late summer, twin-state tradition. The children at Shrine Hospitals in Canada and The United States will continue to benefit for the foreseeable future.  Both head coaches felt very strongly about this after the game.  
   The contest has raised millions to help crippled and burned children to recover from their many times severe medical conditions at no cost to their families.  The Shriners always go all out for this effort every year no matter where the game is played and supporters who continue to love kids and the game of football will continue to salute them.
 Castelton University Host and Venue Team With Shriners
Castelton University President David Wolk and Vermont/New Hampshire Shrine Officials had good reasons to smile on this event.  President Wolk's staff and administration were amazing hosts.  The facility is as good as good gets and the welcoming attitude of everyone involved at Spartan Stadium was indeed very special.  Yes you can host a major event in a small rural Vermont town and make it a success when the right people, with the right attitude are involved.   
The first play in this game was an omen.  It was a huge collision as both trenches clashed and wanted to make an impression.  The hitting remained intense.  Big John Bielecki out of Hartford, led a punishing Vermont ground game early.  Vermont's blocking scheme was solid especially for an all star game and only a short time to prepare.  A credit to Vermont Head Coach Dennis Smith and his staff.
New Hampshire Head Coach Greg Gush and his staff were also well prepared for this one and riding a long win streak over Vermont. The knew a key was to another win was to defend against former Middlebury Tiger Quarterback Austin Robinson and the option attack employed by Vermont.  Robinson drew a crowd the entire game and still was able to be effective in spite of the harassment.  It's called HEART!  This along with solid defense up front and and former Tiger, Justin Stone's booming punts kept thins close for Vermont.  
New Hampshire scored first on a game record setting 90-yard pass play from Portsmouth's Connor DisCesare to former team-mate Kayle Gaudet (3-Tds 190 yards) and who had slipped man-coverage, caught the perfect strike and was off to the races unscathed. Kick good, New Hampshire 7-Zip.   Vermont could have folded right then and there.  They didn't.  They adapted and did not panic.
Before the half Vermont sustained a drive to the New Hampshire one-yard-line and Robinson wedged it in on a keeper.  The kick was wide and it was 7-6 Granite State at the half with plenty of good things to talk about in the Vermont locker room.
Vermont Gains Lead
In their third shot in the second half, The Green Mountain Boys started to click on the option much better and Robinson found fleet-footed Anthony Phillips a former Division 2, Rice Memorial High State Champion stand out with a step on his man down the right sideline.  Robinson, under a big pass rush, let fly and Phillips ran under the ball and ran away from the defender for a touchdown right near the end zone, end-line.  The play covered 34 yards and Vermont was on top, with momentum, for the first time in years.  The go- for-two point after, was stopped by New Hampshire.  Vermont was now up 12-7 but not for long.
Hook and Ladder
Most players in this game and most fans for that matter had never seen one.  A pass to a post man who catches the ball and then flips it to a team mate trailing the play.  The original receiver then screens or blocks for the runner.  It can be a game changer and in this one it was.  Guaranteed that people were Googling it on their cell phones,'what the heck is a hook and ladder?'  New Hampshire pulled off the H&L to perfection early in the 4th quarter on a 4th and long inside Vermont territory.  It was a 40-yard stunner. New Hampshire was now up 15-12.  Dennis Bishop's TD proved to be the game winner as New Hampshire would hold off Vermont and tally two more times to win 27-12.  Perhaps the biggest tribute to Vermont came from New Hampshire quarterback Gauntlet when he was asked by reporters about this key play after the game.  “We hit a brick wall and it worked,” he said.  
Coaches Optimistic
Asked about a growing pessimism with some about the games future, parity and New Hampshire's long win streak, plus the fact that many of the 2015 New Hampshire Players were Division 3 graduates, both coaches were direct and to the point.  Coach Smith is very familiar with the funding mission of the game.  “It was a great experience, the kids visited the practices and everyone has gained from this.”  Coach Gush was also philosophical and thoughtful after his teams come from behind win over Vermont.  “Let me say this, he began, we had a great experience here, the kids had a great experience.  It was a close game. It could have gone either way. They gave us all we could handle and it should continue.”             

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