#57 defensive end/linebacker Nolan Callahan (Cabot)

 #18 return man/defensive back #18 Jeric Tyler (Northfield)

Photos courtesy of Linda Salmon 

Tenth Anniversary Season 2007-2016

Wayland High School – Wayland, Ma.

7/30/16 

Kick-off 7:00PM 

Staff Report 

Vermont Ravens 26
Mass Warriors 21

Looking at the final box score and noticing the Raven offense had 4 turnovers with 0 passes caught by a teammate (4 caught by the Warriors) you would immediately think this would equal a loss for Vermont, right?  Think again.  So far this season, if nothing else, this team can cope with some adversity and still find ways to get the job done and come away with the victory.  Actually there was one completion made to a Raven, (full back Roy Rose) for a short gain, but unfortunately a penalty nullified the gain. 

So for tonight, Coach Everett’s team relied on the running game to move the ball and score three times. 

The team took the opening kick-off with return man/receiver #81 Sean Lamphere (Burlington) finding a lane and returned the kick 34 yards into Warrior territory. 

Running back #21 Anthony LaRosa (Northfield) contributed with quick hits up the middle as the offensive line of center #63 Paul-Dan Winter (E. Montpelier), guards #72 Bradley Durkee (Montpelier), and #75 Jeffrey Deforge (Randolph), tackles #55 Tyler Baker (Northfield), and #74 Kevin Keeling (Barre), and tight end #80 Jamal Jacobs (Barre) helped in opening up impressive holes for which to run through. 

LaRosa ended up with 84 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns, but this drive was cumulated when fullback #35 Jesse Burke (Cabot) took the handoff and rumbled 9 yards over the left side and into the end zone at the 10:40 mark of the opening quarter.  The extra point attempt by kicker #77 Juju Ayida (Northfield) was blocked and the score was 6-0 Ravens. 

Playing the field position game for the next 18 minutes of game time enabled the Ravens to keep the Warriors off the board.  The score remained 6-0 Ravens until all hell broke loose, a bit, at the tail end of the first half. 

Vermont would score their second touchdown after an alert Raven, #20 strong safety Roy Rose snagged a fumble from a Warrior running back that popped out of his hands and into Roses.  He made a nice grab and run returning the fumble 21 yards into Warrior territory.  Two plays later LaRosa, from 15 yards out, made a nice run block read and cut back leaving the over pursuing Warrior defense grasping at air as he sprinted into the end zone with 2:02 left in the first half.  This time the line held and Ayida was good with the point after and the score was 13-0 Ravens at the two-minute warning. 

The Warriors, who added a new quarterback to their roster this week, got on the board when #8 Donte Rodgers found receiver #13 Allen Dowling III down the left sideline as he caught the pass and avoided the Raven secondary on route to the 37-yard score.  Warrior kicker #16 Pat Caruso was good with the extra point and the score was 13-7 Ravens with 46 seconds left in the half.

For the second game in a row the Raven special teams came up big as return man/receiver/free safety #18 Jeric Tyler (Northfield) again aided the cause.  He took Carusos kick, started left, saw a bit of light and blazed to a 77-yard return for a touchdown.  Ayida again was good on the extra point and now the score was 20-7 Ravens with only 37 seconds left. 

But, as we’ve seen before from the Ravens, any time left on the clock is enough time for a team to score.  Rodgers, was becoming comfortable as the game went on, with his new Warrior teammates.  On their third play from scrimmage after receiving the kick-off he looked left and came back right finding a streaking receiver #10 Del James behind the defense.  Lofting a long pass that James caught on the ten he was able to jog into the end zone.  Carusos extra point was good the Warriors had scored twice within 43 seconds to make the game close.  Time ran out on the half with the Ravens ahead 20-14. 

The third quarter was mostly uneventful as the defenses held their ground giving up yards but not points.  That was until Mr. Rodgers, from 14 yards out, would find receiver #80 Frankie Alicia free for a touchdown pulling the Warriors even with the Ravens at 20.  Carusos third extra point attempt on the day was good and Mass had their first lead of the day with 3 seconds left in the third quarter 21-20. 

Vermont would dig in and putting the game on the backs of the impressive offensive line alternated between sweeps and off tackle plays to travel 60 yards setting up the winning touchdown by LaRosa.  Some keys to the running attack was also the blocking of fullbacks Rose and Jesse Burke and the receivers #5 Austin Mayo (Winooski) and Lamphere chipping on the linebackers and defensive backs. 

The biggest play of the winning drive was a toss sweep around the right side by running back #3 Akeem Williams (Milton) that went for 33 yards all the way down to the two-yard line.  Williams totaled 76 yards on the evening with 9 carries for an average of over 8 yards per carry. 

From there LaRosa went off left tackle to run into the end zone to allow the Ravens to retake the lead and after a failed pass from quarterback #14 Clayton Torres (Barre) to Mayo the score was 26-21 Ravens with 7:24 left in the fourth. 

The next series for the Warriors ended abruptly when Rodgers threw the ball up over the middle and free safety Tyler made his second huge play for the team as he skied to intercept the ball and returned it 7 yards.   

Vermont getting the ball back with a chance to put the game away started with a small gain and then Torres took a sack.  With a 3^rd and long play next, Torres, out of shot-gun, immediately had to scramble and running right he threw it to a seemingly open Raven receiver, but a Warrior defender jumped the route and made a nice play on the ball. 

The Warriors with new life would move the ball quickly.  Two plays later Rodgers would find a crossing Warrior receiver who upon catching and turning found room around the left side of the secondary to ramble down to the Raven 18-yard line. 

The Raven faithful in the stands who made the trip south were standing and screaming trying to help the defense hold off the Warriors during these last moments of time on the game clock.  It seemed to help as the defense held Mass for the first three plays without a first down. 

With time running out and one last play to try for the Warriors Rodgers, back in shot-gun formation, called for the ball, but the snap was high.  Rogers scrambled to pick the ball up.  Linebacker #34 Adolphe Lumumba (Essex) burst through the line and hit Rodger to jar the ball loose again and defensive end #88 Kassian Prior (Winooski) would then tackle the Warrior player who came up with the ball and the Ravens would take over on downs. 

Torres took a knee and the Ravens had escaped a very hard fought game on the road with the victory 26-21. 

On offense the running game was good for 186 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns. 

LaRosa had 84 yards on 15 carries and 2 touchdowns. 

Williams had 76 yards on 9 carries. 

Burke had 11 yards on 2 carries and 1 touchdown. 

Defensively several players had exceptional games. 

#18 safety Jeric Tyler had one interception and 6 tackles, 4 of them solo. 

#20 strong safety Roy Rose had one fumble recovery and 6 tackles, 3 of them solo. 

#34 linebacker Adolphe Lumumba had 7 tackles, 3 of them solo. 

#35 linebacker #35 Jesse Burke had 6 tackles, 3 of them solo. 

#51 linebacker George Campbell had 5 tackles, 1 of them solo. 

#57 linebacker Nolan Callahan (Cabot) had 6 tackles, 3 of them solo and 2 sacks. 

#88 defensive end Kassian Prior 8 tackles, 2 of them solo. 

Special teams had a kick-off return of 34 yards by Lamphere.  One 77 yards and a touchdown by Tyler.  Two extra points by Ayida along with a two long punts to put the Warriors deep in their own territory. 

The Ravens are 3-0 and play the division rival 3-0 Central Mass Sabercats next Saturday, at Norwich University.  4PM Kick-off.

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