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UVM DEFENSE STELLAR IN 56-0 VICTORY
SEPTEMBER 15, 2007 VS. EXETER GAMBLERS AT BURLINGTON, VERMONT
Game Summary by Darren Haynes
Statistics by Brennan Jewett and Kyle Rickstead
Photos Courtesy of Todd Balfour/Balfour Studios
Another outstanding performance by the University of Vermont Catamount defense led to a 56-0 shutout of the Exeter Gamblers Saturday night at Burlington High School. Although the second-team defense played the majority of the game, seven different Catamount defenders recorded sacks and backup Free Safety Tyler Jackson ran two interceptions back for touchdowns.
The Catamounts received the opening kickoff, which was returned by WR Doug DeLuca 42 yards to the Exeter 43 yard line. RB Nate Goddard carried four times and finished the opening drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. A Gavin Battaglia kick made the score 7-0.
Two incompletion by the Gamblers and a sack by DE Justin Rhuda forced a punt that was fair caught by Tyler Jackson at the Exeter 37. Three plays later, QB Drew Trombley hit TE Tim Snow for a 22-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 14-0.
After failing a fourth down attempt, the Gamblers gave the Catamounts the ball again at the Exeter 40. The Catamounts reached the endzone again two plays later as Goddard scored his second touchdown; this time from 18-yards. Cats led after one quarter, 21-0.
The Gamblers got their initial first down on a questionable pass interference call, but were only able to move the ball to their own 45 before tuning over the ball on downs. The Gamblers defense was able to force UVM to punt, but then turned the ball over on downs once again after DE Brian Trudell sacked Brian Hawkins on the Exeter 11.
It only took UVM three plays to score, all runs by RB Adam Clark who scored from 2-yards out. DB Bryan Onyekaba intercepted Hawkins on the next play from scrimmage and returned it to the Exeter 10. The Cats got no points, however, as Battaglia’s 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
With 5:27 left in the first half, Jackson intercepted his first pass and ran it back 51-yards for a score. Battaglia’s kick made it a 35-0 halftime score.
It was more of the same in the second half: the Gamblers kept turning the ball over on downs and the Catamounts kept scoring. RB Dustin Degree took the Catamounts first play of the third quarter in for a 17-yard score, and three plays later Jackson ran a 25-yard interception back for a touchdown. FB Brett Rosenberg added a 6-yard touchdown midway through the fourth to cap the scoring.
“The score was a bit deceptive,” said Head Coach Darren Haynes. “Instead of punting, they continued to go for it on fourth down giving us great field position. When you only have 20 yards to go, you’d better score lots of touchdowns. I think that if they had punted more, the score would have been closer. Their defense played better than the score indicated. Overall, we were pleased to give our entire bench a chance to play.”
In the victory the Catamounts used 40 players, including three quarterbacks and five running backs. UVM has yet to allow a rushing touchdown all season and have not yielded any touchdowns in eleven consecutive quarters. The Catamount defense gave up only 11 total yards to Exeter and the Gamblers did not cross midfield once the entire game. Exeter’s only first down was awarded via penalty.
UVM travels to take on the 3-0 Mass Fury on Sunday September 23. This showdown of division leaders could likely determine which team has home field advantage throughout the playoffs. After a week off, the Catamounts return to Burlington on October 6 for a homecoming game against the Central Maine Warriors.
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Exeter (1-3) 0 0 0 0 0
Vermont (3-0) 21 14 14 7 56
Scoring Summary
QTR Team Result
1 Vermont Nate Goddard 9-yard run. (Gavin Battaglia kick)
1 Vermont Tim Snow 22-yard pass from Drew Trombley (Battaglia Kick)
1 Vermont Nate Goddard 18-yard run (Battaglia Kick)
2 Vermont Adam Clark 2-yard run (Battaglia Kick)
2 Vermont Tyler Jackson 51-yard interception return (Battaglia Kick)
3 Vermont Dustin Degree 17-yard run (Battaglia Kick)
3 Vermont Tyler Jackson 25-yard interception return (Battaglia Kick)
4 Vermont Brett Rosenburg 6-yard run (Battaglia Kick)
TEAM STATISTICS VERMONT EXETER
First Downs 4 1
Rushes-Yards 28-148 22-(-12)
Passing Yardage 22 23
Passes (Comp-Att-Int) 1-4-0 4-19-2
Total Offense 170 11
Punt Return Yards 0 0
Kick Return Yards 42
Total Yards 312
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards
RUSHING: Vermont — Nate Goddard 8-101-2TD, Dustin Degree 6-27-TD, Adam Clark 6-14-TD, Brett Rosenberg 1-6-TD, Mark Rasmussen 2-6, Jack Dubuke 3-2, Mike Glynne 2-(-7); Exeter — Bill Hawkins 12-(-40),
PASSING: Vermont –Drew Trombley 1-2-22-0 TD, Mike Glynne 0-1-0-0, Doug DeLuca 0-1-0-0; Exeter – Bill Hawkins 4-19-23-2.
RECEIVING: Vermont – Tim Snow 1-22-TD; Exeter – Justin Fox 3-59, John Marlowe 1-12, Travis Schmaler 1-6
KICKING: Vermont – Gavin Battaglia 8-8 XP, 0-2 FG (blocked 22,32)
SACKS: Vermont —
INTERCEPTIONS: Vermont: Tyler Jackson 2-76-2TD, Bryan Onyekaba 1-15.
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