QB Clayton Torres

Pic by Linda...

Eleventh Season 2007-2017

Alumni Field, Keene HS – Keene, NH

8/19/17

Kick-off 6:30PM

Staff Report

Vermont Ravens 41

Monadnock Marauders 0

With starting quarterback Kenny Phillips II (Williston) active but nursing a sprained ankle Head Coach Pete Everett called upon his veteran back-up QB #14 Clayton Torres (Barre) to lead the team.  And lead them he did going 15-22 for 274 yards, throwing 2 touchdown passes, and rushing for 1 touchdown while gaining 18 yards on the ground on 5 carries.

Spreading the ball around Torres completing passes to 5 different receivers.  WR/DB/KR #31 Jeric Tyler (Northfield) made 6 catches for 134 yards and receiver #19 Chad Carlsen (Waterbury) had 4 catches for 76 yards.  But, the player who got the most bang for his buck was FB/SS #20 Roy Rose (Northfield) who caught 3 balls out of the backfield for 34 yards and two touchdowns.  Rose also rushed 3 times for 8 yards and 1 score.

Like a lot of times, and this being no different, when teams score 41 points balance is the prevailing theme.  The offensive line of #63 Paul-Dan Winters (E. Montpelier), #72 Bradley Durkee (Montpelier), #79 Curtis Christiansen (Plainfield), #77 Kevin Keeling (Barre), #75 Jordan O’Grady (Milton), #55 Tyler Baker (Northfield) and reserve #67 Bryan Brunner (Randolph) all performed well allowing time for Torres to throw and the running game to flourish.  Total yards for the team was 418 gained.

Running back #21 Anthony LaRosa (Northfield) ran for 120 of the teams 146 yards gained on the ground and he scored 1 touchdown on a 1-yard plunge at the 9:03 mark of the first quarter.  This was the first score and only touchdown in the quarter.  K/DT #58 Juju Ayida (Plainfield) point after was good giving the Ravens a 7-0 lead.  LaRosa ran the ball 22 times with impressive burst of 37 and 20 yards each, keeping drives alive, and helping to keep the defense on the bench resting which was key during this hot and muggy August evening game.

Speaking of the defense MVP defensive player of the year candidate linebacker #57 Nolan Callahan (Cabot) had another outstanding game.  For the second consecutive game Callahan recorded 14 tackles, 2 of them solo, 2 passes defensed with 1 interception, and 2 sacks.  Another day at the office for Callahan.

Early in the second quarter with Callahan, defensive end #46 Joseph Picard (Montpelier), and defensive tackle #93 Lloyd White (Barre) leading the way, the Raven defense, which was outstanding all game long, forced a punt from the Marauders 5-yard line that Tyler returned back to the 25.  Next play Torres wasted no time finding Rose on a quick out.  Catching and turning Rose made a nice cut inside losing one defender and rambled downfield 20 yards to the Marauder 5.  Everett called Rose’s number again and taking the hand-off from Torres put his head down breaking several tackles and burst into the end zone for Vermont’s second touchdown.  Linemen Durkee aided the score as he got out on a linebacker and made a nice block at the goal line helping with Rose’s final push into the end zone.  Ayida’s extra point was good and the score was 14-0 Ravens with 9:48 left in the second quarter.

Special teams played a part in the victory as on the ensuing kick-off Ayida chipped the kick high in the air over the first line of blockers for the Marauders and into the hands of defensive back #1 Matthew Gomes (Montpelier).  Gomes had sprinted down under the ball and jumped, winning the battle with a Marauder player, to come down with it on the 45-yard line of Monadnock.  Two runs by LaRosa and a 15-yard completion to Tyler brought the team to the 6-yard line.  From there Torres, taking a quick two-step drop, fired a pass to Rose running free and the veteran fullback raced into the end zone for his second score on the day.  Ayida was accurate again on the extra point and Vermont led 21-0 with 9:48 remaining in the first half.

The teams suffocating defense continued and a sack on Marauders quarterback Gavin Sales down on their own 2-yard line by Picard, and White forced another punt, this time from their own end zone.  Tyler returned the kick 7 yards down to the 27-yard line and on the next play Torres connected with receiver #4 Jaren Jeffcoat (Northfield) for 16 yards.  The Marauders made a nice goal line stand after a run by Torres off the right side got the ball to the 1-yard line.  Unable to punch it in Everett called on Ayida to attempt a 19-yard field goal, which he did successfully, and with 2:49 left in the half it was 24-0 Vermont.

Right before the half ended after the Ravens got the ball back, Torres completed a pass to Tyler that he went up and got over the defender that went for 34 yards.  Next play Torres had to scramble out of bounds with no open receivers saving 2 seconds on the clock.  Ayida again was called on to attempt the field goal this time from 32 yards.  Nailing the kick Ayida and the team took a 27-0 lead into half-time.

The Raven defense swarmed and created havoc on the Marauder offense all day.  Getting pressure on Sales early and often they never allowed him to get untracked.  Interceptions by defensive end #91 Michael Fulton (S. Burlington) and Callahan ended drives with Callahan’s setting up the only score of the third quarter.  Dropping back into coverage Callahan picked off a tipped pass by White from Sales and took off toward the Raven sideline cutting up field and gaining 23 yards on the return.  The next play Torres rolled right and once again found Rose on the right sideline where upon catching the ball strolled the 8 yards into the end zone for his third score of the day.  Ayida hit his fourth extra point to expand the lead to 34-0 Vermont.

To round out the scoring Torres, after completing a 14-yard pass to Phillips that got the team down to the 3-yard line of the Marauders, rolled right beating everyone to the pilon for the touchdown.  Ayida topped off the scoring hitting his fifth consecutive extra point making it 41-0 Ravens.

On the day Ayida was 5-5 on extra points, 2-3 on field goal attempts and contributed on defense from his defensive tackle position with 5 tackles, 1 of them solo.

Picard had 7 tackles, 3 solo and 3 sacks.  White had 6 tackles, 2 of them solo and 2 sacks to go along with his tipped pass that Callahan intercepted.  LB #65 Tyler Tetreault (Barre) had 6 tackles, 1 solo.  Rose had 5 tackles, and 2 passes defensed.  Fulton had 3 tackles and 1 interception.  Gomes had 3 tackles and the onside kick recovery.  DB/RB/KR #18 Terrance Whitney (Burlington) had 6 tackles, 1 solo.  LB #32 Kenny Campbell had 4 tackles, 3 of them solo.  DB #25 Cody Flanagan had 4 tackles, 1 of them solo and 1 pass defensed.  DE #83 Anthony Menard (Glover) had 3 tackles and 1 sack.

Vermont improves to 5-1 while Monadnock falls to 1-4.  The Ravens have the next two weeks off before returning to action on Sunday, Sept. 10^th with a 2PM kick-off at South Burlington HS against the New Britain Brawlers.  Monadnock is at home again next Sat. 6:30PM kick-off against the Mid-Coast Falcons.

For more information visit www.vermontravens.com or www.facebook.com/VTRavensfans