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#79 Curtis Christiansen looking for someone to hit as #19 Jaren Jeffcoat looks downfield.
Photos courtesy of Linda Salmon
#92 Anthony Michie tackles for a loss.
Tenth Anniversary Season 2007-2016
Doyle Field - Leominster, Ma
9/24/16
Kick-off 7:30pm
Staff Report
Vermont Ravens 20
For this the second meeting of the season against division leading Central Mass Sabercats, Ravens Head Coach Pete Everett was noticeably apprehensive for a couple reasons.
For one, back on their first game at Norwich University’s Sabine Field versus the Sabercats it was Sabercats all day as they rode the arm of quarterback #3 Frankie Desiderio to a convincing 45-13 victory over the Ravens. For two, Everett was forced to move players around and fill key positions with players that had little to no experience with their new found positions and a handful of players had to go both ways to make up for the low numbers.
It was just another day in the life of a semi-professional football coach as Coach Everetts team traveled light with only a 24 player roster due to a combination of events that can, and often does, occur during the season for any semi-professional football team. A player wedding, work responsibilities, and family issues contributed to the numbers crunch for Vermont, but come out fighting they did, and played a competitive game.
To start the game the Sabercats won the toss, but deferred to the Ravens who took the ball. Sabercats kicker #84 Chris Bruno (9 points, 2 FG’s, 3 x-pts.) boomed the kick down to the Raven 10 yard line where return specialist #18 Jeric Tyler (Northfield) fielded it cleanly and ran straight up the middle hurdling a would be tackler and bursting through a hole which was partially made by #57 Nolan Callahan (Cabot). Veering right Tyler turned on the after burners and sprinted past the last two defenders reaching the end zone on the first play of the game.
Quarterback #19 Jaren Jeffcoat (Northfield) came on for the two point conversion attempt and taking the snap, stepped up to avoid a hard rush, and found an open receiver #5 Austin Mayo (Winooski) in the end zone for the successful two points. Ravens led 8-0 with 14:46 left in the first quarter.
A bit later in the quarter Central Mass, led by Desiderio, would drive down to the 23 yard line of the Ravens. From there he tried to get the ball to a seemingly open receiver and lofting the pass put just a tad too much air under it allowing now defensive back Tyler to get there to snag the pass away from the receiver for an interception. Raven ball on their own one yard line with 8:59 left in the first quarter.
After a three and out for the Ravens (which I’ll elaborate more on) the defense was back on the field. Desiderio was rushed and throwing quickly had his pass tipped by Raven defensive end #91 Michael Fulton (Burlington) into the waiting arms of linebacker #33 Adolph Lumumba (Essex) who was tackled immediately at the 7:21 mark, first quarter. Lumumba had an outstanding game for Vermont contributing that interception and had 9 tackles, 2 of them solo.
Defensively, all was well with the Ravens early on.
Offensively, not so much.
Having a make shift offensive line of defensive tackle #79 Curtis Christiansen (Plainfield), linebacker #57 Nolan Callahan (Cabot), defensive tackle #77 Juju Ayida (Plainfield), rookie #72 Bradley Durkee (Montpelier), to work with veteran offensive linemen #75 Jeffrey DeForge was a work in progress. Under the extreme conditions put forth by the fast and athletic defense of the Sabercats the Ravens attempt to become a unified front for the Ravens offense was a challenge indeed.
If not for the talented footwork of Raven quarterback Jeffcoat there would have been more sacks for losses then the 6 for -39 yards that the Sabercats did have. Time after time Jeffcoat would be forced to leave the collapsing pocket and scramble for whatever yards were available. He ended the day with 12 rushes for 81 yards, but did lose two fumbles after having to tuck and run past the line of scrimmage.
After most of the first quarter with the Sabercats unable to move the ball they did manage a drive that resulted in a score as #26 David Bonilla found room up the middle and outran everyone to the end zone from 30 yards out. The kick by Bruno was good and the score was 8-7 Ravens with 3:06 left first quarter.
There were a few opportunities for Jeffcoat to throw later as the line started to gel a bit and the first offensive touchdown for Vermont came when Jeffcoat rolled, faked running, then pulled up and threw a 7 yard pass to an open receiver in the end zone #4 Steve Noyes (Barre) for the score. Attempting a two point conversion Jeffcoat kept the ball and was tackled short of the end zone. With 10:53 left in the second quarter the Ravens led 14-7.
Raven defenders Tyler, Lumumba, strong safety #20 Roy Rose (Northfield), defensive tackles #93 Lloyd White (Barre), and #92 Anthony Michie (Burlington), linebacker #51 George Campbell (Williamstown) and linebacker #35 Jesse Burke each had their moments keeping the potent Sabercats from moving the ball. Callahan and Ayida, going both ways, contributed on defense as well.
Being rushed hard all day by the Sabercats there were times that Jeffcoat had to eat the football and as I mentioned suffered the 6 sacks, one of which resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Sabercat linebacker #39 Ryan Rendon who returned it the 10 yards for a touchdown. Desiderios pass to #33 Nathan Gary was incomplete and with 5:41 left in the second quarter the score was 14-13 Ravens.
The Sabercats got the ball back and were able to move within field goal range with time running out. Brunos kick from 20 yards was good and at the end of the first half Central Mass had taken their first lead of the game 16-14.
Starting to find his groove in the second half Desiderios looked to his favorite target #5 Chris Nieves. After moving downfield with a long pass to Nieves that was just out of reach of Tyler he went right back to him and the Desiderio to Nieves connection was good again from 13 yards out. Brunos kick was good and the score was 23-14 Sabercats with 7:39 left in the third quarter.
The second fumble by Jeffcoat gave the ball right back to the Sabercats and 3 plays later Desiderio found #23 Evan Purvis for a 52 yard touchdown play. Brunos kick again was good and quickly the score was 30-14 Central Mass with 3:48 left in the third quarter.
Raven defensive back #16 Kyle Bigelow (Winooski) came up with a big fumble recovery late in the third to stop another Sabercats drive and Ayida added another fumble recovery in the fourth as turnovers helped to stop the lethal Sabercat offense.
In all the Sabercats suffered 2 interceptions and 2 fumbles which the opportunistic Ravens did capiltaize on as in the fourth after Ayida recovery Jeffcoat found the speedy Noyes running free and drilled a pass to him that he caught around the 10 yard line and proceeded to take it the rest of the way for what proved to be the final score for the Ravens. The two point conversion attempt by Jeffcoat was intercepted by #17 Brian Owusu and he was tackled by Jeffcoat. With 8:23 left in the fourth the score was Sabercats leading 30-20.
Unable to muster any more offense the Ravens turned the ball over on downs. The Sabercats kept the ball on the ground and drove close enough for a field goal attempt of 33 yards for Bruno. The kick was good and with 3:36 left in the fourth the score was 33-20, which proved to be the final.
For the game offensively:
Jeffcoat finished 13-26 for 161 yards, 2 TD’s, one 2pt. conversion and 1 int. He rushed for 81 yards on 12 carries with 2 fumbles.
Running back #21 Anthony LaRosa (Northfield) finished with 20 yards on 6 carries.
Noyes had 4 catches for 72 yards and 2 TD’s.
Mayo had 6 catches for 42 yards and one 2pt. conversion. Also, 2 kick-off returns for 46 yards, one of which went 35 yards.
Receiver #83 Zach Allen (Northfield) had 2 catches for 45 yards.
Defensively:
Defensive back #1 Matt Gomes (Montpelier) had 4 tackles, 3 of them solo.
Bigelow had 4 tackles, 2 of them solo and 1 fumble recovery.
Tyler had the one KO return for 90 yards and a TD to go with his 1 interception and 2 passes defensed. He also had 7 tackles, 5 of them solo.
Rose had 6 tackles, 3 of them solo before getting injured early in the second half.
Lumumba had 9 tackles, 2 of them solo and 1 interception and 1 pass defensed.
Burke had 7 tackles, 2 of them solo.
Defensive end #46 Joe Picard Montpelier) had 4 tackles.
George Campbell had 6 tackles, 3 of them solo.
Callahan had 6 tackles, 1 of them solo.
Ayida had 2 tackles, and 1 fumble recovery.
Fulton had 1 pass defensed (deflected to Lumumba for an INT.) and 3 tackles.
Michie had 5 tackles, 1 of them solo.
White had 9 tackles, 1 of them solo.
The Ravens fall to 5-4 and travel to Medford, Ma next Sun. Oct. 2nd to play the Mystic River Tigers, kickoff is 5PM.
For more team information www.vermontravens.com or www.facebook.com/VTRavensfans
