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