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Middlebury Tigers Shut Out Colchester In Division I Semi-finals

photo by Pam Quinn Sam Holmes Player Of The Game

photo by Pam Quinn Play Of The Night Cullen Hathaway Takes The Ball Into Score

Tuesday November 4, 2014

By Bill Hinman

The Colchester Lakers returned to Middlebury’s Doc Collins field hoping to reverse a regular season loss to the unbeaten Middlebury Tigers in semifinal action Friday night.  The Lakers knew the odds were against them going up against a team that had allowed only 6 points in the four previous games and amassing 190 points of offensive scoring in the same period.   The Lakers won the toss and elected to receive the ball and get some momentum against the formidable Tiger defense.  Lalonde’s kick to the left was picked up and returned to the 18 giving the Lakers 82 yards of grid iron to overcome.  The defense, which had looked a little sluggish the previous week against the CVU Red hawks would have none of it and turned back the Lakers for a quick three and out on two running and one pass attempt.  The Lakers were forced to punt and Middlebury gained possession on their own 47.  It appeared that the Laker coach had watched hours of film and after a quick Fisher pick up of 20 yards Middlebury was slowed and forced to punt after three plays.  Justin Stone was almost perfect kicking the ball to the Colchester two yard line where they would now start 98 yards from pay dirt.  After a short run by Dakota Navari, Grant Cummmings was able to find a seam bringing the ball out to the 36 and some needed breathing room.  Colchester was not intimidated and began to grind out the running game with both Cummings and Navari sharing duties pounding out some yards.  Two series later the Tiger front five began to make short yardage tackles and the Lakers were forced to punt.  It was here that the Lakers began to make mistakes with an interfering with the receiver penalty on the punt run back giving Middlebury decent field position on their own 35.  With a combination of running and passing to Gill the Tigers pushed the ball down to the 11. The next play option to the right proved too much and on excellent blocking by the guard and tackle Fisher was able to punch the ball in from the 11.  Consistent kicking by Lalonde and Middlebury was up 7-0 with 2:11 left in the first quarter.  The Lakers received the ball and started on the 30.  Strong blocking for Cummings and Navari began to wear on the Tigers and Colchester was able to convert a forth and one.  Colchester put the ball in the air on a third and five from the 49 and under pressure from Lucas Pluoffe, threw a bad pass, which was intercepted by Robinson. Six plays later with runs from Ritter, Stone and Hathaway and Middlebury was rolling score 14-0 with 9:04 left in the second quarter.  The ensuing kick went off the side of Lalonde’s foot giving the Lakers a good chance from their own 35.  The defensive line began to make adjustments and stopped Colchester at the line forcing them to go to the air for the second time of the night and the pass was again intercepted by Robinson.  On the next series a penalty for hitting from behind along with a miscue by Robinson and Middlebury was forced to punt from the 39.  Stone’s kick would again be downed inside the ten putting pressure on Colchester deep in their own territory.  It looked like Colchester would get some breathing room until a stifling hit from linebacker Bruce Wright stopped the Lakers cold and forced the punt.  Stone, sharing time with Fisher at full back, were able to gain traction on the option give which set up a sweep to Hathaway.  In the play of the night Hathaway appeared to be stopped at the 17 until he shucked one tackle, waited for his line men to get in front of him and followed them in for the score with 2:30 left in the half.  On the next series Middlebury again intercepted leaving the score 21-0 at the half.  Middlebury received the ball in the second half and began to grind out the yardage on the ground.  Starting from their 42 Fisher was called on five times and with help from Ritter Middlebury was able to find the goal line with 8:25 left on the clock in the third quarter. At this point with the score 28-0 the Colchester Lakers appeared to be tired and a bit defeated.  Colchester received the ball and started on their own 20.  The Lakers were able to pound out one first down before being forced to punt from their own 31. Facing a second and seven, Robinson was given the green light and tried a play action pass.  Under pressure he scrambled right and found Ritter downfield for a 14 yard pick up on the 39.  With the running game keeping the linebackers tight Robinson again went to the air and found Hathaway in the end zone.  The score gave the Tigers a 35-0 edge which meant unless the Lakers could find a way to score running time would be instituted for the fourth quarter.  For the first time this fall the starting offense and defense played a full three quarters of play, a testament to Colchester’s resolve to give it everything they had.  In the forth with running time Junior quarter back Oakley Gordon was able to connect with Abdul Sater for a seven point cushion.  Middlebury now stands perfect for the season at 10-0 and 21-0 in the last two years.  The Tigers will travel to Rutland High on Saturday to play unbeaten St. Johnsbury.  Game time will announced Monday and either be at 2 or 5 pm.      

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