QB #14 Clayton Torres

Pic courtesy of Linda Salmon

Eleventh Season 2007-2017

Tamarac High School – Troy, NY

Sap Bucket Bowl

7/15/17

Kick-off 4:00PM

Staff Report

Vermont Ravens 13

Southern VT Storm 41

The Vermont Ravens started yet another football season, their eleventh, yesterday afternoon against a very familiar opponent.  The Southern Vermont Storm, based in Bennington, VT, have made the return to the league after taking a one-year formal leave of absence to regroup.

Returning from the year off proved to rejuvenate the team and they played a strong game from beginning to end defeating the Ravens 41-13.

The return also allowed the return of the “Sap Bucket Bowl” game with the victor claiming possession of the famed Sap Bucket to proudly display.

The Storm have a roster made up of many new players but it was members of the old guard that made the biggest impact on the field today.  A trio of veterans, QB #17 Mike Stephens, RB #2 Mike Woodson, and WR #15 Marcus Anderson each had outstanding games for the Storm.

Stephens provided 3 touchdown passes.  One a 6-yard completion to Woodson, and two to Anderson which were 5 and 15 yards long.  He then completed the scoring on the day by running 45 yards for another touchdown. Kicker #7 Will Cole, who was successful on 6 extra points, would miss wide right on this last one.

To combine with his touchdown catch, Woodson also scored two touchdowns on the ground, the first a 1-yard dive in the second quarter and then a 10-yard scamper in the third.  Anderson along with his two touchdowns catches had a long run after catch for a 40-yard completion to get the Storm out of their own territory.

The Ravens would score one offensive touchdown and one defensive touchdown on the afternoon.

QB #14 Clayton Torres (Barre) rolled left away from pressure, saw the Storm defensive end was sealed off inside, and outraced the defensive back to the corner of the end zone for a 9-yard score late in the second quarter.  Kicker #58/77 Juju Ayida’s (Plainfield) extra point was good.

Late in the third quarter, the Storm with their backs to the end zone, QB Stephens took a short two step drop. Looking to throw a quick slant pass, he saw his receiver covered and tried to get out of the end zone before being sacked for a safety.  Veteran defensive tackle #93 Lloyd White (Barre) was able to strip the ball and fellow defensive tackle rookie #65 Mikey Emmons-Lamell (Barre) fell on the ball in the end zone for the touchdown.  The extra point was unsuccessful.

For the Ravens, there were several players that had good games for third year Head Coach Pete Everett.

RB/WR/KR #3 Akeem Williams (Burlington) caught 3 passes for 55 yards.  One was a 30-yard pass from punter Juju Ayida who had to retrieved an errant snap, and then alertly found an open Williams down the left side for a big gain and first down.  Williams also shined on special teams returning 2 kicks for 89 yards, the first being for 65 yards.

Linebacker #57 Nolan Callahan (Cabot) was everywhere contributing 4 solo and 6 assisted tackles along with one sack for a 12-yard loss.  He also cleanly fielded an onside kick-off attempt by the Storm.

The before mentioned defensive tackle White had 1 solo and 5 assisted tackles to go along with 2 forced fumbles and the rookie Emmons-Lamell had 2 solo and 4 assisted tackles to go along with his 2 fumble recoveries, one for the touchdown.

DB/WR/KR #31 Jeric Tyler (Northfield) caught 1 pass for 14 yards, ran back 2 kicks for 58 yards and had 3 solo and 2 assisted tackles and stopped a touchdown with a forced fumble as he raced down the Storm receiver and punched out the ball on the 15 yard line.

SS/FB #20 Roy Rose (Northfield) had 2 solo, 3 assisted tackles and 1 forced fumble and LB #51 George Campbell (Williamstown) had 1 solo and 3 assisted tackles and 1 fumble recovery.

DB/WR #1 Matthew Gomes (Montpelier) had 1 catch for 9 yards, 1 solo and 3 assisted tackles and 1 kick return for 30 yards.

Quarterback #14 Clayton Torre completed 8 passes for 75 yards and ran 3 times for 24 yards and 1 touchdown.

The Ravens are 0-1 and travel to Mansfield, MA next Saturday to play the South Shore Chiefs who had a first week bye.  Kick-off is 7PM.  The Storm (1-0) travel to play the New Britain Brawlers (1-0) next Saturday.

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