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Tiger Football 2006

Numbers Declining But Quality Continues

photo by Mike Cameron Middlebury Tigers Varsity Coaching Staff compares notes during 3 team scrimmage held on Saturday August 26th between the Tigers, Spaulding High and Rice Memorial High Schools. The Tigers looked sharp and according to Head Coach Pete Brakeley (L.) showed some of the aggressiveness that the coaches are looking for this time of year.

Tuesday September 5, 2006

By Mike Cameron

   The 2006 edition of the MUHS Varsity Football Team will be another work in progress for Coach Peter Brakeley and his staff as they prepare to take on a Burlington High School squad that could be one of the teams that will challenge for the Vermont Principals Association Division II North Title this season.

The Tigers can get their season off on the right track with a win at home on Friday night, September 1st.  It won’t be easy.

Graduation thinned the ranks by over a dozen seniors but that’s high school football in Vermont.  

Quality is the key and Middlebury seems to continue a knack for coaching the quality, within their players year after year.  

Fan and community support is another key in the Tiger’s varsity football fortunes.  Much of this will  most likely be the case in the early going this year.  Also consider the fact that the league is so small that a Division 1 loss or win can lead to a major set back or boost for any team.  The universe of teams in Division 1 is that tiny.  For Middlebury this “one shot” situation includes opponents like long time rivals Essex  and Hartford as well as Brattleboro, Mt. Anthony , Rutland and M.S.J. A loss to a Division 1 team doesn't mean it’s a wash for the rest of the year but two or more league losses can cook a teams goose very quickly.   

The beauty of this time of year is that everyone has a clean slate; it’s High School football in Vermont and anything can happen.

The Tigers have taken one serious hit even before the whistle blows for the opening kick-off.  Senior signal caller, Brett Barrett who was the likely successor to  the graduated Taylor Moyer, suffered a serious knee injury in practice. The word at press time is that Brett will more than likely miss the entire season.  

Both Senior J.J. Mackey and Junior Sam Jones are familiar with the Tigers triple option attack and both can throw the ball.  

Throwing the ball, however, has not been a go-to weapon for the Tigers over the past several years.  They have used the pass effectively on occasion but are never really scouted for their passing potential. Mackey and Jones represent some optimistic news for the Tiger’s faithful as they get ready to face B.H.S. for game number one.

Pre-season scrimmages vs Otter Valley, Spalding and Rice Memorial have given the coaching staff a good look at what there is for potential in this year’s crop of talent and then as the coaches put it, “the pecking order will be established.”

Another bright spot for long-time Tiger fans is the return of assistant coach Dennis Smith after a year away from the practice field and sidelines.

The big challenges still remain.   Essex,Hartford,Rutland, Brattleboro and the defending Division 1 Champion MSJ loom large from now until November.  Mt. Anthony has also been bitten by the graduation bug but they are still a difficult team to beat in Bennington.  Rutland, MSJ and Bratt will all be road games for the Tigers this year.  

In the pre-season scrimmage held on Saturday August 26th with Spalding and Rice the Tigers looked very sharp indeed and head coach Peter Brakeley had more to he pleased with than not.  “ We were hitting out there today.  We were looking for aggressiveness and it was there.  This is the time of year and this is the place where we find out who want’s to play aggressively.”  Brakeley was right on the money about his teams aggressiveness as evident in the Tigers stiff blocking and tackling.  

Each time the Tigers had the ball against Rice or Spalding, two of the teams to beat in division two this year, they moved the ball against each teams first string defense.  They also looked strong on defense after giving up a big gainer to the opposition on their first possession.  

The scrimmage was held under normal game conditions with referees.  The Tigers biggest gainer came when J.J. Mackey ran a keeper off the left side and went about 70-yards for a touchdown.  Sam Jones was smooth and showed plenty of confidence leading the Tigers first string offensive unit.  The defense will need some work.  The jobs are there for those who can step up and play aggressively in the Tiger tradition.

The Tigers will also receive the benefit of a full time Athletic Trainer this fall as Tea Christiansen has been hired by MUHS to work with athletes in all sports all year.  Long time football trainer Don McIntosh will now be joining Pete Brakeley’s staff as an assistant coach this year.

Here is the Tigers Varsity football Schedule for 2006.

Friday Sept 1 Burlington at H 7.00
Friday Sept 8 Mt. Anthony at H 7.00
Sat Sept 16  Lyndon away  1.00 p.m.
Sat Sept 23  MSJ   away     1.00 p.m.
Friday Sept 29 Rutland away 7.00 p.m.
Friday Oct 6 Milton at H 7.00 p.m.
Friday Oct 13 Essex at H 7.00 p.m.
Friday Oct 20 Brattleboro away 7.00 p.m.
Friday Oct 27 Hartford at H 7.00 p.m.

Middlebury starts the season at Doc Collins Field vs Burlington on 9-1-06...come on out and support the Tigers!

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