My day in St. Johnsbury and the #vthsfootball championship games

     For the first time ever, I had the opportunity to be a part of a day-long extravaganza in high school sports.  Well, first time may be an understatement as I was at the baseball finals at Centennial Field back in June, but I wasn't going to miss out on this occasion.  I heard so many people talk about the experience of being at Rutland for championship Saturday in football, but never had a chance to get down there (work or transportation issues).  But this year, I knew I needed to get down there.

    I left my place at around 6:30AM yesterday, got to St. Johnsbury at 8AM and had breakfast at Anthony's Diner on Railroad Street.  The food there was delicious, and it definitely felt like an old-school diner experience.  After that, it was a walk down memory lane (as a grad of Lyndon State College) heading to Fairbanks Field for the 3 title games taking place.  Meeting so many people before and during the games (media, coaches, officials, administrators) was such an exciting experience and made it feel like an event.

    The Division 2 final between Rice and Fair Haven was first off.  The Knights got off to a great start with 2 long TD passes from Dallas St. Peter, but the Slaters responded with a prolific defensive game and a running game that could not be stopped.  The game was close throughout, but Fair Haven put it away late with a time-consuming final drive and an INT late to secure their first title since 2017.

    After that was the D3 final and it was all Woodstock from the opening kick.  The Wasps pulled away to a 65-14 win over Otter Valley to secure their 12th state title, tying the record for most in the sport (Hartford and Bellows Falls also have 12).  The 65 points were the most all time in a high school football championship game.

    Then came the main event:  The D1 title game, which featured CVU and Rutland.  The Redhawks have been the most dominant team in D1 post-Covid, making the title game for the 3rd time in 4 years and looking for their second title in this run.  Not only did they do just that, but it was another dominant performance for a team that has done just that during their undefeated season.

    Nolan Walpole shined all game long (even after suffering an ankle injury late in Q2) and Orion Yates was able to find his receivers all game long for an impressive 41-14 win that gave CVU their 6th state title in the fall season (Girls XC, Boys and Girls golf, Boys and Girls soccer).

    There have been talks as to whether or not this team is the best D1 team ever and it's tough to go against them.  The Redhawks outscored their opponents by nearly 400 points!  Some may say that 2009 Essex is up there as well and, while I knew most of the players on that team (2007 EHS alum), 2024 CVU has a run for that top spot after Saturday's performance.

    At the end of the day, the scores didn't matter to me.  It was being at St. Johnsbury, being part of something that was so special and meeting people who put their heart and soul into Vermont high school football.  Thanks to all of you who were nice enough to let me talk about the game.  Thank you to St. Johnsbury Academy for being an amazing host after 12 years at Rutland.  Thanks to the officials who did a great job during their games.  Thanks to the fans who were able to make this even more special (no matter how far they had to travel to get there).

    Thank you to everyone who made this day one I will never forget!  The fall sports season is over and winter is coming.

    You know what that means?  🎳

Instant Reaction: Rice ends decade-long title game drought, survives Lyndon 27-20.

     The 2024 Rice Memorial football team has had a somewhat easy schedule this year with half of their games against D3 schools (including their only loss vs. BFA-Fairfax).  Coming into the postseason, the odds were against them and, after surviving a scare from U-32 a week ago, it felt like Lyndon would take advantage of that schedule.

But as the old saying goes, the Green Knights survived and advanced.

Rice used a 4th quarter rally and pressure on the Vikings offense to stamp their ticket to the D2 final with a 27-20 win at Bill Landers Field Saturday.  It's the Knights' first title game appearance since 2014.

Rice got the ball to start the game and drove down the field with a couple of big runs from Eric Poso before Dallas St. Peter finished the drive for the TD.  After Lyndon were unable to do anything on their first drive, St. Peter would capitalize again, busting through the defense to make it 13-0 (PAT blocked after the second TD).

But before halftime, the Vikings would gain the momentum with a TD pass from Ethan Lussier to Logan Wheeler with 24 seconds left.  LI would then pull off the onside kick and Lussier would find Wyatt Mason who rumbled down the sidelines to give them the lead at halftime.

Neither team could garner much on offense in the 3rd quarter as Rice would pick off Lussier twice in the quarter.  Then, needing the drive of his HS career, St. Peter would deliver a pass to Isaias Lagasse for the go-ahead score.  Lussier would be picked again on the ensuing drive and St. Peter would connect with Poso to put the game out of reach.

The Vikings would score at the buzzer for the 27-20 final.

Rice (9-1) will face Fair Haven in the Division 2 final (a rematch of that 2014 title game), who knocked out Bellows Falls in the semifinals.  Lyndon's season ends at 6-4.

Week 8 Vermont High School Football Predictions

     It's the final week of the 2024 Vermont High School football regular season, so let's make these picks count.  After a 9-5 run last week, I'm looking to get a perfect run this week.  Here are my picks for Week 8.

Rice @ Milton:  Yellowjackets are in a must-win at home to make the playoffs, but the Knights have looked strong all season and will continue that as they look for the #1 seed in Division 2.

Mount Anthony @ Brattleboro:  The Bears are winless and have nothing to lose while a Patriots loss could force them into a matchup with CVU in the playoffs.  While the upset looks good here, I like MAU to come out of this one with the win.

Poultney @ Fair Haven:  Slaters looking to guarantee a top 4 seed in the D2 playoffs while the Blue Devils have an outside chance to do the same with a win.  In the end, Fair Haven will be too much and send Poultney into the playoffs on a 3-game skid.

Essex @ BFA-St. Albans:  The Bobwhites have given up 50+ in more than half of their games this year.  Don't know if Essex gets to that many, but this should be an easy W for the Hornets on senior night.

Champlain Valley @ Seawolves:  CVU hasn't scored less than 30 since week 1, but might face their biggest test at Munson Field against the Burlington/South Burlington co-op.  I'll take the Redhawks to end the regular season undefeated, but I'm also hoping for a shootout and hope the Seawolves will make it a close one Friday.

Spaulding @ U-32:  The Barre-(E)Montpelier showdown has some D2 playoff implications.  Both teams are coming off impressive wins last week, but I like U-32 to hang on against the Tide.

Hartford @ Rutland:  Doesn't get simpler than this; the winner is guaranteed a home playoff game while the loser could finish as low as 6th.  The Hurricanes have spent the last 2 weeks facing D2 squads while Rutland overcame their first loss of the season with a 54-point explosion at St. Albans.  In this rivalry matchup, I like Rutland to take care of business at home.

Mount Mansfield @ Colchester:  The Lakers have only loss once against a D2 foe in the last two seasons (the 2023 D2 final vs. NCU); I like them against the Cougars at home.

Mount Abraham @ North Country:  A long trek for MAV as they head to Newport with hopes of moving up the ladder in the D2 playoffs.  The Eagles should take care of business in the all-birds showdown with the Falcons.

Middlebury @ Burr and Burton:  This game is at Applejack Stadium as BBA hosts their senior night, but the Tigers look to have the momentum after a huge win at home vs. Essex last week.  Give me Middlebury in this one.

Sanborn (NH) @ Bellows Falls:  While this game will have no playoff implications for the Terriers, I still like them to win this inter-state contest.

Woodstock @ Windsor:  Longtime rivals and opponents in the 2023 D3 finals, but two different teams in 2024.  The Wasps are undefeated and hungry for a title while the Yellow Jackets are young and looking for an upset.  I still like Woodstock in this one.

Missisquoi @ Fairfax/Lamoille:  The Bullets are looking to finish off an undefeated season while the Thunderbirds are looking for win #1.  Going with Fairfax to finish 8-0.

Otter Valley @ Mill River:  The Otters are coming off a bye while the Minutemen have momentum after last week's win vs. Poultney at Castleton.  Another huge rivalry with playoff implications, I like MRU at home.

St. Johnsbury @ Lyndon:  It's the 119th meeting between these two schools, but this means more for the Vikings with a chance at the top seed in D2.  The Hilltoppers are stuck in the 7/8 position in D1 but would like to prove themselves going into the playoffs.  I like SJA on the road.

Week 7 Vermont High School Football Predictions

     Last week, I went 12-2-1 (yeah, I forgot MAU/RICE, so it's a tie for me), but Week 7 should be an easy one with these predictions.  Several games should be easy, but there are a few to keep an eye on in Week 7.  Here are this week's picks:

Burr and Burton @ Champlain Valley:  This is a battle between the last two D1 state champs, but the Bulldogs have lost some key players from 2023, and it's shown all season.  The Redhawks should be able to pull away from BBA.

U-32 @ Mount Mansfield:  A spot in the D2 playoffs may be on the line here with these two 1-5 teams.  The Raiders have lost 5 in a row after winning week 1 and the Cougars won last week ending their own 5-game skid.  It's a toss-up, but I like the Cougars to get win #2.

Brattleboro @ Seawolves:  This looks like a no-contest for Burlington/South Burlington, but don't think it will be easy against a team still with a chance to make the playoffs.  I'll take the Seawolves, but it will be closer than anticipated.

Lyndon @ Woodstock:  The Wasps are one of four unbeatens left in the state but are going up a division this week as they face the Vikings.  Lyndon is coming off a win in the Barrel Bowl but are in a trap game with "the game" vs. St. J next week.   I like Woodstock to stay unbeaten.

North Country @ Hartford:  The Hurricanes play their second straight against a D2 opponent, and this one should be an easy win at home.

Fair Haven @ Mount Anthony:  This one should be a doozy with the Slaters and Patriots in Bennington on Friday.  I'll take Fair Haven to get it done.

Colchester @ St. Johnsbury:  A battle of 2 teams at .500 in their respective divisions, but the D1 Hilltoppers should prevail on the home turf.

Bellows Falls @ Springfield:  The 111th meeting between these two rivals, I like the Terriers to come back from last week's loss at Hartford.

Spaulding @ Missisquoi:  Someone's getting Win #1 in Swanton on Saturday.  I'll take the Tide over the Thunderbirds.

Milton @ Mount Abraham:  The Yellowjackets have battled throughout the season but are still on the outside looking in for a playoff spot.  With the Eagles and Rice ahead, things are looking bleak to get that 8th and final spot.  I'll take Mount Abe at home.

Rutland @ BFA-St. Albans:  After a very difficult 4OT loss at Essex last week, Rutland are poised to rebound this week at St. Albans.

Poultney vs. Mill River:  This one takes place at Castleton and you think that gives MRU the advantage as they have played on Rice's turf field earlier this year.  I still like the Blue Devils to rebound from last week's loss at Windsor.

BFA-Fairfax @ Rice:  The only matchup of undefeated teams at the turf field and it will be a classic matchup of the Bullets running game vs. the Knights' D.  This one will be close, but I think Rice will prevail at home.

Essex @ Middlebury:  We are in October and the Hornets are taking a trip to a venue that may be their version of a haunted house.  A Saturday night showdown at Middlebury with so much on the line.  The Hornets have played 6 extra sessions in the last 2 games while the Tigers are coming off an early morning loss at CVU.

This one has instant classic written all over it and I'm calling for another Hornets win on the road. 

Week 6 Vermont High School Football Predictions

    As we wrap up the 2024 Vermont High School football season, I thought it would be a good idea to give my picks for who will win the remaining games of the year, starting with this week's schedule.  There could be some matchups that could be seen as "instant classics" while a few of them might just be another long day/night for teams who have had rough seasons.

Here's a look at week 6's showdowns and my winners for the week

Bellows Falls @ Hartford:  A battle of longtime rivals kicks off the week Thursday night.  The Terriers are riding a 4-game winning streak and seem locked for a top 4 seed in the playoffs.  Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are coming off a shutout performance at Mount Anthony and are hoping to make a run late in the season.

BF may have the edge in running the ball, but I think Hartford's defense will be too much for them to pick up the upset.

Springfield @ Milton:  Another non-divisional game as Springfield makes the long trek to Milton for a 6:30PM start.  The Cosmos are looking to rebound after a heartbreaking OT loss where they were stopped on a 2-point try to win at Poultney.  The Yellowjackets are 2-3 on the year and fighting for a spot in the playoffs but those Ws have been against winless teams (MSQ and SPA) and they have yet to score 20 points in a game.

Give me Springfield in this one.

Rutland @ Essex:  I may be a homer for my alma mater and the history of this matchup still gives me nightmares, but I will try to be unbiased knowing how good Rutland have been.  But the last 2 games against VT opponents were close contests vs. MIDD and at BBA and Essex are led by Carter Crete and Griffin Randell so this could have all the makings of an upset.

Yeah, I'm going to be biased here...give me the Hornets!

Colchester @ Burlington/South Burlington:  The Lakers come off an impressive upset win against Essex last Thursday, while the Seawolves scored 69 at BFA-St. Albans the next day.  Colchester is no BFA, but B/SB have something special going on this year and start a 3-game homestand to finish 2024.

In this D2 vs. D1 matchup, I'll go with the D1 Seawolves here.

Middlebury @ Champlain Valley:  The Biggest game in week 6 and the earliest game on Saturday (10:30AM) is in Hinesburg as the Tigers and Redhawks battle for the top of division 1.  Both teams come in a week removed from blowout wins against BRAT and SJA, respectively.

The biggest question for this one will be which D can stop each team's top performers:  CVU vs. the Tigers' running attack and MIDD vs. Orion Yates and his big receivers.

This is the biggest toss-up game of the week and maybe even the season.  I think Middlebury will do enough in the end and get an emotional win on the road.

Other Week 6 Picks

Burr and Burton @ St. Johnsbury:  The host Hilltoppers are the Jekel and Hyde of D1.  The Dr. should be in at home against the Bulldogs.

Fair Haven @ U-32:  Slaters get revenge after suffering their first loss last week vs. Bellows Falls.

Keene (NH) @ Brattleboro:  The Bears are 0-5 and allowing 40+ points in their last 4 games.  I'll take the Blackbirds here.

Fairfax/Lamoille @ Mount Abraham:  Another toss-up, but the Bullets should do enough in Bristol to keep their perfect season alive.

Otter Valley @ Missisquoi:  After Dominating Milton a week ago, the Otters take care of business against the Thunderbirds.

BFA-St. Albans @ Mount Mansfield:  Someone's going to get their first W of the season (because HS football games can't end in ties).  Give me the Cougars in the battle of 0-5s.

North Country @ Lyndon:  In the Barrel Bowl game, the Vikings D should be able to stop Hayden Boiven and the Falcons enough to take home the jug.

Woodstock @ Mill River:  Wasps remain undefeated in another high-powered performance.

Poultney @ Windsor:  The Blue Devils will be able to carry the momentum from last week's fantastic finish at home to Windsor and get above 500.

Division 3 Vermont High School Football "Midseason Report"

     Week 4 of the Vermont high school football season finished up on Saturday, meaning we have officially reached the halfway point.  While not all 30 teams have played 4 games thus far, enough games have occurred to give us a good look at which teams have shined this year and which ones have fallen off from 2023.

    With Divisions 1 and 2 out of the way earlier this week, it is time to look at Division 3, where 8 teams are vying for the title, but a couple have already broken from the pack through 4 weeks.

#1--Fairfax/Lamoille (4-0):  Led by a balanced running game, the cooperative team representing BFA-Fairfax and Lamoille are undefeated at the halfway point, including a victory over D2's Milton.  They have 3 more D2 teams upcoming with Spaulding, Mount Abe and Rice before facing Missisquoi to wrap up the season.

#2--Woodstock (3-0):  After a bye in week 4, the Wasps are ready for the homestretch of the season.  They host D2 teams U-32 and Lyndon, while traveling to Mill River and rival Windsor to cap off the season.

#3--Springfield (3-1):  The Cosmos were shut out at Woodstock in week 3 to dampen an otherwise exciting start to the season.  Their final game of 2024 is actually a week early when they host Bellows Falls after Oxbow bowed out at the start of the season.

#4--Otter Valley (1-3):  The Otters may be in D3, but they play a perennial D2 schedule.  They host Milton in their final game at Murkowski before traveling to Missisquoi and Mill River.

#5--Mill River (1-3):  The Minutemen have played stellar defense in their last two games, but scoring has been an issue as they've been held to 6 points in 2 of their losses.  It doesn't get any easier as they travel to Rice in week 5, then face Woodstock, Poultney and Otter Valley to wrap up the season.

#6--Poultney (1-2):  The Blue Devils have only played 3 games, but at 1-2 and with Windsor and Mill River upcoming, they could find their way into a top 4 seed discussion.

#7--Missisquoi (0-4):  The Thunderbirds have scored 6 points in 3 of their 4 losses while giving up 30+ in each game.  They travel to Mount Abe before facing Otter Valley, Spaulding and BFA-Fairfax.

#8--Windsor (0-5):  This definitely isn't the same Yellow Jackets team that won 3-straight D3 championships after graduating several key players in 2023.  Windsor has been shut out in nearly every contest and already forfeited their week 5 game against Lyndon.

Division 2 Vermont High School Football "Midseason Report"

     Week 4 of the Vermont high school football season finished up on Saturday, meaning we have officially reached the halfway point.  While not all 30 teams have played 4 games thus far, enough games have occurred to give us a good look at which teams have shined this year and which ones have fallen off from 2023.  Yesterday, I started with a look at each Division 1 team's season after week 4; now it's time to see what's happened in division 2 and see what's left for each team in 2024.

#1--Fair Haven (4-0):  The top team in the 2023 regular season are out for revenge in 2024 after falling in the semifinals.  Their defense has allowed a combined 14 points in 4 games while QB Cody Adams and brothers Sam and Max Kyhill have led the offense to 34+ points in each.  The Slaters will have some big tests upcoming; hosting Bellows Falls this week before traveling to U-32 and D1's Mount Anthony.

#2--Rice (4-0):  Not a lot of football players can play offense and defense with great success, but in the high school game where it's important to play both sides, QB/DB Dallas St. Peter may have found a way.  Leading the Green Knights to an undefeated first-half of the season, St. Peter has 5 passing TDs, 8 rushing TDs and a Pick-six.  

RBs Griffin Seitz and Eric Poso, and WRs Isaias Lagasse and Holden Mulvey have found success on both sides of the ball this season.  Now, the Knights get set to play their first games on the new turf at Bill Landers field with Mill River, Mount Anthony and Fairfax/Lamoille making the trip to Rice.

#3--Lyndon (3-1):  The Vikings started the year strong with a 21-20 win over Bellows Falls and a couple of runaways vs. MMU and U-32.  But in week 4, Dan Nolan's squad was shut out by Fair Haven and will now have to wait an extra week to get back in rhythm after Windsor decided to call off their week 5 matchup.  They host North Country October 5th, before traveling to Woodstock (#1 in D3) and hosting longtime rival St. Johnsbury to close out the season.

#4--Bellows Falls (3-1):  The Terriers' 2024 season did not get off to the best start, falling to Lyndon 21-20 in week 1.  Since then, the team has scored 30+ points en route to wins over U-32, North Country and MMU.

Led by Eli Allbee, Carson Clark and a running game that's had opponents trying to catch up, Bellows Falls are now heading into a massive run of games to close out the VT portion of their schedule (Fair Haven, Hartford and Springfield).

#5--Colchester (2-2):  In both wins, the Lakers have shut out their opponents; in both losses, they only scored one TD.  That's the case when your schedule consists of mostly D1 schools (CVU, Essex, MAU).  While the running game worked wonders in the first two weeks, Colchester offense has had its fair share of turnovers in the next two.

With the Hornets, Seawolves and Hilltoppers up next, the bonus points of going up a division might not be enough without some good play and maybe a win or two to back it up and keep them on pace for a good seed come playoff time.

#6--Mount Abraham (3-1):  Led by QB Tyler White and RB Cole Gagnon, the Eagles are in the thick of the D2 playoff push.  The squad that includes players from Vergennes Union have suffered just one loss to Rice and started their home slate with an impressive come-from-behind win against Otter Valley.

Mount Abe now has 2 D3 squads in Missisquoi and BFA-Fairfax before their home finale vs. Milton and wrap up the season at North Country.

#7--Milton (2-2):  The Yellowjackets have split each of their first 4 games (LWLW) and now travel to Otter Valley for a massive game on Saturday before hosting Springfield, traveling to Mount Abe and facing Rice in their home finale.

#8--U-32 (1-3):  After a huge week 1 victory at North Country, the Raiders have lost 3 straight and in danger of missing the playoffs.  Their road doesn't get easier with Woodstock and Fair Haven coming up, followed by MMU and Spaulding to end the season.

#9--North Country (1-3):  The defending D2 champions still have their triple threat playmaker in Hayden Boivin but have just 1 win all season (vs. Windsor last week).

#10--Mount Mansfield (0-4):  The Cougars have allowed 35+ points in each game this season with their closest loss coming last week against Bellows Falls (40-21)

#11--Spaulding (0-4):  The Crimson Tide nearly picked up win #1 last week, but a costly turnover against Milton has them still looking with Fairfax, Missisquoi and U-32 on the horizon.

Division 1 Vermont High School Football "Midseason Report"

     Week 4 of the Vermont high school football season finished up on Saturday, meaning we have officially reached the halfway point.  While not all 30 teams have played 4 games thus far, enough games have occurred to give us a good look at which teams have shined this year and which ones have fallen off from 2023.  Let's take a look at each Division 1 team's 2024 year and what's next for some of the best teams.

#1--Champlain Valley (4-0):  The Redhawks have been the team to beat in Chittenden County since 2021 and now boast one of the top defenses in the state.  Their closest win was 17-0 against Hartford in week 1 and have allowed a combined 19 points thru 4 weeks.

At the same time, the offense has scored 40+ points the last 3 weeks.  Led by QB Orion Yates, WRs Jacob Armstrong and Billy Bates and RB Nolan Walpole, CVU continues to be atop the standings in Division 1 and a favorite to win the state title in November.

#2--Rutland (4-0):  The school formerly known as the Raiders; Rutland hasn't seen a lot of success in recent years.  But a marquee victory over Middlebury in week 3 have them poised to make a case in D1.

QB Noah Bruttomesso and RB Jayden Graham have catapulted Rutland's offense as they've scored 21+ points in all 4 games.  They'll hope to keep the momentum going with matchups against Essex and Hartford coming up.

#3--Essex (3-1):  The Hornets are the top 3-1 team in the division according to the VPA's ranking system, but it hasn't come easy for them.  In week 3, Essex lost starting RB Ethan Hemingway to a knee injury and needed stellar play from QB Carter Crete against Burr and Burton to stay above .500 on the season.

While Griffin Randall has had stellar performances in relief of Hemingway, matchups with Colchester, Rutland and Middlebury will determine how far they will go into October.

#4--Middlebury (3-1):  After being unable to come back at Rutland in week 3, the Tigers were able to spoil homecoming weekend at Hartford and keep them in line for a home playoff game.

The Defense has allowed 7 or fewer points in 3 of their 4 games and their trusted running game continues to shine with Avery Carl and Logan McNulty leading the way.  QB Luke Nuceder has found success in the passing game when needed, but can they keep it going with matchups against CVU and Essex coming in October.

#5--Burlington/South Burlington (3-1):  The Seawolves are the dark horse team in Division 1, but with one of the fastest players in the state, anything is possible.

QB Ahmed Diawara ran away with the 100- and 200-meters state championships in track last year and that speed and agility has shown in all 3 wins of 2024.  But he has also found success in the passing game, connecting for a GW TD in a comeback win vs. St. Johnsbury in week 2 and throwing another TD pass in week 4's win against U-32.  With BFA, Colchester and Brattleboro coming up, can he and the Seawolves continue their run to a top seed in the postseason or will they fall into a trap before the showdown with CVU in week 8?

#6--Mount Anthony (2-2):  The Patriots, led by QB Jon Crossman and top receiver Dreland Carey, have won their last 2 games against Burr and Burton and Colchester and now host Hartford in week 5.

#7--Hartford (2-2):  The Hurricanes' offense has been stymied in losses to CVU and Middlebury this season, only scoring a combined 7 points.  But RBs Nick Daniels and Austin St. Peter have stepped up for a program that lost several key players from their 2023 D1 runner-up squad.

#8--St. Johnsbury (2-2):  After starting the year 0-2, the Hilltoppers have outscored opponents 132-21 to get back to 500.  Now they travel to Hinesburg for a matchup with #1 CVU on Saturday.

#9--Burr and Burton (1-3):  The Bulldogs have lost 3 in a row and are feeling the void from graduating several members of the 2023 D1 state championship team.  It doesn't get any easier for BBA as htey face Rutland, SJA, CVU and Middlebury to finish the season.

#10--Brattleboro (0-4):  The Bears have allowed 40+ points in their last 3 games but have only been shut out once and nearly upset BBA in week 1.

#11--BFA-St. Albans (0-4):  the Bobwhites' closest loss was against Colchester in week 2 and are looking for their first points of the season in week 5 vs. the Seawolves.

Vermont High School Sports Streaming Information

Missisquoi-Northwest Access TV (Select Games)

BFA-St. Albans-Northwest Access TV (Select Games)

Enosburg-NFHS (Indoors)

Richford-NFHS (Indoors)

BFA-Fairfax-NFHS (Indoors)

North Country-NSN (Select Games)

Lake Region-NSN (Select Games)

Craftsbury-Craftsbury YT (Select Games)

Lamoille-

Stowe-

Peoples Academy-

Hazen-

Lyndon Institute-NSN (Select Games)

St. Johnsbury Academy-NSN (Select Games)

Danville-Danville YT (Select Games)

Essex-EHS Events YT (Select Games)

Milton-LCATV (Select Games)

Colchester-LCATV & Colchester YT

Burlington-NFHS

South Burlington-NFHS

Winooski-

Rice-NFHS (Indoors)

Mount Mansfield-NFHS (Indoors); MMCTV (Select Games)

Champlain Valley-NFHS

Montpelier-NFHS (Indoors)

U-32-CVTsport (Select Games)

Spaulding-CVTsport (Select Games)

Harwood-NFHS (Indoors)

Twinfield-NFHS (Indoors)

Green Mountain Valley-

Northfield-

Williamstown-

Randolph-NFHS (Indoors)

Blue Mountain-NFHS (Indoors)

Oxbow-NFHS (Indoors)

Thetford-

Sharon-

Rivendell (NH)-

Vergennes-NFHS

Mount Abraham-NFHS

Middlebury-MIDD Tigers YT/WVTK Radio

Otter Valley-NFHS

Fair Haven-NFHS/FHUMHS YT

Poultney-Poultney YT (Select Games)

Mount St. Joseph's-NFHS (Indoors)

Rutland-NFHS

West Rutland-NFHS (Indoors)

Proctor-

Mill River-NFHS (Indoors)

White River Valley-NFHS (Indoors)

Hartford-NFHS

Woodstock-

Windsor-Windsor Athletics YT (Select Games)

Green Mountain-NFHS (Indoors)

Springfield-NFHS

Long Trail School-NFHS

Burr and Burton-NFHS (Select Games)

Arlington-

Grace Christian-

Mount Anthony-NFHS

Bellows Falls-FACT (Select Games)

Stratton Mountain-

Leland & Gray-

Twin Valley-

Brattleboro-NFHS

Vermont Commons

Bellcate-Bellcate Radio

2023-2024 Vermont High School Sports year-in-review

     Another school year has come and gone, but the memories of high school student-athletes playing in amazing contests and winning state titles are still fresh in our minds.  What began in August 2023 ended less than a week ago at Virtue Field, where champions were crowned in D1 Boys and Girls Lacrosse and where some of the biggest moments took place.  With that being said, it's time to look back at the biggest moments of the year.

First, here's a look at the 2023-24 Vermont High School sports champions:

Boys Soccer:  CVU (D1), Harwood (D2), Stowe (D3), Winooski (D4)

Girls Soccer:  Colchester (D1), Milton (D2), Stowe (D3), Arlington (D4)

Field Hockey:  South Burlington (D1), Hartford (D2), Montpelier (D3)

Football:  Burr and Burton (D1), North Country (D2), Windsor (D3)

Volleyball:  Burlington (Boys), Essex (Girls)

Boys Cross Country:  St. Johnsbury (D1), U-32 (D2), Craftsbury (D3)

Girls Cross Country:  CVU (D1), U-32 (D2), Stowe (D3)

Golf:  Rutland (D1 Boys), CVU (D1 Girls), Hartford (D2 Boys), Rice (D2 Girls)

Bass Fishing:  Harwood

Boys Basketball:  Rice (D1), Montpelier (D2), Thetford (D3), Grace Christian (D4)

Girls Basketball:  CVU (D1), Fair Haven (D2), Hazen (D3), West Rutland (D4)

Boys Hockey:  Rice (D1), Hartford (D2)

Girls Hockey:  Burlington/Colchester (D1), Hartford (D2)

Indoor Track:  Essex (D1 Boys), Hartford (D2 Boys), CVU (D1 Girls), Rice (D2 Girls)

Bowling:  Randolph

Alpine Skiing:  Rutland & CVU (Boys), CVU (Girls)

Nordic Skiing:  MMU (D1 Boys), Woodstock (D2 Boys), CVU (D1 Girls), Middlebury (D2 Girls)

Snowboarding:  Burr and Burton (Boys), Woodstock (Girls)

Wrestling:  Mount Anthony (35-year run)

Baseball:  South Burlington (D1), Middlebury (D2), BFA-Fairfax (D3), Blue Mountain (D4)

Softball:  Missisquoi (D1), Enosburg (D2), Oxbow (D3), Richford (D4)

Boys Lacrosse:  CVU (D1), Hartford (D2), Mount Abraham/Vergennes (D3)

Girls Lacrosse:  Essex (D1), U-32 (D2)

Tennis:  Middlebury (Boys), Stowe (D1 Girls), Mount Mansfield (D2 Girls)

Ultimate: Burlington (Boys and Girls) 

Boys Track:  St. Johnsbury (D1), U-32 (D2), Thetford (D3), Richford (D4)

Girls Track:  CVU (D1), U-32 (D2), White River Valley (D3), Northfield (D4)

Congratulations to all the state champions during the seasons.  Now, my picks for the top-15 moments of the season:

15--Windsor's 3-peat in D3 Football

    It can be difficult to pull off a 3-peat in football, but for the Windsor Yellowjackets, they were destined for it.  After they had to endure a lopsided loss to rival Woodstock in the regular-season finale, the defending champs left nothing to chance in a 36-0 win against the Wasps at Rutland High School in the state championship game.

14--Sheehan's CG helps BFA-Fairfax wins D3 baseball title

    In 2023, the White River Valley baseball team couldn't get anything to drop off of Thetford Academy's Xander Oshoniyi in losing the D3 Final.  In 2024, the Wildcats had a similar issue with BFA-Fairfax's Ryan Sheehan.  The Bullets starter gave up just 1 hit and struck out 11 batters to help Fairfax clinch their first state championship since 2015.

13--Burlington/Colchester gets monkey off back, finally win D1 girls hockey title

    The SeaLakers coop team made the D1 girls hockey state championship game for the 4th time in the last 5 years in 2024, but in 2024, they finally got to have that championship moment.  Camryn Poulin scored the game-winning goal late in the second period to give Burlington/Colchester a 3-2 win over powerhouse BFA-St. Albans to give BCHS its first title in the sport.

12--Hurricane warning at the Gut:  Hartford sweeps D2 Hockey

    Hartford had seen its fair share of championship games in 2024 with Football, Boys lacrosse and Boys Basketball reaching the finals.  But it was what they did at Gutterson Fieldhouse back in March that really stood out.  First, the girls hockey program took home their first title with a 5-3 win against Missisquoi.  Then, the boys completed the sweep with a 3-1 win vs. Colchester.

11--A Hornets First:  Essex Girls Lax races past field for historic D1 title

    Similar to Windsor football, the Essex girls lacrosse team saw their undefeated run end in their regular-season finale vs. CVU.  But this squad would not be denied their goal of winning the program's first state championship, taking down the Redhawks in the championship game 12-3 to make that dream a reality.

10--Redhawks revenge tour:  Boys Lax return to top in dramatic fashion

    In D1 Boys Lacrosse, the CVU Redhawks have been the top team for more than a decade.  A run of 9-straight championships came to an end last year when they lost to Middlebury in the semifinals.

    In 2024, CVU had to endure OT finishes in their final 2 games to reach the mountain top again.

    First, against Woodstock, the Redhawks scored just over a minute into the extra period to reach the final.  Then, in the championship game against Middlebury, CVU ended the Tigers' hopes of completing an incredible comeback with a goal just seconds into overtime to clinch the Redhawks' 10th state title in 11 years.

9--Milton wins first D2 Girls Soccer title since 2018

    Yellowjackets defeat Harwood 2-1 in 2023 state championship game.

8--Seahorses Boys Basketball's Cinderella run ends just a few points short against rival Rice

    The Burlington/Rice D1 boys basketball rivalry is one of Vermont's oldest, going back to when the latter was known as Catholic high school.  The Seahorses had a pretty decent 2023-24 season, but a win against the Green Knights gave them momentum going into the state tournament, where they would defeat #3 St. Johnsbury and #2 CVU to make the final and a rematch with Rice.  But the Knights did just enough to defeat Burlington and win their 4th D1 title in the last 5 years.

7--North Country's run to end a 27-year title drought in D2 Football

    After defeating Bellows Falls in OT, North Country scored the game-winning TD with 2 minutes left in regulation to knock off Colchester 21-14 and win their first state title since 1996.

6--Randolph's first ever bowling state championship

    For more on this topic, check out my recap on the Bowling state tournament.

5--Addison County Controversy:  Middlebury outlasts Mount Abe in D2 baseball final

    It was one of the most surreal moments of championship weekend.  Tied at 5 with the winning run at 3rd base, Mount Abraham seemed to have won the game on a walk-off BB.  However, the batter didn't immediately go to first, deciding to celebrate with his teammates.

    In all the confusion, the batter was ruled out and the game continued to the 8th inning, where Middlebury would score 3 runs in the top half and stop the Eagles' comeback hopes in the bottom half to win 8-7 for the first ever D2 state championship.

4--Colchester Girls Soccer's quest to end 30-year D1 title drought

    In 2023, the best feel-good moment may have come from Laker Land.  Colchester's Girls Soccer team had been waiting 3 decades for a state championship.  With help from some perfectly-timed upsets in the D1 tournament, coach Jeff Paul and his team were able to reach the promise land with a 2-0 win over Essex in the finals.

I encourage you to read this piece by Alex Abrami of the Burlington Free Press for more on the Lakers' championship win, which ended up being coach Paul's last game as he announced his departure earlier this year.

3--D1 Football final to remember:  Hartford comeback bid falls short

    The Hartford high school football program had an amazing 2023 with an undefeated regular season, including a blowout win over Burr and Burton.  When the Bulldogs and Hurricanes reached the D1 final at Rutland High School, we didn't know what to expect:  would it be a repeat of their first game or a very close contest?

    Turned out, we got both in 1 game.

    After BBA took a 28-6 lead, Hartford made their ultimate comeback, including a 95-yard TD on a fake punt to tie the game.  The Bulldogs would answer with a game-sealing drive, ending with Jack McCoy's TD pass to Carter Cave with 2:17 left to end the Hurricanes' undefeated run and clinch their first D1 title since 2019.

2--D1 boys soccer finale sequel:  CVU stuns SB in regular season, wins title in PKs

    In 2022, the South Burlington boys soccer teams knocked off CVU in the final seconds of their regular season finale to secure the #1 seed in the D1 tournament, en route to a state championship.

    In 2023, the Redhawks flipped the script by knocking off the Wolves in the final seconds of their regular season encounter in Hinesburg.  Then, in the state championship game at UVM's Virtue Field, CVU and SB needed penalties to win it and, after 3 straight conversions from the PK spot, the Wolves' fourth shot hit the post.  The Redhawks made their next 2 for a 5-4 shootout win and their first title since 2019.

1--Kelly and the Wolfpack:  South Burlington wins first D1 baseball title since 2018

    When covering high school sports, there may be a team you're invested in for a long time that you want to see them overcome adversity and finally win a state championship.  For me, at least in this decade, there have been two:  2022 Essex baseball and 2024 South Burlington baseball

    In both cases, mission accomplished.

    The 2024 Wolves program only lost 3 games all season and were able to clinch the #1 seed in the tournament.  A comeback against Burr and Burton in the semifinals and an explosive start to the final vs. CVU helped SB finally reach the pinnacle of Vermont high school baseball and claim the program's first title in 6 years.  

    In both cases, Nick Kelly dominated on the mound, allowing 2-runs each while going the distance.  His performances (both in this tournament and over the last three years) will no doubt be some that we'll remember for a long time and, as he moves on to Fairfield University to continue his baseball career, leave a lasting impact on the state and South Burlington high school.

Rapid Recap: Blue Mountain capitalizes on costly errors, go Back-to-Back in D4

     The Blue Mountain Bucks got an RBI Single from Cameron Roy and added 2 more on a throwing error at second base to defeat Leland & Gray 6-3, capping off a perfect in-state season and back-to-back Division 4 State championships.

    Starting Pitcher Owen Murray had a difficult start to the game, walking the first two batters on 4 pitches each with the first runner scoring on an error by the catcher.  The Rebels added another run on an RBI single by Peyton Butynski).

    But the Bucks would answer in the bottom of the inning with a 2-run hit by Brody Kingsbury and an error at shortstop scoring a 3rd run.  After that, Murray would settle down and not allow another hit until the sixth inning, though the Rebels would add another run off of an error in the fourth to tie it a 3.

    In the bottom of the sixth, Will Emerson walked and Kason Blood (4-for-4) would single to start the inning.  Roy would score Emerson on his hit and move to second on the throw home.  After a pop-out and a Kingsbury IBB, Murray would pop out to the second baseman, who would try to pick off Blood at 3rd.  But an errant throw allowed him and Roy to score.

    Leland & Gray would make it interesting in the 7th with a bunt single and walk putting the first two runners on.  But Murray would get a pair of FCs and a fly out to center to end the game.

    BMU finished the season at 18-1, winning the program's 11th state title.  6-seed Leland & Gray, who had to win twice on the road to get here, finish at 10-9.

Vermont High School Playoffs Preview

     The final regular season games of the 2023-24 school year have wrapped up and the playoffs begin on Tuesday for most sports (Track and Field and Unified Basketball wrapped up in May).  For some teams, it's the start of a run to a state title while others are looking to play spoiler.  Here's a look at the state tournaments in 3-word statements.

Baseball

D1--Anyone Can Win; North vs. South; Wolves are #1; CVU's 0-3 finish; Hauser, Davis, Hazen.

D2--A New Champion; Thunderbirds vs. Solons?  Hartford's successful year; 6 10-win teams

D3--Thetford vs. Everyone; Terriers rebound year

D4--Bucks repeat agenda; Rivendell seeks first; Southeast VT surging

Softball

D1--Comets' dominating year; Can Colchester Capitalize; Is Missisquoi real?  Kittridge and Toppers

D2--More Franklin royalty?  3 Identical Records; Champs outside Top-8

D3--Oxbow vs. Field

D4--Bucks vs. Horde?

Boys Lacrosse

D1--Redhawks Revenge Tour; Middlebury Redemption Finale

D2--A Hurricane Repeat?

D3--Who Are Gumbies?  Montpelier Continue Dominance; MAV finally finishes

Girls Lacrosse

D1--Hornets' Virtue return; Redhawks spoil perfection; Wolves run returns

D2--Hartford's perfect season; Raiders, MAV threatening

5 burning Vermont High School Baseball Questions

    As we hit the midway point of the 2024 Vermont high school baseball season, there is still a lot of questions that need to be answered.  However, the most important ones may come from Division 1 as the Metro division squads go full throttle and figure out who the contenders are that can vie for a state championship.  With that being said, here are 5 questions to think of for the last month of the season.

1---Can CVU come back from a convincing loss?

On May 7th, the Redhawks went to South Burlington looking to keep their undefeated record intact.  But the Wolves had other ideas, capitalizing on big hits and handing the defending champs their first loss of the season.  Now, CVU looks to get back on the right track heading towards a rematch with South Burlington in Hinesburg on the 28th.

They have the hitting from Travis Stroh and Russell Willoughby and Stephen Rickert is one of the top pitchers in the division, but can they find their rhythm when it matters most and keep a chance of a repeat title on go.

2---Is it Kelly or bust for South Burlington?

While the hitting of Andre Bouffard and Lucas Van Mullen has stepped up in a big way, the Wolves have been riding the hot hand of Nick Kelly on the mound.  Kelly has started the 2024 season with the same dominance that has led SB to so much success the previous two years, including a D1 semifinal appearance last year.  But when Kelly isn't available to pitch, who will step up?

Maybe it's Van Mullen, who pitched a gem of his own against Mount Mansfield on May 9th.  What about newcomer Henry Dorman, who had a quality performance against Essex on May 2nd?  Whoever it may be, it seems like this Wolves squad is destined for a potential championship...as long as they remain healthy throughout the season.

3---Can another Metro team pull off a run?

    It's one of the most stacked divisions in the state and anyone can make a run if it all comes together.  Colchester has Zach Davis and Vinny Wagoner, who pitched a no-hitter on May 7th against St. Johnsbury.  Speaking of the Hilltoppers, Rex Hauser has been one of their best players and has led them to a 6-1 start.  And while the Cougars did fall for the second time, Langdon Hazen and Easton Randall have become a 1-2 punch on the mound for the Jericho squad.

    The postseason isn't about which seed you are but about if you can make a run to get to Centennial Field to play for a championship.  In the Metro, that run can start with picking up some huge Ws in the regular season.

4---Is this the year a Southern division team wins the title?

    In 2023, the Mount Anthony Patriots were one win away from ending a 6-year drought of a team from the southern part of the state becoming D1 baseball state champions.  In 2024, the Bennington squad has come out scorching, winning their first 10 games, including a 4-2 decision at South Burlington on April 27th.

    Meanwhile, Burr and Burton have won their last 5 games, including a 2-1 win against the Wolves on May 4th.  With a matchup against the Patriots looming on the 17th in Manchester, where will the Bulldogs be at when the season concludes?

5---D2, D3, D4 teams to watch?

    While the defending champions in D3 (Thetford) and D4 (Blue Mountain) have found repeated success in 2024, they are met at the top by teams looking to make a run to Centennial.  Green Mountain, Bellows Falls, Woodstock and White River Valley are teams the Panthers will have to keep an eye on while Rivendell is keeping pace with BMU in D4.

    In Division 2, it is a wide-open field for the state title with last year's champs Peoples in a rebuilding year, joining forces with Stowe for a co-op team in 2024.  6 teams are at least 3 games over .500 as of May 15, including Missisquoi and Montpelier who have only lost once this season.

    We are officially one month away from Championship Saturday in the Vermont High School Baseball season, but there is so much to be seen when it comes to who will end up playing for the titles.  Over the course of the next two weeks, we will be splitting up the contenders from the pretenders.  Which teams will rise?  Which ones will fall?  Who will make it to Centennial Field?  We're about to find out!  ⚾

Randolph Claims first Bowling Title, thwarts SB's Cinderella Run.

A few weeks ago, Coach George Rooney told me via e-mail that he would put his South Burlington Strikers team up against any of his past bowling teams.  After their performance in the Vermont High School Bowling state tournament on Saturday, maybe he was on to something.

The #6 seed picked up massive wins against defending state champion Brattleboro and Metro division champion Essex, heading to the final match after a furious run.

But that's where they ran into some Ghosts and their Cinderella story came to an abrupt end.

#1 Randolph continued their dominance in the state tournament, en route to their first state title in program history.  Coach Karen Warner and her squad only lost 5 Bakers games in the regular season, going a perfect 9-0 in matches, combining the team and individual events.

The tournament kicked off with 3 first-round matches:  White River Valley and Craftsbury went to a roll-off in game 4 of their match, but the Chargers would hold on and complete the sweep of the Wildcats.  Fair Haven defeated Burlington in 6 games to advance while SB needed 5 games to beat #11 Hartford.

In the Quarterfinals, Randolph swept the Slaters, while Windsor and Essex needed 5 games to defeat St. Johnsbury and Craftsbury, respectively, and the Wolves knocked out the Bears in 6 to set up the Semifinals.

In the first semifinal, Windsor tried their hardest to come back from 3-0 down (including a 1-pin win in game 5), but Randolph was too strong in game 6 and advanced to the finals.  The loss ended coach Steve Bly's tenure as head coach of the Yellow Jackets after 12 years and marked the final high school match for senior Avery Bean.

In the other one, Essex had things in hand with a 3-1 lead, but the Wolves/Strikers would continue to fight all the way to a game 7.  In that seventh game, Essex would come up 1 pin short, sending SB to the title match for the first time in 3 years.

The final was all Randolph, though.  Led by the brother-sister duo of Avery and Grace Stockwell, the Ghosts would put up scores of 169, 194, 215 and 202 to win the state title.

But make no mistake about it, South Burlington was the talk of the tournament and proved that anyone could make a run through this tournament, no matter which seed they are.

Notes:

Steve Bly was named coach of the year while his Windsor team was recognized with the sportsmanship award...Bly's final event as coach will be on March 9th, when he leads the top Vermont seniors against the best from New Hampshire in the twin state bowling classic in Claremont, NH...Along with Essex, Randolph (central) and Brattleboro (southern) also received awards as the top teams in their division.

Vermont High School Bowling Tournament preview

    The 2023-24 Vermont high school bowling regular season is over and the 2024 state championships are just days away.  On March 2nd, 11 teams will head up to Colchester's Sparetime entertainment center for the 2024 state tournament.

The defending state champions are Brattleboro.  The Bears may have seen their nickname change, but they are still the team everyone is gunning for.  Led by individual state champion Thomas Bell, the #3 seed in the state tournament have topped in almost every match against their southern VT opponents, but came up short against Windsor in their final regular season match on February 17th.  That win gave the Yellowjackets momentum going into the tournament, securing the #5 seed and a first-round bye.

It's been an up-and-down year for coach Steve Bly's squad in his final season leading Windsor, but he's had some key players come up big when the time is right, pointing to sophomores Roxie Sherwin and Sam Russell's contributions in the team events.  But it's senior Avery Bean who Bly touted the most, calling him his "go-to bowler."  "His senior leadership has been on point communicating to his teammates about lane conditions and staying focused."

While Windsor may have the momentum going into Saturday, Randolph and Essex have been the top two teams in the state in 2024.  Led by Avery Stockwell, the Ghosts have won every Bakers match they've been in this year (losing only 5 games).  Meanwhile, the Hornets, led by Caleb Green, topped the northern division and are looking to do what Brattleboro did last year in winning the state title after losing in the final the previous year.

Then, there are the teams looking to make a Cinderella run in the state tournament.  One of those teams is South Burlington.  The Wolves/Strikers are the #6 seed in the tournament, but coach George Rooney will take it based on where they started.  "It's been a very rewarding year so far" Rooney said.  "We started with only four returning bowlers, but we were able to add some athletes to fill out the team."  

In sports, some teams have a most valuable player (or in this case bowler).  While Coach Bly mentioned Bean as his, coach Rooney went with a different approach.  "We have a most valuable team. Together they have shown they can handle the pressure, learn and improve, and have a good time while doing so."

Even if their run ends without a title, Rooney knows how special this team has been.  "We've had statistically better teams in the past, but I would put this squad up against them with no hesitation."

As for the remaining teams, St. Johnsbury enters as the #4 seed in their first season.  Landon Labounty finished runner-up to Bell in the individual tournament while Ryan Hall was the top senior bowler in the state.

#7 Craftsbury had 3 bowlers in the individual tournament:  All 3 finished in the top 10 with Jacob Marquis placing 3rd.

#8 Burlington is led by junior Noah Jenkins and senior Jacob Wooster.  In last year's tournament, the Seahorses racked up 8 straight strikes in one game.

#9 Fair Haven and #11 Hartford both have first-year head coaches (Nick Rice and Rebecca Kaplan, respctively), while #10 White River Valley had their best regular season finish on February 17th, finishing second behind Randolph in the match.

No matter what happens, this tournament is not only about winning a title but also about sportsmanship.  Every player and every coach will be cheering on their friends and colleagues, no matter what jersey they wear.

I guess that's why championship Saturday has become one of the best days of the year and one that's more an event than a game or match.

Tournament pairings

First Round (begins at 9AM)

#11 Hartford vs. #6 South Burlington

#10 White River Valley vs. #7 Craftsbury

#9 Fair Haven vs. #8 Burlington

Quarterfinals (follows Round 1)

#5 Windsor vs. #4 St. Johnsbury

HART/SB vs. #3 Brattleboro

WRV/CA vs. #2 Essex

FH/BUR vs. #1 Randolph

Vermont High school basketball predictions

The 2024 Vermont high school boys basketball playoffs are about to begin.  The road to a state championship started in November and after this week, only the 16 best teams will head to the final four (at UVM in D1, Barre Aud in D2, D3 and D4).  With that being said, here are my predictions of the teams who I believe will compete in the semis.

Division 1

It is a toss-up figuring out the 4 teams that will make it to Patrick Gym next week for the D1 semifinals.  CVU and Rice are the likely favorite with dominating regular season runs.  After that, St. Johnsbury and Rutland are the higher seeds, but don't sleep on Burlington (who knocked off Rice on Saturday) and South Burlington (who have the players that can pull off an upset or two).  But everyone in the first round has to be careful because we could see a few close calls like we did in 2023, especially in the north/south contests (MAU @ BFA, BRAT @ BUR, BBA @ COL).

Semifinals

Burlington vs. CVU

South Burlington vs. Rice

Championship Game

CVU vs. Rice

Division 2

Montpelier may be the defending state champions, but Hartford is #1 with a bullet after a program-record 19-win regular season.  The road to a championship showdown sees Harwood, North Country and Fair Haven as potential roadblocks.

Semifinals

Fair Haven vs. Hartford

Harwood vs. Montpelier

Championship

Montpelier vs. Hartford (Hurricanes win their first state championship since 1929)

Division 3

Hazen is on a revenge tour with Xavier Hill leading the way.  Defending champions Winooski would be their opponent in the Semifinals should they make it that far.  Thetford and White River Valley are in the mix on the bottom half of the bracket and either one of them can play spoiler.

Semifinals

Winooski vs. Hazen

White River Valley vs. Thetford

Championship

Thetford vs. Hazen

Division 4

The rankings in D4 changed dramatically over the last week.  West Rutland was #1 but dropped to 3 after a loss to Long Trail Friday night.  Danville and Grace Christian were the benefactors from that, moving ahead of the Golden Horde in the standings.

Semifinals

Twin Valley vs. Danville

West Rutland vs. Grace Christian

Championship

West Rutland vs. Danville