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Tigers now 3-0 After Tangle With Vikings

MUHS Ready To Begin D-1 Schedule

photo by Mike Cameron J.J. Mackey #14 pitches to #42 Jeremy Peterson following #3 Sean Harrison, while #36 Chad Foley prepares to block down on the Mt. Anthony defenses end. Up front #53 Eric Fifield, #78 Robbie Harrison and #63 Tyler McNaulty clear out the right side. The Tigers where 2 and 0 heading into an away game vs. Lyndon Institute on Saturday, Sept. 16th, 2006.

photo by Mike Cameron

Tuesday September 19, 2006

By Mike Cameron

    One of the classic match-ups in any Vermont football season is the rivalry between Lyndon Institute and St. Johnsbury Academy.  Both schools have a proud sports traditions.  

On Saturday, September 16th, the MUHS Varsity football team traveled to Lyndon for a sample of Lamoille County hospitality and a taste of that tradition.  

The Tigers were riding a two game winning stint, were healthy for the most part, and have demonstrated at times over the first two games of the season that they can probably play with the the best in the state.  Lyndon however was not a team to be taken lightly.  The Vikings have given the Tigers fits in the past and they were ready to send them back down I-91 with their first loss of the season.

Middlebury has shown that even though they are gaining experience every week and that their defense has come to the fore-front very quickly this year, the offense has been on again and off again inside the opponents 30- yard line.  

Big plays have helped the Tigers fashion their 2-0 record and aggressive play on defense has the coaches gaining more and more confidence in their troops as the practices progress.  

A win on the road, especially at Lyndon would be a real shot in the arm particularly going into the heart of the season with the MSJ’s, Rutland’s, Brattleboro’s and  Hartford’s of this world looming on the horizon.  

All are Division 1 teams and all will enjoy a home field advantage against the Tigers.  

Many feel that this makes Middlebury’s schedule the toughest in Division 1 this year.  Essex, is never easy, and the Hornets will visit Doc Collins Field in October.  Milton’s Yellow Jackets would also like to bag a Tiger or two.  The rest are very difficult teams and a bus ride.

The Tigers were expected to regain the services of junior speedster Ben Almquist against Lyndon. Almquist had some nifty punt returns against Burlington in the first game of the season but had to miss almost 6-quarters of football because of an ejection for throwing a punch.  The call was perfectly in order according to the officials but questionable in the eyes of some who were at that particular game and close to the foul in question.  Perhaps a more thorough grasp of the “spirit of the ruling”, rather than just informing the “letter of the rules,” could have been considered in this case.  

Middlebury has a stable of very quick running backs, a maturing offensive line and a quarterback that can run the triple option as well as anyone in the state, if he can stay healthy.  

If people get open J.J. Mackey can throw a pass on the money and seems to have a nice touch on the ball during the few opportunities that he has had to put it up.  The Tigers might need that weapon as the tougher teams appear on the schedule. 

The Tigers offensive line will continue to come around with coaching and game experience.  The aggressive defensive unit, especially the deep secondary has been impressive so far.

Middlebury’s ability to not get beat deep against good talent is a huge plus if they can build that level of  pass protection over the course of the season.  They have the talent. They will be tested.  Lyndon Institute proved that on Saturday, September 16.

J.J. Mackey had things running smoothly in the first quarter and quickly got the Tigers on the board with a nice 18-yard keeper and then booted the point after for a 7-zip Tiger lead.  The Vikings were up to the challenge as quarterback Will Cobb began to fill the early fall air full of footballs.  He found Tony Berth with a 15-yard touchdown pass and the Vikes got the point.  The message was loud and clear, Lyndon has game!  The Tigers went in to talk about it at the half tied at 7-7.

Middlebury came roaring back in the third quarter as scat-back Jeremy Peterson broke off a dandy 43-yard jaunt to give Middlebury a 13-7 lead.  Add the point and it’s 14-7, Tigers.

The Tigers Defensive unit began to get stingy and more aggressive and that was bad news for the Vikings as Cobb who threw 32-passes in the game looked to bring his team back but the Tigers kept the pressure on and continued to surround the deep pass threat.

The Tigers were once again with the services of speedy Ben Almquist who burst through the Vikes for a 9-yard touchdown run in the final quarter.  With the Tigers up by a score of 21-7 off Mackey’s boot, Lyndon began what could have been a remarkable come-back.  The Tigers were not going to give on the ground so Cobb went upstairs.

The plan gave the Vikes good field position and they set themselves up for a 1-yard plunge by Si Smith and converted the point after to make it a 21-14 ball game late in the 4th-quarter.  

Lyndon continued to apply pressure and had the ball with a chance to tie the game with three minutes remaining but the Tigers Sean Harrison sealed their fate with a key interception of Cobb.  

The Tigers will take their 3-0 record to MSJ on Saturday September 23rd for a 1:00 p.m. start against the Mounties who lost to MAU last week. 

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