9/10/16 (5-3)

Rookie receiver Zach Allen comes down with his second touchdown catch of the day.

Photos courtesy of Linda Salmon

#93 Lloyd White and #35 Jesse Burke stopping the Riptide quarterback for no gain... 

Tenth Anniversary Season 2007-2016

Cranston Stadium, Cranston, RI 

9/10/16 

Kick-off 4:00pm 

Staff Report 

Vermont Ravens 18 

Rhode Island Riptide 21 

Following a bye week that all New England Football League members have for the Labor Day holiday the Vermont Ravens traveled to Cranston Rhode Island yesterday to play the Rhode Island Riptide in a match-up of 5-2 teams. 

The Riptide defense started strong and were able to keep the Ravens off the board until mid-way through the third quarter with a bend, but not break attack.  Lots of stunts and blitzes worked to keep Raven quarterback #19 Jaren Jeffcoat (Northfield) uncomfortable, but Head Coach/offensive coordinator Pete Everett was content to rely on the legs of #21 Anthony LaRosa (Northfield).  As he has done all year LaRosa picked up some nice chunks of yardage with the longest a well blocked 16 yard scamper which prolonged a drive and forced the defense to lessen its stunting to a degree.

Eventually as this tactic started to work more and more, Jeffcoat was able to open up and complete some nice pass plays.  One such mid-way through the third quarter had Jeffcoat find receiver #14 Clayton Torres (Barre) running a post in Riptide territory.  Jeffcoat, with time as the offensive line started to click as a unit, patiently waited for Torres to come free and sent a laser which Torres snagged and continued for another 10 yards for the longest Vermont completion of the day, a 34 yard gain.

This continued a nice drive which resulted in the first of rookie receiver #83 Zach Allen (Northfield) two touchdown catches.  After LaRosa picked up another 6 yards to bring the Ravens down to the 6 yard line Jeffcoat, from the gun formation, took the snap, avoided early pressure, and rolled to his left finding an open Allen in the end zone for his first touchdown as a Raven.  The point after by #77 Juju Ayida (Plainfield) was wide and at 7:11 left in the third the score was 21-6 Riptide.

The next series for Rhode Island had Riptide quarterback Hamlin under pressure throwing over the middle where Raven linebacker #35 Jesse Burke (Cabot) stepped in front of the intended receiver and intercept the ball in stride making his way back against the grain and into Riptide territory for a 27 return.

A Riptide penalty during the return brought the ball down to the Riptide 20 where Jeffcoat looked for Allen again and seeing a size mismatch threw high where only the 6’4” receiver could catch it.  Allen didn’t disappoint as he skied, caught, and came down being hit immediately.  Shaking off the would be tackler, he continued running and burst into the end zone for his second, and the teams, second touchdown of the game.  Jeffcoat stayed on for a two point conversion attempt, but his pass was incomplete and the score, with 4:00 remaining in the third quarter, was 21-12 Rhode Island.

A critical play that looked like a big stop for the Raven defense was on the very next series where on a fourth and short play Riptide quarterback Hamlin would try a sneak which looked like was stopped short of the line by #93 Lloyd White (Barre) and Burke.  After the dust had cleared and the ball was spotted, it was just enough for a Riptide first down as the referee signaled forward progress as the reason for the generous spot.  Even though the Ravens did stop the Riptide on downs the very next set, important time was slipping away from the Ravens.

The next Raven series on a third and 10 play Jeffcoat was flushed from the pocket and as he scrambled left the ball was jarred loose and a nearby Riptide defender pounced on it foiling that Raven drive.  Rhode Island had a nice run down the right sideline called back because of a penalty which stymied that drive for them.

All this led to the last minute excitement provided by back-up quarterback Torres, who replaced an ejected Jeffcoat (an altercation with a Riptide defender earlier had resulted with both players being ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct).  Torres led the team down the field to the 14 yard line.  From there Torres took the snap, moved left and sent a strike to wide receiver #81 Sean Lamphere (Burlington) who running free in the right side of the end zone calmly caught the ball for a touchdown reception with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter.  Torres attempted a pass on the ensuing two point conversion attempt, but it fell incomplete, and the score was 21-18 Riptide.

Vermont’s defense did its job as the Riptide were down to fourth down in their own territory with not much time left.  Rhode Island attempted a fake punt which the Ravens sniffed out and denied them the first down and the Ravens took over on downs with 2:16 left in the fourth.

Unable to move the ball much themselves and with time running out and on fourth down and long just inside Riptide territory, Torres had one more shot.  Having some time Torres looked left then back right as Rhode Island laid back playing a prevent defense.  Torres unloaded a long pass up high to Allen down the right sideline.  As the ball was coming down Allen adjusted his route and started to go up for the ball but he was knocked down seemingly before the ball reached him.  No whistle, and the game was for all intents and purposes over as the Riptide knelt twice to run the clock out as the Ravens had no more timeouts.  Final Riptide 21, Ravens 18.

Never one for making excuses Coach Everett told the team afterwards that you can’t hope for help from the officials when in the end it was our fault for letting the Riptide get out to such a lead such as 21-0 before the Ravens scored mid-way in the third quarter.

In the first half the Riptides offense was able to make plays that resulted in touchdowns with the combination of Riptide quarterback #1 Hamlin and wide receiver #5 Young combining for two first half scores.  The first was a 25 yard completion just over the reach of Raven defensive back #18 Jeric Tyler (Northfield) in the end zone with 1:30 left in the first quarter and with the point after attempt good by kicker #10 Megam the score was 7-0 Riptide 1:30 left in the first.

The second score of the first half for the Riptide was Hamlin finding Young again, this time from 10 yards out, and adding the extra point by Megam at :04 left in the half,  Rhode Island led 14-0 and that was how the half ended.

Putting the proverbial nail in the Ravens coffin (as it turned out) was as the Riptide moved down the field rapidly after taking the kickoff to start the second half they would proceed to score again.  The Riptides version of “dynamic duo” Hamlin and Young would connect again, this time for a 24 yard completion.  The receiver exhibited his extreme athletic ability as he jumped high over a Raven defender to come down with the ball and claim his third touchdown of the game.  In all the combination of Hamlin to Young accounted for the three scores and over a hundred yards in receiving.

Rhode Island also has another outstanding athlete who showed his ability repeatedly throughout the game going both ways all game.  Playing defensive back #24 Brandon Brisbois intercepted a Jeffcoat pass and made the return for 15 yards.  As a running back Brisbois ran for about 100 yards while having the longest, an 80 yarder, called back due to a penalty.  An outstanding run, Brandon broke multiple tackles, and sprinting away from Raven defenders on route to a touchdown before the penalty nullified his effort.

Vermont had a nice play also nullified as on a punt return, strong safety #20 Roy Rose (Northfield) dropping back to field the punt, caught the ball on the Riptide 35 yard line moving quickly right, seeing nothing there reversed field and went left around the end making defenders miss as he made his way down the field to the end zone, to only have that called back for a blocking penalty.

For the game Jeffcoat finished 6-14 for 88 yards and 2 TD’s.  He rushed for 52 yards on 7 carries and 1 fumble.

Torres was 2-3 for 29 yards and 1 TD.  He caught 2 passes for 43 yards.

LaRosa finished with 58 yards on 7 carries.

Allen had 2 catches for 26 yards and 2 TD’s.

Lamphere had 2 catches for 26 yards and 1 TD.

Defensively Tyler had a touchdown saving tackle, a fumble recovery, and 3 solo tackles.

Rose had 7 tackles, 3 of them solo.

Burke had 1 INT, 1 pass defensed, and 8 tackles, 4 of them solo.

Linebacker #33 Adolphe Lumumba (Essex) had 4 tackles, 1 of them solo.

Linebacker #51 George Campbell (Williamstown) had 4 tackles.

Linebacker #57 Nolan Callahan (Cabot) had 5 tackles, 1 of them solo.

Defensive tackle #77 Juju Ayida (Plainfield) 3 tackles, all of them solo and 1 sack.

White had 7 tackles, 2 of them solo.

The Ravens fall to 5-3 and travel to Medford, Ma next Sat. the 17^th to play the Mystic River Tigers, kickoff is 6PM.

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