WEEK THREE, ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?

In action from last Friday night, the 2005 D-I Champion MSJ lost for the first time this season to Mt. Anthony 26-13 in a shocker that will shake up everyone’s polls state wide. Just when you think its all coming together the wheels begin to come off for the 2 and 1 Mounties. This loss puts them into kind of must win scenario this weekend with Middlebury coming to town. At 2 and 1 the Tigers are young and hungry and want to make a name for them selves. The Mounties probably just want to survive another week without an injury. The States Premier linemen Jason Foster is rumored to be coming back to play this week after sitting out the MAU game with a concussion that he suffered against Essex in week two. The Mounties need him back soon if they are going to have an opportunity to defend their title in November.

Speaking of Essex wow what a difference a week makes for them. Talk about a team on the brink in need of a win. Hartford hits a big field goal as time expires at home against them and perhaps time is running out on the Hornets season of hope in getting to the playoffs in 06.  With Brattleboro and Rutland left to contend with this season coach Bill Mayville must be working overtime on how to beat them both. Brattleboro plays at Spaulding this week in a non league game and MAU will be at Essex in what should be a pretty good game that will have playoff type implications.

With the Rutland Raiders now at 0 and 3 in non league action to this point due to forfeiting its first game of the season against South Burlington because of an academic situation, Mike Norman’s gang will be heading east to Hartford Friday night for what will undoubtedly be a big test for them and the Hurricanes. This is just like the first game of the season for the Red Raiders, from here on in they all count and watch out for Rutland when it begins to count for real.

Otter Valley is cursing right along after a big win at home over CVU. The Otters are in a great position right now to control their entire season. With an odd game this Thursday night at Montpelier, and don’t ask me why its Thursday night but that’s what the schedule says, it should act as a good warm as they look ahead to a huge game with U-32 that’s just weeks away. U-32 completely took apart Burr N Burton last week and the Raiders are in overdrive at the moment. The D-IV faithful have been looking ahead to this match up for the entire season and we just hope it lives up to all the hype when it finally happens.

Poultney seemed to be heading right into the upper tier of D-III and then Windsor came to town last weekend and handed the Blue Devils a tough loss. They should bounce back rather nicely this week against Springfield and get themselves back in the mix, but a loss is a loss and they will have their work cut out for them. Mill River laid another egg last week with Colchester and they could not even get to the end zone. It doesn’t get any easier for them this week as they will travel to Windsor who looking for another trip to the playoffs. A win against Mill River should assure them of at least that. Mt Mansfield beat a jump started Montpelier team that could not get out of its own way in the second half after being up 14 to 0. The Solons are young and don’t have a lot of depth.

Woodstock seems to be back on track from what were seeing. Jim McLaughlin has the old formula cooking in Woodstockville again after a slow start. I don’t believe there was any question about what they have there it was just a matter of time before it materialized. They have a pivotal game this weekend with Rice visiting them and that is our game of the week. Rice looked very good this past week in a game with a much smaller Springfield team and they will have to contend with Woodstock’s potent running attack. If Woodstock can strike early and keep Rice off balance the undermanned Wasps will have an opportunity to play their own game. Rice can come at you from many different looks and Woodstock is going to have to play tough on D to have a chance to win at home.

South Burlington, Burlington, BFA St Albans and ST Johnsbury have a pretty good handle on things in D-II at the moment. In what could be a pretty good match up Fair Haven will travel to St Johnsbury to take on the Hilltoppers. The winner of this game could be odds on favorite as the fourth team in the D-II playoffs in November.
We will have our weekly top three out on Thursday night.
See you soon.

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