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Seniors Shine As Tigers Win 14-7 Over Cvu...Now Back To Essex

photo by Mike Cameron Cody and Rowdy are the Tigers Super Fast Ball Boys. The Refs like these guys because they are always “On The Ball” rain or shine. Now they’ll be working the post season.

Tuesday October 25, 2016

By Mike Cameron

The Champlain Valley Union High School Red Hawks football program's rise to Division 1 High School prominence has been a steady and progressive development. A long time high school soccer power over the years, CVU has now established themselves as a force to reckon with in the Vermont high school football community. Their fan and booster support continues to grow.
   The Red Hawks arrived at Doc Collins Field in Middlebury on Friday night   October 21, 2016 to put their 6-1 record on the line against the 4-3 Middlebury Union High Tigers.  This would be the regular season finale for both teams.
    This week the Tigers were celebrating Senior Night at home.  It is always a special night in the season to recognize members of the team who would be playing in their last game of the regular season before a big home crowd.  The playoffs (wild card round), were on the horizon. Tiger Seniors on the 2016 MUHS roster include:  Robert Poppenga, Austin Friend, Karl Kaufmann, Co. Capt Andrew Gleason, Pierson Beatty, Spencer Carpenter, Co. Capt Trey Kaufmann, Andrew Gosselin, Nick Beattie, Patrick Messenger, Maverick Payne, Nate Warren, Joe Langevin, Doug Delorenzo, and Marty Niemo.
   At 4-3 the Tigers would be in the post-season, win or loose.  QPR, (Quality Rating Points) hung in the balance.  A win over the Red Hawks would mean a higher seed in the playoffs. On this rainy night, Middlebury brought their A game on both sides of the ball.  The Tigers did what Head Coach Dennis Smith and his staff were looking for.  They put it all together against one of the top teams in Vermont Division 1 High School Football, this year.
    The opening kick-off was a sign for things to come.  With a following wind sweeping the rain, Middlebury's kick coverage was spot on.  Cody Pominville and Dustin Davio were the first to reach the Red Hawks Colin Vincent and the hit could be heard in East Middlebury as Vincent was forced out of bounds in front of the Red Hawk bench.  The tackle sent a message, but rugged CVU power-back Braven Bose would be sending the Tiger sidelines a message of his own from the visitors. Bose rushed for over 100 yards with a touchdown in the first half alone. He ended up with 153-yards on 16 carries.  The Tigers would continue to find more answers on defense and play with an intensity not seen this year.  They did it for 4 quarters of football.
   CVU scored first when the Tigers put the ball on the ground on their first play from scrimmage deep in Red Hawk territory.  The Tiger fumble led to a Red Hawk TD by Bose and the Tigers were in trouble 7-0.  Then the Tigers started to click.  Trey Kaufmann made several key runs, Pierson Beatty did the same and Andrew Gleason began to handled the ball and the tripple option with dexterity under very sloppy weather.  Simon Fischer made several key runs.  His speed was a needed addition to the Tiger attack.  Only a sophomore, Fischer is a talent to watch in the future.  Given a step, Fischer can fly.  
  Kaufmann got Middlebury back on track with a spectacular 62-yard run around the left corner on the Tigers next possession.  The TD and point made it 7-7   The Tigers were now in it to win it.  Kaufmann would add 7 more big slashing runs in traffic and several big hits on defense in this one. On the night Kaufmann was over 80-yards rushing.  
    Rugged fullback Tiger Spencer Carpenter ran, blocked and tackled his way into the CVU ranks all night long.  Several first downs and a touchdown were the result of his hard work behind an offensive line that kicked out fast and hard on every play.  Carpenter had 105-yards on 21 lugs and a TD.  Defensively he made 5 key stops on defense from his linebacker spot.  His go-ahead score came on a blast off right tackle with seconds remaining in the third quarter and Delorenzo's boot was good.  The Tigers had posted the winning score 14-7 but CVU was still in the contest. The 4th quarter was a battle  with both teams stopped in the red zone and featured some key defensive plays that would make any  highlight video from. 

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