Quarterback #14 Clayton Torres with offensive linemen #79 Kevin Keeling

Photos courtesy of Linda Salmon

Linebacker #51 George Campbell making the tackle

Defensive back #1 Matt Gomes with the interception

Tenth Anniversary Season 2007-2016

Killingly HS – Danielson, Ct.

8/13/16

Kick-off 6:30PM

Staff Report

Vermont Ravens 7

Green Valley Blackhawks 48

The Ravens traveled to Danielson, Ct. last night for a game against the Green Valley Blackhawks.  The Blackhawks are a solid double A ball club that hails from the semi-pro football hotbed southern region of the league.  They have combined a couple teams to compete at the top level of their conference of the New England Football League.  Several players joined the Blackhawks after their former team, the Southern Ct. Sting took a leave of absence from the league for the 2016 season.

One thing that was apparent once the Blackhawks offense was on the field was that their quarterback, Reggie Robinson, had come to play.  Robinson is well known to the Ravens after having been the Sting quarterback for years and regularly causing fits for Vermont.

Extremely quick with an above average arm, Robinson is content to throw to his receivers and backs, but when feeling pressure is just as happy to use his legs to move his team down the field.  On third down, especially, he bailed out the Blackhawks to gain enough yards to move the chains.  He threw two touchdown passes and one two point conversion.  His first, which went for 28 yards, and the second, in classic Robinson style, was a frantic scramble in his own end zone.  After breaking a tackle that would have been a safety for the Ravens Robinson found a receiver down the right sideline and lofted a nice touch pass out in front enough for his receiver to race under it and run to pay dirt completing the 99 yard touchdown play with 1:57 left to play in the third quarter.  After the successful point after kick the score was 42-7 Blackhawks.  Green Valley would score one more time, this time on the ground, to wrap up the scoring on the night and taking the game with the final 48-7.

Vermont started off strong as they received the kick-off with kick-returner/receiver #18 Jeric Tyler (Northfield) returning the kick 65 yards down to the Blackhawks 19 yard line.  A couple plays later and a good push by the Raven offensive line, fullback #35 Jesse Burke (Cabot) rushed for 9 yards down to the Blackhawks 2 yard line.  Goal line runner #57 Nolan Callahan (Cabot) took over and followed fullback #20 Roy Rose (Northfield) into the end zone.  Kicker #77 Juju Ayida (Plainfield) made the extra point and the score was 7-0 Ravens with 12:28 left in the first.  Tyler would also add a 34 yard return and a 10 yard return to total 109 yards on 3 returns on the night.

With some adjustments defensively the Blackhawks effectively shut out Vermont for the rest of the game.  Between Robinsons athletic ability and the stifling fast and sure tackling Blackhawks defense the rest of the night belonged to Green Valley.  Able to run the ball effectively after making the defense respect Robinsons arm the Blackhawks offensive coordinator kept the defense off balance by running the ball with a number of players reaching the end zone.  Scoring 4 touchdowns on the ground to go with a 40 yard punt return by the Blackhawks special teams and the rout was complete.

Raven quarterback #14 Clayton Torres (Barre) was under constant pressure, but with his speed was able to make some nice plays throwing on the run to Tyler who had 3 catches for 36 yards and receiver #5 Austin Mayo (Winooski) 3 catches for 25 yards (and who also contributed a kick-off return of 21 yards).  Torres also rushed 3 times for 24 yards.  Back-up quarterback/fullback /strong safety Rose completed 1 pass for 11 yards and had 1 punt return of 18 yards to go with his 6 tackles, 1 of them solo.

Defensively a few others stood out with #57 linebacker/fullback Nolan Callahan (Cabot) who had the 1 touchdown also contributed 5 tackles, 2 of them solo, and 1 sack.  Defensive back #1 Matt Gomes (Montpelier) stopped a touchdown pass with an interception near the goal line and return of 26 yards to go along with his 4 tackles, 3 of them solo.  Linebacker/fullback #35 Jesse Burke (Cabot) had 1 interception and return of 28 yards to go along with his 5 tackles, 1 of them solo.

#9 safety Olivier Kpesse (Graniteville) recorded 5 tackles, 3 of the solo.

#51 Linebacker George Campbell (Williamstown) had 8 tackles 3 of them solo.

#77 defensive tackle Juju Ayida (Plainfield) had 4 tackles 3 of them solo and 1 sack.

The Ravens fall to 3-2 and have a home game, this time in Fairfax, Vt. at BFA-Fairfax High School against the 1-4 Southern NH Beavers next Saturday.  Kick-off is 4:30PM.

A raffle will be held to benefit a young girl with cancer who is currently at Boston Children’s hospital with her family receiving intense chemotherapy.  As you can imagine a huge emotional and financial toll is being taken on this family.  Tickets are $2 each or 6 for $10.  You have a chance to win personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut, a large 2 topping pizza from Dominos, $20 gift card from Twin City Lanes, along with other great prizes that are still coming in.  Funds for this raffle will be presented to a representative for the family at this game.

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