Tigers and Essex 2006 Tigers Stop Essex 21-7
Will Visit Brattleboro Next In Key Match Up
Tuesday October 17, 2006
By Mike Cameron
Middlebury and Essex...need we say more? These two have been providing high school football fans with spectacular entertainment for well over 30 years. From regular season struggles to playoff encounters, to Vermont State Championships, the Middlebury and Essex High School football programs have mirrored consistent quality coaching, great kids who love the game and community support that is just as strong now as it was years ago. Through the glory years and the lean years, Middlebury vs Essex is always an interesting and exciting battle. This year would be no exception. The Tigers were flying high at 6-0. Essex has had some ups and downs in the past two years but any team coached by Bill Mayville is a threat to win at home or on the road. The program is that good. Essex came into this one at 2-4 with a 1-3 league mark. Last year it was the ‘War in the Waves’ at Essex when a steady downpour did a number on both teams and the Tigers came away on the better half of a one point squeaker. It was a loss that Essex never really seemed to recover from for the rest of the season. They were itching for some ‘pay back’ at Doc Collins Field on... of all nights Friday the 13th of October.Tigers Challenged Early
The Tigers won the toss and deferred giving Essex the ball early. Hornet quarterback Dave Nicasio, a junior, started throwing the ball with laser like precision under the Tiger secondary but Tiger Ethan Raymond would not let anyone go long on him and the Hornets had to punt. The Tigers moved to Essex territory and they stalled on a fumble on the exchange and Sean Harrison booted the ball into the Essex end-zone giving the Hornets the ball on the 20. The Tiger defensive unit with Robbie Harrison, Eric Fifield, and Travis Betourney making big stops forced Nicasio to go upstairs again on 3rd and long and he seemed more than happy to do so airing out a sweet throw to wide receiver John Goetschius who hauled it in inside the Tiger 40. Essex moved to the Tiger 35 with Nicasio scrambling to find an open man to throw to but Tyler McNally would have none of it and landed a big hit on the Essex quarterback. On 4th and 3 at the Tiger 35 Essex had a pass play on but the Tigers had everyone covered and killed the drive. Two plays later Tiger Sean Harrison ripped off left tackle and was off to the races. A big block at the Essex 45 by Peterson sprung him the rest of the way for a 65-yard touchdown run that electrified the big home town crown and literally stunned Essex. J.J. Mackey added a perfect point-after and the Tigers were up 7-0. It proved to be a giant momentum shift in the game but not for long. On the ensuing kickoff Essex got a nice return and were set up for their biggest play of the night. From their own 30 Hornet Coach Bill Mayville called for a pass and Nicasio was ready. Hornet Peter Dietrich launched himself down the right sideline and took advantage of a falling Tiger defender to snag the pass, turned his back to the pursuing Tigers and raced to the end-zone for a 70-yard score, the point after was good, Nicasio was 5 for 5 in the air and the game was tied at 7-7. It would remain so into intermission but not before Essex drove deep into Tiger territory and had a chance for a touchdown on a 3rd and 2 at the Tiger 20 with the clock running out. The TD pass attempt was stuffed on a big hit by McNally and Essex frantically tried to get their field goal unit on the field. As the team set up to snap the ball the clock ran out for the first half.Tigers Roar In Second Half
Middlebury went right to work in the third quarter and fashioned a 65-yard touchdown drive. Ben Almquist supplying the final 19 yards to pay-dirt. Tigers led 14-7 on Mackey’s boot for the point after. The Tigers defense became a big factor the rest of the way making the big plays when they deeded to and the offense adding some further drama on a fake-field-goal-pass play from Sean Harrison the holder to Travis Betourney who made a leaping catch in the right corner of the end-zone over two Essex defenders. Mackey added the point and the Tigers had put the finishing touches on a 21 to 7 win over the Essex Hornets. The Tigers will now go against Brattleboro in a battle of 1 and 2 in the Division on Friday night, October 20th at Stoltie Field in Brattleboro Gametime is at 7p.m. This one will be worth a trip from anywhere.
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